By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent
February 11 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hit back at criticism by UEFA of the reform process he instigated almost two years ago in the wake of widespread corruption. The reform process will reach its eagerly awaited conclusion at the FIFA Congress in May.
By David Owen
I came upon a prescient article from the Washington Post today.
It was about a West African country where poverty was said to be fuelling a resurgence of Muslim fundamentalism.
“People want schools, they want medical attention for their children,” a local sociologist was quoted as saying.
“But who is listening to them?
“Islamists, who provide them with water and fertiliser to believe the solutions are found in religion.
February 8 – One of English football’s best known boardroom faces, Keith Harris (pictured), looks set to get back into the game with a bid for Portsmouth, the former Premier League club currently stuggling in League One.
By Mark Baber
February 8 – The Premier League has voted in its own set of financial controls on its member clubs, though some clubs feel the rules do not go far enough.
February 8 – 9,000 tickets for the Wembley UEFA Champions League final to be held on May 25, go on sale exclusively on UEFA.com from Monday at 12.00 CET.
By Mark Baber
February 8 – There are still 10,000 unsold tickets for Sunday’s AFCON final between Burkina Faso and Nigeria, according to Confederation of African Football (CAF) general secretary Hicham El Amrani.
By Mark Baber
February 8 – A European Commission study on the economic and legal aspects of player transfers says the transfer system has to change to bring it into line with the original rationale for sport to be alowed to differ from normal employment practices.
February 8 – Chelsea are headed to Asia pre-season on their ‘Here to Play, Here to Stay’ tour, which will see the west London-based club play matches in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.
February 7 – Swiss law professor and FIFA’s anti-corruption adviser Mark Pieth has warned that UEFA’s position on FIFA’s reform proposals will “basically try to cut half” of the modernising agenda.
February 7 – FIFA has partnered with Terre des Hommes (TdH) and its local partner Giriyuja to establish a centre for street kids in Burundi’s capital Bujumbara.
By Mark Baber
February 7 – A working group under the direction of sports sociologist Gunter A. Pilz is developing guidelines for the German Football Association (DFB) to help German football clubs prepare for the potential outing of a gay player.
February 7 – FIFA has launched a website where whistleblowers can report allegations of corruption, match-fixing and breaches of the FIFA Code of Conduct and the FIFA Code of Ethics.
By Mark Baber
February 7 – There are now four candidates nominated to represent women’s football on the FIFA executive committee for a four year term, the first time the women’s game has had a permanent seat at the governing body’s top table.
February 7 – If confirmation were needed that India’s football is intent on raising its profile, then the New Delhi conference ‘Goal 2013 India Football’, 14-15 February , will likely provide it.
By Mark Baber
February 6 – A storm of protest has been unleashed by vice-President of AC Milan, Paolo Berlusconi, the brother of ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi, after he described the club’s new acquisition, Mario Ballotelli, as “”il negretto della famiglia” (the n***** of the family).