Qatari investors purchase 70 per cent of Paris St. Germain
By David Gold
June 1 – A Qatari investment company has bought 70 per cent of Ligue 1 outfit Paris St. Germain from the club’s current owners, Colony Capital.
Europe
Europe’s top clubs demand change at FIFA
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
June 1 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (pictured), head of the European Club Association (ECA) that represents the interests of every major professional club throughout the continent, has called for a complete overhaul of how FIFA is governed.
FIFA lifts Bosnia’s international suspension
By David Gold
May 31 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has taken a break from defending world football’s governing body from public criticism and bribery allegations to confirm that Bosnia has had a suspension preventing it from competing in international football lifted.
Bundesliga executive wary of “Murphy Ruling” impact on top European clubs
By David Gold at the SPONSORs Sports Summit in Dusseldorf
May 19 – The case of Karen Murphy, the pub owner in Portsmouth whom a European judge ruled could use a Greek decoder to reduce the costs of showing live Premier League television to her customers, was discussed by Wolfsburg managing director Thomas Rottgerman (pictured) here today.
FA marketing and communications director quits
By Andrew Warshaw
May 17 – Julian Eccles quit today as marketing and communications director of the English Football Association, another blow to the image of the organisation in the wake of its failed 2018 World Cup bid.
FIFA and UEFA take attempt to charge UK audience to watch international tournaments to the European Court of Justice
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By David Gold
May 16 – Football’s governing body FIFA and UEFA, the most powerful regional confederation, are to contest a legal ruling preventing them from charging supporters to view World Cup and European Championship games.
Over 100 Spartak Moscow fans arrested after violence erupts during league game
By David Gold
May 16 – More than 120 Spartak Moscow supporters were arrested after a riot during their match against Krylia Sovetov Samara in the Russian Premier League.
Blatter and Platini open Serbian “House of Football”
By David Gold
May 15 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini have opened a “House of Football” in Serbia, consisting of six fields, a hotel, several gyms and training grounds.
Hearts sign sponsorship deal with wonga.com
By David Gold
May 15 – Scottish Premier League outfit Heart of Midlothian has agreed a shirt sponsorship deal with Wonga.com, the online short term loans company, replacing Ukio Bankas from the start of next season.
Blanc cleared by French Football Federation investigation
By David Gold
May 13 – The French Football Federation (FFF) has cleared Laurent Blanc after releasing its findings from the investigation it conducted into plans to implement quotas limiting the number of dual-nationality players in the country’s academies.
University of Bath honour Welsh legend Powell with statue
By Mike Rowbottom
May 10 – Former Welsh international footballer Ivor Powell, whose role as the world’s oldest working football coach was recognised in 2006 by the Guinness Book of Records, today unveiled a bronze statue of himself to mark 37 years of service to the University of Bath.
Blanc likely to stay on as France coach after being cleared by Government inquiry
By David Gold
May 10 – France national team coach Laurent Blanc has been cleared by the Government inquiry into the proposal to introduce ethnic quotas restricting the number of players of African and North African origin being trained in French academies.
Syed defaults on Racing debt repayment
By David Gold
May 10 – Ahsan Ali Syed has defaulted on a repayment of Racing Santander’s debt to their regional Government, placing his takeover of the club in doubt.
Polish clubs forced to play in front of empty stadiums after cup final violence
By David Gold
May 6 – Legia Warsaw and Lech Poznan will play their respective Polish League games against Korona Kielce and Gornik Zabrze in front of empty stadiums after rioting following the cup final between the two sides last week.
French 1998 World Cup winners split on quota row as Blanc’s future hangs in the balance
By David Gold
May 6 – The ethnic quota row engulfing French football has accelerated this week, with national team coach Laurent Blanc’s position in doubt, despite the suspension of the French Football Federation’s (FFF) National Technical Director Francois Blaquart.