Suarez will return hungrier than ever, reckons Barca star
August 1 – Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says Luis Suarez will be more motivated than ever when he completes his four-month ban for biting at the World Cup.
Europe
Moldovan businessman buys Romania’s Rapid Bucharest
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
August 1 – Moldovan businessman Valerii Moraru has acquired 94.72% of the shares in Romanian club Rapid Bucharest. The full cost of the club to Moraru has not been declared but it has been reported he paid between €2.7 million and €4 million for the 20% stake he purchased from Adrian Zamfir, one of the club’s former co-owners.
Crimean clubs to play in Russian second division from next season
By Mark Baber
August 1 – Meeting in the House of Football, the Russian Football Union (RFU) decided on Thursday to allow Crimean football clubs to play Russian league football from next season.
Barca post a record €500m+ performance despite a poor on-field season
By Andrew Warshaw
July 31 – Barcelona may have had one of their worst seasons in recent years by their own high standards – having not won a single trophy – but the Catalan giants have still managed to post record revenues and their second highest profit ever.
High Court pulls plug on Arsenal’s stadium concert business
By Mark Baber
July 31 – The High Court has rejected Arsenal’s appeal against a planning inspector’s decision against their proposal to increase the number of concerts held at the Emirates Stadium from three to six per year, rejecting Arsenal’s contention the inspector had not properly taking into account the benefits of the proposal and its overall accordance with the local area’s development plan.
Capello pledges to build Russian staff as he commits through to 2018
By Paul Nicholson
July 31 – Fabio Capello committed his future to the Russian team through to the 2018 World Cup yesterday. There had been criticism internally of Russia’s failure to make it through the group stages of the Brazil World Cup, as well as of Capello’s reported $12 million salary.
LFP shows leniency with sanctions on players caught betting on matches
By Mark Baber
July 30 – The Disciplinary Committee of the French Professional League (LFP) last Thursday imposed sanctions on some of the 87 first and second division players who were caught out after the files of the LFP were compared to lists of those betting on league games. The low-key announcement saw the toughest penalties imposed being three match suspended suspensions and fines of €1,500.
Tebas banks on top players to drive up value of La Liga globally
By Andrew Warshaw
July 30 – With the European pre-season spending spree in full swing despite the apparent advent of financial fair play, the president of La Liga in Spain has made it clear his country is prepared to out-muscle the Premier League when it comes to financial clout.
City partner WSFF to open channels to more female participation
July 29 – Manchester City Women’s Football Club (MCWFC) have partnered with Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) to launch a scheme aimed at getting more women and girls involved in sport.
Borussia Dortmund seeks new cash to boost Bayern challenge
By Mark Baber
July 29 – Borussia Dortmund (BVB), main challengers to Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga, are looking to take on another two major investors as strategic partners to sharpen their challenge to the Bavarian dominance.
Too old, too white and too male, says FA chief Dyke
July 28 – English FA chairman Greg Dyke, speaking via video message to members of the Football Supporters Federation and Supporters Direct via video message at their annual Supporters Summit, described his own organisation as being too old, too male and too white and that it was time for change.
Italian FA presidential candidate slips on skin of ‘banana eater’ comment
July 28 – FIFA has asked the Italian FA (FIGC) to investigate comments made by Italian Football Federation vice-President Carlo Tavecchio (pictured) described African players as “banana-eaters”.
Transfer reform talks underway with fees top of agenda
By Mark Baber
July 28 – FIFPro the international player union, has revealed talks are now taking place to achieve regulation of transfer prices. Pricing is a key issue within the reform of a transfer system that FIFPro believes is long overdue.
Fortuna expands east with Slavia Prague sponsorship
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
July 28 – Czech club Slavia Prague has secured betting operator Fortuna as its new shirt sponsor in a three-year deal.
Brit politico puts boot into Russia 2018, but FIFA maintains line
By Paul Nicholson
July 25 – The first leading British politician to call for Russia to be stripped of the hosting rights to the 2018 World Cup, following the downing of the Malaysian airliner in the Ukraine, was made by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg (pictured) yesterday and, perhaps not surprisingly, it was in an interview with Rupert Murdoch’s Sunday Times newspaper.