Orient owner battles Albanian extradition request, denying all charges
By Andrew Warshaw
November 5 – The Italian owner of English fourth-tier club Leyton Orient faces extradition to Albania for alleged fraud and money laundering.
Europe
Benzema questioned by police over sex tape blackmail
November 5 – France’s Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been questioned by police in a blackmail case surrounding a sex tape, according to French reports.
Trabzonspor chairman banned for imprisoning ref after failure to win penalty
November 5 – After one of the most unusual and extraordinary cases of misconduct, Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu (pictured), chairman of top-flight Turkish club Trabzonspor, and several of his board members have been given lengthy bans for locking a referee in the dressing room until the early hours of the morning.
China’s Rastar poised to take $20m stake in Espanyol
By David Owen
November 5 – The other club in Barcelona – Espanyol, currently 10th in La Liga – look poised to fall under Chinese control. The Guangdong-based Rastar Group has said its Hong Kong unit is to buy 45%-56% of the club in a deal valued at up to almost $20 million.
German calls for Niersbach to stand down after police raid on DFB
By Andrew Warshaw
November 4 – Pressure is increasing on German Football Association (DFB) chief and FIFA executive committee member Wolfgang Niersbach to stand down following Tuesday’s raid by tax authorities on the DFB’s headquarters as part of an investigation linked to the country’s winning bid for the 2006 World Cup.
More racist comments from Tevacchio, with some homophobia thrown in…
November 3 – First he accused African players of being “banana eaters”, then made disparaging remarks about the sexuality of women footballers. Now the president of Italy’s Football Association Carlo Tevacchio is at it again, this time accused of making anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks.
German tax police raid DFB in probe into €6.7m payment
November 3 – Tax authorities in Germany have raided the headquarters of the German Football Federation (DFB) as part of an investigation into the country’s increasingly suspicious 2006 World Cup bid campaign.
Dutch bank healthy €6.8m but miss out on Euro2016 upside
By Samindra Kunti
November 3 – The Dutch FA KNVB made a profit of €6.8 million during the 2014/15 season. Holland’s absence at Euro2016 will not threaten the financial health of the organisation but will impact future investment.
German pressure mounts on Niersbach to quit over €6.7m ‘loan’
November 2 – As German football authorities continue to come under pressure over the vote-buying slush fund allegations which they have strongly denied, a senior German politician has entered the debate by suggesting DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach should consider resigning.
Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano admits 1.5m euro tax fraud
By Mark Baber
October 30- Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano admitted to two counts of tax fraud totalling 1.5m euros in a five minute hearing on Thursday in Gava near Barcelona.
Table topping Inter Milan break Serie A gate receipt records
October 29 – Rejuvenated Inter Milan who currently top Italy’s Serie A after a 1-0 win over Bologna are reporting chart topping attendance records.
Slovakia to build €68m national stadium in Bratislava
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
October 29 – Slovakia’s government is aiming to complete the construction of a new national football stadium in 2017, according to the country’s Minister of Education, Science, Research and Sport Juraj Draxler.
Biggleswade United take on Man Utd in Twitter growth war
By Paul Nicholson
October 28 – Non-league Biggleswade United, plying their trade in the 9th tier of the English league, have become a big hit on Twitter, adding 40,000 twitter followers in just three days due to their partnership with online football game giant Top Eleven.
UEFA open Dynamo Kiev racism probe as ‘segregation’ suggestion is denied
By Mark Baber
October 28 – UEFA decided on Tuesday to initiate a full investigation of the incident in which black fans of Dynamo Kiev were attacked by ultras of their own team whilst the Director of the Olympic Stadium, where the incident took place, issued a statement saying his words had been taken out of context and there was no intention to segregate fans on the basis of race.
Celtic moot taking the tartan into the US’s NASL
By Ben Nicholson
October 28 – Rumors are growing that Scottish giant Celtic FC is looking into the possibility of creating a franchise club in the North American Soccer League (NASL). Initial talks allegedly have already been held between the league and club representatives.