New year, same old issues. Greek FA raided by financial police
January 16 – Greek football has been plunged into further controversy following a raid by local police on the headquarters of the Hellenic Football Federation (HFF).
World Football
Irish FA’s €60m bail-out talks ‘positive’ as negotiation enters crucial end-phase
January 15 – A rescue package to save the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) from complete collapse has moved a step closer following survival talks between Irish officials and UEFA.
Anderlecht reshuffle board as Kompany-led team fails to catch fire
January 15 – Belgium’s RSC Anderlecht have reshuffled their boardroom in a bid to halt the club’s dramatic, recent slide. Earlier this season, the appointment of Vincent Kompany as player-coach backfired.
Exclusive: Lekjaa says CAF has cash and that no decision has been made on Samoura staying
By Osasu Obayiuwana
January 14 – Fouzi Lekjaa, second Vice-President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has told Insideworldfootball that the organisation has a minimum bank balance of $100 million and is far from broke, as has been alleged in recently months.
Argentina is major source of players for South American leagues, as Brazilians go global
January 14 – An analysis of the four leading leagues in South America – Brazil’s Serie A, Argentina’s Superliga, the Chilean Primera División and the Mexican Liga MX – has thrown up a number of differences, most interestingly in the movement and development of playing talent.
Clermont Foot 63 take a knee as French ramp up anti-racism messaging
January 13 – On a weekend when France’s top two divisions staged a collective protest to mobilise the fight against racism in football stadiums, a second division club went one step further.
Club Brugge to build new €100m, 40,000-seat new stadium
January 13 – Club Brugge have said they will build a new 40,000-seater stadium on the site of their current ground, the Jan Breydelstadion, at a cost of €100 million. Stadium construction is to be completed by the 2022-23 season.
Saudi’s Spanish Super Cup ends with Madrid penalty shoot-out and €120m for RFEF
January 13 – Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 4-1 on penalties to win the Spanish Super Cup after the money-driven revamped tournament, exported to Saudi Arabia, ended in a less than thrilling goalless draw.
Greeks condemn Larissa fans who racially abused French youth star Abou Ba
February 13 – The Greek football union have joined a chorus of condemnation over the racist abuse of Aris Thessaloniki’s young French midfielder Abou Ba during a top-flight fixture at Larissa on Saturday.
Spanish fans set record attendance levels acoss LaLiga’s top two divisions
January 13 – LaLiga is reporting more than 7.6 million fans attended matches in the first half of the 2019/20 season in Spain’s top two divisions, up by 85,727 on last season (a rise of 1.53%).
Nigeria steps up with offer to host WAFCON 2020, Equatorial Guinea also interested
January 10 – The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed interest in hosting this year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after Congo-Brazaville withdrew from staging the tournament.
Barrett takes over crisis hit FAI with mandate to overhaul finances and governance
January 10 – The embattled Football Association of Ireland (FAI), desperately looking for a financial bailout by the Irish government, has appointed Roy Barrett (pictured), managing director at Goodbody Stockbrokers, as the board’s new independent chairperson.
Serie A gets another new boss with Dal Pino given mandate to sort mess out
January 10 – Italy’s Serie A, mired in multiple integrity issues including its failure to act on institutional racist issues, election malfeasance and its controversial Super Cup deal with Saudi Arabia, has elected Paolo Dal Pino as its new president.
Player power. FIFPro ‘amplifies’ its voice with new player council
January 10 – International players’ union FIFPro has launched a Global Player Council to strengthen the role of male and female professional footballers.
Platini in play? Will FIFPro presidency be former UEFA chief’s return to world stage?
January 10 – In search of a final career challenge, has Michel Platini decided which path to take?