World Football Archives - Page 291 of 905 - Inside World Football

Second Sudan ethics complaint emerges, made 3 months prior to Infantino’s pre-CAF Congress visit

By Paul Nicholson

March 17 – More details are emerging of alleged financial corruption at the Sudan FA by president Dr. Kamal Shadad (pictured), as well as evidence of a complaint made to FIFA’s Ethics department back in October 2020, three months before FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited the country and reportedly instructed Shadad to support new CAF president Patrice Motsepe ahead of the African confederation’s electoral congress.

Europe

BeNeLiga takes a step close as Belgian clubs vote in favour

By Samindra Kunti

March 17 – Belgium’s top flight clubs have voted in support of a cross-border BeNeLiga, a league that would see Belgian clubs play their counterparts from the Dutch Eredivisie.

Europe

Dijon FCO refuse to release players for international duty

March 17 – Dijon FCO have become the latest of Europe’s clubs to refuse to release their non-European nationality players for international duty, the French club announced on Tuesday.

Europe

PFA recruits globetrotter Molango to take over from Taylor

March 17 – Maheta Molango, a former Swiss player who spent time in England’s lower leagues, is to become the first black chief executive of a leading English football body when he succeeds Gordon Taylor as chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association.

Africa

Motsepe backs Veron to hit the ground running at CAF and tells TV it is time to pay Africans

By Samindra Kunti

March 16 – New CAF president Patrice Motsepe has said he needs new secretary-general Veron Mosengo-Omba in his team “to hit the ground running”, even if the South African offered little detail on how he will tackle some of CAF’s pressing, existential problems.

FIFPro economic report finds lack of protections for players in an unstable market

March 16 – A FIFPro study of working conditions in the domestic game in 79 countries shows “less than one-third have a well-functioning system” with stable employment conditions.

Copa America

Copa America to be played as 10 team comp after virus kills off non-Conmebol guests

March 16 – Co-hosts Argentina will kick off the 2020 Copa America in Buenos Aires on June 13, with South American Football Confederation Conmebol releasing the competition’s new calendar after both invitees Australia and Qatar withdrew because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Europe

Dinamo Zagreb coach Mamic quits after Croatian court confirms jail term for fraud

March 16 – The coach of Dinamo Zagreb, who play Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League on Thursday, has resigned after having a prison sentence for fraud and tax evasion confirmed by Croatia’s supreme court.

Africa

Africa’s new regime of Motsepe-CAF-FIFA immediately tested with Sudan ethics complaint

By Paul Nicholson

March 16 – Just four days after Patrice Motsepe took the leadership of CAF and two days after FIFA’s Veron Mosengo-Omba was shifted from Zurich to CAF as its General Secretary, their first ethical challenge concerning an African member association has arisen.

Africa

Africa conquered: Infantino foot soldier Veron quits Zurich to takeover at CAF in Cairo

By Andrew Warshaw

March 15 – Having seen the man he backed become head of African football, Gianni Infantino now has the luxury of even more influence across the Continent after one of FIFA’s top officials was parachuted into the Confederation of African Football’s number two role at the weekend.

Africa

Johansen manoeuvred into position at FIFA Council

March 15 – The CAF elections last Friday saw a whole suite of FIFA’s favourite Africans jostled into position both at the confederation and as their representatives at FIFA. Among the change was the further rise of Isha Johansen, Sierra Leone’s FA president, at the expense of long term incumbent Lydia Nsekera from Burundi.

Europe

Le Graet overcomes critics to secure fourth term as French federation president

March 15 – French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet (pictured) was re-elected for a fourth term after an easy victory over his two opponents despite reports of a toxic culture at the governing body.

Europe

Talks open on allowing 20,000 fans into Wembley for FA Cup final

Wembley calling?

March 15 – Talks are under way to allow up to 20,000 fans – around a quarter of capacity at Wembley – at this season’s FA Cup final as one of the pilot events for the large-scale return of spectators in the wake of the coronavirus.

Africa

Motsepe crowned at CAF, promising urgent change and a brave new world

By Paul Nicholson

March 12 – South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe took the throne of African football at the 43rd CAF Congress today, profusely thanking his many ‘brothers’ before sending a clear message at the end of the meeting that there is an urgent need to progress the game in Africa and that it can’t be done without the buy-in of the private sector in all member nations.

Africa

Politicking sorted, Infantino opens CAF Congress with praise for Africa’s unity

By Paul Nicholson

March 12 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino opened the 43rd CAF Congress in Rabat, Morocco – pretty much his home constituency in the balance of FIFA’s politics these days – with an emphasis on African unity and yet another pledge to drive Africa to the top of the world game on the field of play.