Italian government says it will act to ‘reclaim football’ after Cup Final violence
May 7 – The Italian government says it will crack down on hooliganism following the mayhem that marred last weekend’s domestic cup final in Rome.
Archive
England’s football betting busters sanction another player but suspend domestic ban
May 7 – An English second-tier striker has been has been handed a suspended three-month ban and fined £60,000 in the latest breach of football’s betting rules to hit English football.
From bowls to table tennis, England’s national football centre shows versatility
By David Owen
May 6 – The Football Association (FA)’s national football centre will be a hive of activity next month while Roy Hodgson’s England squad are on the other side of the Atlantic in Brazil attempting to win the country’s second FIFA World Cup and their first in nearly 50 years.
Russian top tier clubs set for government imposed salary cap
By Richard van Poortvliet
May 6 – Russia could be about to introduce a salary cap for its clubs, according to the Honorary President of the Russian Football Union, Vyacheslav Koloskov (pictured). The Russian State Duma took the lead in promoting the idea to the association.
UEFA get tough on ambitious clubs flouting financial fair play rules
By Andrew Warshaw
May 6- Manchester City and Paris St. Germain, both bankrolled by Middle East investors, appear to have broken Uefa’s financial fair play regulations and look like receiving swingeing punishments as a result of their relentless quest to become permanent members of European football’s affluent elite.
Atletico’s reputation damaged as more racism hits Spanish football
May 6- Having made so many friends on the pitch with the quality of their football, Atletico Madrid have suddenly hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
More problems for Italy with fan violence and suspicious result
By Andrew Warshaw
May 6- Italian football has suffered a series of further blows to its reputation as Rafa Benitez’s first trophy in charge of Napoli was overshadowed by appalling fan violence.
Gambia hit with two-year ban for playing over-age players
By Andrew Warshaw
May 5 – The Gambia, one of Africa’s smallest countries, has been banned from all international competition for two years for fielding no fewer than five over-age players in a qualifier for the Continent’s under-20 Championship.
Qataris feel pride and passion for 2022, while the Brits turn their noses up
By Paul Nicholson
May 5 – Depending on which part of the world you ask the questions, you will get different reactions and emotions regarding the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Doha-based Agency 222 conducted a survey that found local feeling was that the World Cup was defining and shaping an emerging nation.
FIFA’s $500k a day development arm regulates against ‘bad projects’
By Paul Nicholson
May 5 – FIFA’s revamp of its development programmes in 2013 and the changes in the regulations have made the year a big one for FIFA’s a team that has been responsible for spending $500,000 a day on development activity and corporate social responsibility projects.
Former Army team CSKA Moscow secures sponsorship with Russian Helicopters
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
May 5 – CSKA Moscow has signed a sponsorship deal with one of Russia’s leading aircraft manufacturers, Russian Helicopters.
Copa America Centenario raises importance of Caribbean Cup
By Paul Nicholson
May 5 – Initial reaction to the announcement last week that the Copa America Centenario will be played in the US and hosted by CONCACAF in 2016 has been positive.
IOC President’s team faces the drop in Germany
By David Owen
May 4 – The most powerful man in world sport faces a nervous week as one of his favourite football clubs battles to avoid relegation from the German Bundesliga.
Copa America Centenario poses a challenge to the accepted old world order
By Paul Nicholson in Miami
May 2 – The unveiling of the Copa America centennial tournament to be played in the US and hosted by CONCACAF June 3 to June 26, plants a huge new football tournament right in the middle of what is already a packed sporting calendar with UEFA’s 2016 European Championships in France and the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Champagne backs Qatar’s right to host but criticises football’s financial Iron Curtain
By Andrew Warshaw
May 2 -FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne says 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar should be recognised as “innocent unless proved guilty” by the ongoing investigation into the 2018 and 2022 voting process being led by FIFA’s chief investigator Michael Garcia.