Vietnamese call in police after more V-League match-fixing suspicions
September 1 – Organisers of Vietnam’s V-League have pledged to step up their crackdown on match-fixing after several games ended with questionable results.
Archive
I-League faces loss of Goa’s Dempo as ISL flexes its financial muscle
By Samindra Kunti
September 1 – Goa’s Dempo Sports Club are set to be the third Indian club to drop out of the 2016 I-League. The All India Football Federation AIFF wants a roadmap to have a single national Indian league in the future and it looks like the Indian Super League (ISL) is winning the race.
Indosat signs regional telecoms deals with Arsenal, Barca and Inter Milan
By Paul Nicholson
September 1 – Indonesian telecom operator Indosat has signed official telecom partner deals with three of Europe’s club giants – Arsenal, Barcelona and Inter Milan. The two-year deals will deliver exclusive content, breaking news and video to Indonesian fans.
Loko Ultras fail with pitch invasion but successfully lay siege to local police station
By Alexander Krassimirov
September 1 – More than 60 Ultras, supporters of Bulgaria’s Lokomotiv Plovdiv, laid seige to the police station in Montana this weekend, trying to free one of their fellow fans. The fan had been arrested during the game in the Bulgarian elite league between Montana and Lokomotiv after Plovdiv Ultras tried to invade the pitch.
North vs South Korea football friendly mooted as bridge to new era
By Mark Baber
August 31 – The tenuous rapprochement between the two Koreas may see North and South Korea competing in a friendly for the first time in 10 years, according to an article in the English language Korea Joongang Daily, part of one of South Korea’s biggest newspaper groups.
FITS Forum to focus on measures to clean-up sports’ dirty money-go-round
By Paul Nicholson
August 31 – While the talk of reform in football up to this point has been generally been conducted via media statements and in federation meeting rooms, this week sees the first open discussion forum in Geneva that will look at the practical issues and potential solutions.
Five injured as safety barrier gives way at Bordeaux Euro2016 stadium
August 31 – Five spectators, including two minors, were injured as a safety barrier gave way at the recently opened Nouveau Stade in Bordeaux late in the Derby de l’Atlantique.
Premier League fans pack stadia buying over 1.4m tickets in first 4 rounds
By Paul Nicholson
August 31 – The Premier League closed off its fourth round of matches going into the first international break of the season having sold a total of more than 1.4 million tickets – a remarkable 95.8% of all tickets available.
Wanda waves its Chinese magic forming mega-sports group
By David Owen
August 30 – Dalian Wanda Group, the Chinese conglomerate which this year bought 20% of Atlético Madrid, claims to have become the world’s largest sports operating company after acquiring a US-based triathlon business for $650 million.
Platini stays quiet on FIFA, but backs Olympiakos saying there was no favourtism
By Andrew Warshaw
August 28 – Michel Platini’s eagerly awaited first press conference since announcing he is running for FIFA president turned into a giant anti-climax when he refused to answer any questions about his candidacy, much to the disappointment and annoyance of scores of journalists who had travelled to Monaco specifically to hear his blueprint for the future.
Man Utd scent blood as they hunt down Chelsea with Arsenal in sights
By Paul Nicholson
August 28 – Manchester United again top the weekly Insideworldfootball Twitter growth table in a week that saw overall growth across all Premier League club twitter activity, resulting in an overall increase in followers of 0.63% compared to 0.57% the previous week.
Pakistan’s Hayat keeps AFC legal posts despite breaking the law at home
By Andrew Warshaw
August 28 – With little fanfare and hardly any publicity, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently proudly announced the makeup of its new standing committees for the next four years. One of those re-elected as chairman of its legal committee – was Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, the controversial Pakistani who has been at the centre of a bitter domestic dispute.
FIFA extraditions: US keep grip on Rocha; Argentine judge suspends Jinkis’ extradition
By Mark Baber
August 28 – In the latest moves in the FIFA corruption case, an Argentine judge has suspended the US extradition request for Argentine businessmen Hugo and Mariano Jinkis in lieu of more information from US prosecutors, whilst the US has insisted on priority over Nicaragua in extraditing Julio Rocha from Switzerland.
Champions League draw throws up mixed fortunes for Manchester clubs
August 28 – If there wasn’t quite a group of death, Manchester City arguably again drew the short straw in the draw for the group stages of the Champions League.
Schalke 04 strikes €1.4m deal with Turkish Airlines
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
August 28 – FC Schalke 04 has inked a new sponsorship deal with Turkish Airlines. The deal, which is estimated to be worth a total of €1.4 million, will see the airlinesupport the Gelsenkirchen-based side for two years.