FIFA earmarks extra $70 million for 2014 World Cup
By David Owen
March 25 – Unexpected costs last year forced FIFA to earmark an extra $70 million for the problem-plagued 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Archive
Cellino’s bid for Leeds ‘disqualified’ by Football League
March 24 – The future of Leeds United, once the envy of English football but who have hit hard times in recent years, has been plunged into uncertainty after authorities disqualified Italian businessman Massimo Cellino from buying a majority stake in the iconic club.
FIFA banks a record year with more to come in 2014
March 24 – FIFA’s 2013 annual financial report has been released showing the governing body managed a surplus of $72 million on revenue of $1.386 million. 2013 was a record year for FIFA with income of $1.386 billion in the third year of a four-year commercial cycle linked to the 2014 World Cup.
Salman backtracks on proposal to link AFC presidency to permanent exco seat
By Andrew Warshaw
March 24 – The head of Asian football has been rebuffed in his attempts within FIFA to gain additional powers of office against the wishes of his members.
Mutko pushes for inclusion of Crimean clubs into Russian leagues
By Andrew Warshaw
March 24 – Russia’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko is reportedly planning for Crimea’s two top-flight clubs to quit the Ukrainian league and switch to Russia as the crisis in the region impacts on football.
FIFA seek to extend women’s terms at its ExCo top table
By Andrew Warshaw
March 24 – The two women co-opted on to the FIFA executive committee last year seem certain to stay on for another year – but what happens after that remains open to question.
Politics and football mix as Fenerbahce fans march in protest to Ataturk’s tomb
By Alexander Krassimirov
March 24 – Supporters and officials of Turkey’s Fenerbahce yesterday marched to Anitkabir – the tomb of the Turkish Republic’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk – in another “justice rally”.
Ukrainian Premier League clubs in crisis as oligarchs face uncertain futures
By Mark Baber
March 24 – Ukrainian football is a fair reflection of wider Ukrainian society – in deep crisis, dominated by oligarchs, plagued by neo-nazis, being drained of foreign talent, with significant elements seeing their future in Russia and others facing imminent bankruptcy.
FIFA’s ExCo holds firm on Qatar 2022 as Garcia investigates and workers rights issues top agenda
By Andrew Warshaw
March 21 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter today sidestepped repeated attempts to force him to take a stand over whether Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup was in jeopardy following the publication of fresh corruption allegations.
No hiding places as Champions League draw pits Europe’s giant elite head-to-head
March 21- Defending champions Bayern Munich were handed the perfect opportunity today to avenge their heartbreaking 1999 Champions League final defeat by Manchester United when the two were paired together in the quarterfinals in of this season’s competition.
Webb calls for ‘deep change’ in anti-discrimination statement
March 21 – Jeffrey Webb, the chairman of the FIFA Anti-Racism and Discrimination Task Force, has sent a strongly worded message on the importance of embracing diversity and fighting discrimination. He also said that the Brazil 2014 World Cup is the perfect platform to make a powerful anti-discrimination statement and that the quarter finals will be dedicated to the fight against discrimination.
Zenit fans say flag burning was the ‘logical end’ while club defends the majority
By Richard van Poortvliet
March 21 – The infamous Zenit St Petersburg fan group, Landscrona have made an official statement, saying the flag that was burnt during Zenit’s Champions League clash at Borussia Dortmund, was not the German national flag, but a banner from one of Borussia’s supporters groups.
David Owen: From Spain to Asia in a well timed move
You know for sure that the people’s game has become gentrified when luxury Swiss watch brands start sponsoring football clubs.
Now, five and a half years after Hublot set the ball rolling by sponsoring Manchester United, another landmark deal has been unveiled.
Maurice Lacroix has announced a three-year agreement with Barcelona that will see it become the Catalán club’s Official Watch Partner in a deal said to be worth somewhere in the seven figures of euros (ie upwards of €1 million).
Muamba still motoring, but on a different life route
By Andrew Warshaw
March 21 – Two years after defying the odds by surviving despite his heart stopping for 78 minutes during a match, Fabrice Muamba, whose miraculous case made worldwide headlines, has revealed that he has since had a couple more murmurs though on a far more minor scale.
Belo Horizonte set for matches and fans, on plan and stadium-ready
By Andrew Warshaw
March 21 – Belo Horizonte officials say their stadium will be 100% ready for the World Cup this summer and have played down a recent leak in the roof just hours before a regional game.