UEFA auctions Super Cup final tickets for charity
July 30 – UEFA has launched a charity ticket auction for 20 Category 1 UEFA Super Cup tickets for the match between FC Bayern München and Chelsea FC at the Stadion Eden in Prague, August 30.
Archive
Dodd maps development plan for women’s game across Asia
July 30 – Asian Football Confederation vice-president Moya Dodd has vowed to work for the development of the game in the continent in her additional role as the co-opted member of the FIFA executive committee. Dodd, who finished runner-up in the historic three-way battle for an elected women’s seat at the FIFA Congress in May, instead gained a one-year co-opted role.
South Korean banner opens old wounds and prompts Japanese complaint
By Andrew Warshaw
July 30 – Japan has lodged a protest with the East Asian Football Federation demanding an investigation into an inflammatory banner displayed by South Korean fans at the East Asian Cup final in Seoul.
Gulati calls for transparent World Cup bid processes as 2022 debate heats up
By Andrew Warshaw
July 30 – Sunil Gulati, head of the US Soccer Federation whose country lost out to Qatar in the battle to stage the 2022 World Cup, has questioned the entire bidding process and called for greater transparency in future.
Kick It Out launches racism reporting app
By Mark Baber
July 30 – Kick It Out, a campaign is supported and funded by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), the Premier League and The Football Association to encourage equality and inclusion has today launched a new free mobile app which allows players and fans to directly report racist or homophobic abuse to Kick It Out which will then follow up with football authorities and if necessary the police.
Scottish crisis: Hearts and Dunfermline running out of time to agree finance deals
July 30 – Crisis Scottish club Hearts are teetering on the brink just days before the start of the domestic season while a fans group are attempting to save another Scottish club Dunfermline Athletic.
Cardiff appoint chairman who was at centre of ENRC financial scandal
By Matt Scott
July 30 – The Premier League club Cardiff City yesterday appointed as chairman a man who until recently led a company under investigation by the UK’s Serious Fraud Office [SFO] amid allegations of corruption and bribery.
Tributes pour in for Ecuadorian striker Christian Benitez
By Andrew Warshaw
July 30 – Scores of tributes, including one from FIFA President Sepp Blatter, continue to pour in following the shock death of Ecuador international striker Christian Benitez from heart failure at the age of just 27. Benitez was rushed to hospital complaining of abdominal pains following his debut for Qatar’s El-Jaish as a late substitute on Sunday. He died the following day after what the Ecuadorean federation has now confirmed was a cardiac arrest.
Europol turns its focus on Russian mafia over alleged match-fixing
July 29 – Europol is spreading its football wings and has announced today it is to conduct an investigation into alleged football match fixing by the Russian mafia. The investigation will also look at organised crime groups in the Balkans. Rob Wainwright, the head of the EU police intelligence agency, told the Sunday Times said that in addition to the 380 matches that have been investigated since February, a further 300 were now considered suspicious.
Premier League clubs and Barcelona chase the 820m in the East
July 27 – Attracted by sponsorship deals, shirt sales and TV rights deals, Premier League clubs, and Barcelona, have been looking to Asia’s billion football fans. Following in the footsteps of Manchester United, clubs are focusing on Asia, spending time there in pre-season and opening up local offices.
Sky ‘loves competition’ ahead of BT football launch
By Mark Baber
July 29 – With BT shortly launching it new sports channels showing Premier League football, Sky, which has managed to see off previous major rivals, has been talking up the benefits of competition and has released new figures showing increased revenues and profits.
Celtic fireworks spark UEFA investigation
July 29 – Celtic are to be investigated by UEFA after supporters set off fireworks during last week’s Champions League qualifier against Northern Irish club Cliftonville.
Frustrated Scudamore fires off sharp messages to English FA, and FIFA
By Andrew Warshaw
July 29 – Three weeks before the start of the next English Premier League season, a new club-versus-country spat has broken out with Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore staunchly defending his organisation and insisting it is not to blame for successive failures of the England national team.
Webb hails Gold Cup a ‘huge success’ as blue riband event closes with US win
By Paul Nicholson
July 29 – CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb hailed the Gold Cup, which closed last night with 1-0 win for the USA over Panama, “a huge success, this has been a great Gold Cup”.
Makudi troubles mount as government backs his opposition in Thailand
By Andrew Warshaw
July 29 – The domestic election crisis that is understood to have prevented acting Thai football federation (FAT) president and FIFA executive committee member Worawi Makudi from attending the recent Asian Football Confederation executive meeting has taken yet another twist.