Archive Archives - Page 10 of 722 - Inside World Football

Chinese New Year heralds new superpower and transfer speculation

By Mark Baber
February 15 – As Chinese New Year is celebrated across the globe, it is increasingly clear that the 2015-16 transfer window, closed in Europe but still open in China, marks the emergence onto the world stage of a major new football superpower and the beginning of the concrete realisation of the aims expressed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2011: for the People’s Republic to qualify for, host and finally win the World Cup.

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Valcke says wait for ‘all’ the facts as lawyer slams FIFA ethics ruling

By Andrew Warshaw
February 15 – As he begins a 12-year ban from football, in contrast to flying round the world and staying in luxury hotels as FIFA’s most senior day to day administrator, Jerome Valcke’s lawyer insists the organisation’s former number two has done “absolutely nothing wrong” despite being punished for abusing FIFA’s money and a host of other misdemeanours.

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Dutch confirm Willem II matches were fixed and call for help

By Samindra Kunti
February 15 – The Dutch FA, the KNVB, have confirmed that the 2009 Eredivisie match Utrecht vs Willlem II was subject to match-fixing after a year-long probe. A charity match between Willem II and the Sierra Leone national team may also have been manipulated.

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FIFA hears Platini appeal over 8-year ban today

By Andrew Warshaw
February 15 – The latest move in Michel Platini’s efforts to resume his shattered career as UEFA president was taking place today with FIFA’s appeals committee considering his eight-year ban from all football-related activity.

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More UEFA federations pledge support for Infantino’s FIFA push

February 15 – Thirteen more European federations have pledged unanimous support to Gianni Infantino in his bid to become FIFA president, according to the Serbian FA (FSS).

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Liverpool ‘tops out’ Anfield’s revamped Main Stand

February 15 – Liverpool’s ticket prices weren’t the only activity at the club that stopped rising last week. A ‘topping out’ ceremony was held at Anfield to mark the new Main Stand having now reached its maximum height.

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David Owen: Will Chinese transfer splurge be the death of FFP in Europe?

Manchester United exec Ed Woodward sees the newly-acquisitive Chinese Super League (CSL) as “another useful market if we are looking to sell players”. And the recent £20 million-plus deal that took Ramires to Jiangsu Suning, to the considerable benefit of Chelsea’s bottom-line, surely demonstrates that he is right.

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FIFA ethics judge hits Valcke with 12-year ban

By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – Jerome Valcke, for years Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man and his most senior day-to-day administrator, was sensationally banned from all football activities for 12 years today for serious misconduct including underselling TV and media rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, using FIFA’s money for private travel and destroying evidence.

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Salman signs human rights pledge

February 12 – FIFA presidential candidate Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has signed an amended version of an Amnesty International pledge to end human rights abuses and corruption in the sport.

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Stoke, Spurs and Chelsea top attendance table as Villa win but fans stay away

February 12 – Attendance figures picked up slightly on the previous week for round 25 of the Premier League season but with 19, 356 seats unfilled across the 10 fixtures, Aston Villa despite a 2-0 win accounted for more than half of them.

Africa

Mwendwa takes top job at Kenyan federation as Nyamweya withdraws

By Mark Baber
February 12 – A new era has dawned for the Football Kenya Federation as Nick Mwendwa has been voted in as the new president of the Football Kenya Federation, finally bringing to an end the controversial reign of incumbent Sam Nyamweya.

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Infantino feels the Miami heat as FIFA hopefuls chase American dreams

By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – If Africa is regarded as the main battleground to pick up votes in the forthcoming FIFA presidential election, then CONCACAF runs a close second.

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Man United score in first half (!) with jump in profits

By David Owen
February 12 – The return of Champions League football has benefited Manchester United, with the Old Trafford club announcing doubled pre-tax profits of £33.1 million for the six months to December 31.

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Germans bid to be testbed for video ref trials

February 12 – Germany will officially bid to be among the first countries to experiment with video replays if lawmakers approve live trials next month.