No opportunity lost, Platini keeps AARs in view
January 28 – UEFA boss Michel Platini has taken another opportunity to promote his preferred system of additional assistant referees (AARs) to help with contentious calls.
Archive
Russia and Georgia to end stand-off if drawn in same 2016 group
January 28 – Russia and Georgia have agreed to end their footballing stand-off and play each other if paired together in next month’s draw for the Euro 2016 qualifying tournament.
From Quakers to safecracker to ‘crowdfunding’; Darlington fight back
By Paul Nicholson
January 28 – Darlington FC, one of England’s oldest football clubs, is staging a financial comeback, allbeit on a small scale. The club has introduced a ‘crowdfunding’ initiative to raise an initial £50,000 with further targets of £150,000 as the next steps.
Fans of Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia launch supporters trust
By Alexander Krassimirov
January 28 – Dissatisfied with the management of Levski Sofia fans decided to create a supporters’ trust. The association will be named Blue Bulgaria, and its purpose will be to raise funds that will be invested in the club, but only under certain conditions.
Parreira laments lost opportunity for Brazil of World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
January 28 – Brazil’s assistant coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has added his voice to growing concerns over delays in World Cup preparations, saying it’s “a joke” that it took so long to start work on some of the infrastructure projects and blasting the authorities for “total neglect”.
Denial and debate as Anelka race storm rumbles on
By Andrew Warshaw
January 28 – Former French international striker Nicolas Anelka has pledged to stand his ground and not quit despite being charged by the English Football Association over his allegedly racist ‘quenelle’ gesture that continues to rumble on in both Britain and his homeland.
Fly drive Liverpool add Garuda and Vauxhall sponsorships
By Paul Nicholson
January 28 – Just as Arsenal were announcing a record new £150 million kit deal with Puma, Liverpool, one of their rivals for the Premier League title, were announcing airline Garuda Indonesia as their first Official Training Kit Partner.
Gunners switch from Nike to Puma in record £150m deal
By Andrew Warshaw
January 28 – In a financial deal described as the biggest in the club’s history, English Premier League leaders Arsenal have received a potentially game-changing boost by switching its kit supplier to Puma from Nike as of next season after two decades with the US sportswear giant.
UEFA guru Fergie calls for clubs to show patience and coaches to get qualified
January 27 – Sir Alex Ferguson, appointed last week as UEFA’s new coaching ambassador to “teach the teachers”, has denounced the culture of sacking managers at the first sign of crisis.
Czech and Slovak FAs meet to discuss joint league and cup titles
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 27 – Czech and Slovak football associations are holding talks on creating a joint league and a cup designed to pit clubs from the two countries against each other. “The issue of a Czech-Slovak league is on the table. By mid-February, we have to sit down and say whether this makes sense or not,” Jan Kovacik, president of the Slovak football association, was reported saying.
AFC expands Asian Cup to 24 to boost competition and commerce
January 27 – In a major boost for the region, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced plans to expand the Asian Cup, its flagship tournament, from 16 to 24 teams as part of a raft of changes designed to increase the number of international matches for member nations.
Brazil authorities chase Rosell for €3m from Brazil friendlies rights deals
By Andrew Warshaw
January 27 – Sandro Rosell, who dramatically quit as Barcelona president last week over an investigation into last year’s signing of star Brazilian forward Neymar, is still facing unconnected allegations that he benefitted illegally from friendly matches involving the Brazilian national team.
Brazil protestors focus on World Cup as violence flares in Sao Paulo
By Andrew Warshaw
January 27 – The staging of this year’s World Cup in Brazil has come under renewed intense scrutiny following fresh street protests over the cost of hosting the tournament.
Ultras unite to boycott Genoa vs Sampdoria derby
January 27 – The thought of a big-league derby match being held in an empty stadium would generally be ridiculed. But that is what could happen next Sunday (February 2) in Genoa when kick off comes at 12.30am local time.
Fergie lands role as UEFA coaching guru
January 24- Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will help shape the future of European football after being unveiled today by UEFA as its new coaching ambassador.