Escobar campaign builds as streetworldfootball adds its own tribute
July 3 – This week’s 20th anniversary of the death of former Colombian defender Andres Escobar continues to capture the imagination.
Author: Paul Nicholson
CAS dismisses Thai appeal against Makudi re-election
By Mark Baber
July 3 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeal filed by Virach Chanpanich against the decision taken on 17 October 2013 by the Football Association of Thailand to elect the controversial Worawi Makudi as its President.
Nigeria’s Oliseh defends African players who have bigger commitments to fulfil
By Andrew Warshaw
July 3 – One of Africa’s best-known footballing figures has defended the reputation of the Continent’s players at the World Cup, insisting they were not simply motivated by greed.
Fourth change proposal as ‘impact’ subs become the main men in Brazil
By Andrew Warshaw
July 3 – Following the unprecedented impact of substitutes at the World Cup, football’s lawmakers will be asked to consider a proposal that teams be allowed to use a fourth sub during extra time.
Scala, Sulser and Mussenden to sit on FIFA presidential election committee
By David Owen
July 3 – FIFA has set up a three-man electoral committee to supervise the process of what may yet be a bitter and divisive presidential election.
FIFA steps into Cameroon match-fixing row and asks to see Perumal claims
By Andrew Warshaw
July 3 – FIFA has asked the German news magazine Der Spiegel to come up with the evidence of its conversation with convicted match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal amid the ongoing confusion over whether Cameroon’s players deliberately rigged their games at the World Cup.
Mihir Bose: What does this South American World Cup teach us?
The Uruguayan polemicist and football fanatic Eduardo Galeano once wrote: “Tell me how you play, and I will tell you who you are.”
So now as the World Cup, in the country made for football and made by football, draws to a close it is worth asking what this World Cup has told us about football and about us. That such a question can be raised about what is essentially 22 men in shorts kicking a ball around shows us how football is seen in Latin America.
Lee Wellings: Africa’s wait continues
At this rate will an African nation win the World Cup by the end of THIS century?
Pele regularly demonstrates why he was an infinitely better footballer than pundit, but his famous line that an African team would triumph by the year 2000 is quoted more than any of his other theories.
Watching the exciting Cameroon and Nigeria in the 1990s raised hopes that defensive frailties may one day be improved upon,
Exclusive: The Costa Rican World Cup windfall that stretches from Norway to Ohio
By David Owen
July 2 – Clubs as diverse as Aalesunds FK, Columbus Crew and Deportivo Saprissa are set to receive bigger-than-expected World Cup windfalls, as a consequence of Costa Rica’s improbable run to the quarter-finals of Brazil 2014.
Nike and Adidas face off as 2014 Battle of the Brands reaches the quarters
By David Owen
July 2 – It’s neck and neck in the Battle of the Brands as the World Cup takes a pause before moving on to the quarter-final matches. Sportswear heavyweights Nike and Adidas each supplies the kit for three of the eight Brazil 2014 survivors. Puma, however, has faded from the picture, after none of its eight teams progressed beyond the Last 16 stage.
Escobar celebrated as Colombia prepare for Brazil showdown
By Andrew Warshaw
July 2 – Twenty years after the darkest episode in their country’s footballing history, a Twitter campaign has been launched to mark today’s anniversary of the death of Andres Escobar, the Colombian defender tragically gunned down for scoring an own goal in a World Cup group match against the United States.
Blatter calls for GLT for all major competitions as UEFA rethinks position
July 2 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter says UEFA will be tempted to perform a u-turn and introduce goal-line technology for the 2016 European Championship finals even though UEFA boss Michel Platini has long stated his objection to the innovation and prefers his system of two additional referee’s assistants.
Barca publicly pave the way for Suarez to exit Liverpool for Spain
By Andrew Warshaw
July 2 – Barcelona have seemingly upped the stakes in their bid to sign shamed Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez with Barca’s sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta (pictuded) praising Suarez for his public apology for his bite on Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup,
Perumal denies he forecast result and sending off in Cameroon match
By Andrew Warshaw
July 2 – The convicted match-fixer at the centre of allegations surrounding Cameroon’s World Cup squad has denied he predicted the outcome of their match against Croatia which prompted international speculation of corruption at the tournament.
Fans trust to buy into Bulgaria’s Levski and ease financial crisis
By Alexander Krassimirov
July 2 – Financially challenged Bulgarian club Levski Sofia has moved again to fill the gaps in its finances by looking to get help from its fans, Owner Todor Batkov is to transfer 15% of ownership of the club to the supporters’ trust Blue Bulgaria.