Howard Wells: Why the Brussels summit flails in the face of FIFA basics

Howard Wells

Last week a group led by British politicians announced a one-day forum to be hosted at the European Parliament in Brussels, titled ‘A New FIFA Now’, and promising uncompromising talk of effecting change. In a guest column, Howard Wells, a former national federation CEO and former FIFA insider, argues the meeting is a political vanity project that clouds the debate rather than contributes to it. In the real politik of international football the talk-shop falls at the very first hurdle of failing to understand the basic structure of how football is governed worldwide.

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Rangers board rejects £20m buyout from US investor

Rangers

By Paul Nicholson
January 12 – Rangers have turned down a revised bid of £20 million for a majority stake in the Scottish club from American Robert Sarver. The announcement was made to the London Stock Exchange this morning. Sarver had also offered the club an emergency £6.5 million loan as part of the deal.

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Ticket sell out for the Cup game that never was

Accrington Stanley

January 7 – The tickets were quickly snapped up but the game never took place. When tiny Accrington Stanley, dubbed in England as the club that would never die after being saved from extinction, had a chance to play mighty Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup, tickets sold out in 36 hours.

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