More UEFA federations pledge support for Infantino’s FIFA push
February 15 – Thirteen more European federations have pledged unanimous support to Gianni Infantino in his bid to become FIFA president, according to the Serbian FA (FSS).
World Football
Mwendwa takes top job at Kenyan federation as Nyamweya withdraws
By Mark Baber
February 12 – A new era has dawned for the Football Kenya Federation as Nick Mwendwa has been voted in as the new president of the Football Kenya Federation, finally bringing to an end the controversial reign of incumbent Sam Nyamweya.
Germans bid to be testbed for video ref trials
February 12 – Germany will officially bid to be among the first countries to experiment with video replays if lawmakers approve live trials next month.
CONCACAF say house is now in order and they want their FIFA cash
By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – FIFA’s decision to freeze funding to CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, the two confederations most affected by the ongoing corruption scandal with a spate of officials charged and arrested, has drawn a carefully worded response from CONCACAF who insist they are putting their house in order and clearly want the payments resumed.
Kurdish club comes under fire from Turkish FA and police over ‘ideological propaganda’
By Mark Baber
February 11 – As Third Division club Amedspor, from Turkey’s largest Kurdish-populated city Diyarbakir, enjoys a run to the Turkish cup quarter-finals, it finds itself under attack from the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) – with player and fan bans imposed and police raids for alleged ‘ideological propaganda’.
UNCAF declare for Montagliani but election turns ugly as dirty tricks mount
By Paul Nicholson
February 10 – The central American federations that form the UNCAF regional body that is part of CONCACAF, have moved swiftly to show their support for Canadian Victor Montagliani in his bid for the confederation’s presidency. But their declaration has been met with accusations that CONCACAF’s old guard are skewing the election to their man.
Dutch plan roll out of video refs in Eredvisie within 3 years
By Samindra Kunti
February 10 – The Dutch FA KNVB has targeted the introduction of video referee assistance in the Dutch top-flight the Eredivisie within the next three years.
Dortmund fans serve tennis ball protest over ticket prices
February 10 – The Bundesliga is often held up as a paragon of fairness when it comes to ticket prices. But it’s all relative and fans of Borussia Dortmund fans boycotted the first 20 minutes of their 3-1 quarter-final win over Stuttgart on Tuesday, then threw tennis balls on to the pitch, causing an unusual first-half interruption.
Clubs discuss Champions League change with Super League spectre lurking
By Andrew Warshaw
February 10 – Europe’s top clubs are playing down renewed talk of a breakaway super league but are discussing how the Champions League might be tweaked in the future.
Banned Kuwaiti politicos plan charm offensive to get FIFA ban lifted
February 10 – Kuwaiti government officials are preparing to tour the world in an effort to persuade FIFA to lift the ban it imposed on the Kuwait Football Association last October – for government interference.
Montagliani heads north American push for power at CONCACAF
By Paul Nicholson
February 9 – The battle for the presidency of CONCACAF has been raised a notch in intensity with the official announcement by Canadian FA president and CONCACAF executive committee member Victor Montagliani that he will run for election in May at the confederation’s congress in Mexico.
German FA launches legal action against Beckenbauer and FIFA over dubious payment
By Mark Baber
February 9 – The German Football Federation (DFB) has confirmed that it has launched legal proceedings against the 2006 World Cup Organizing Committee, which includes Franz Beckenbauer and former DFB presidents Theo Zwanziger and Wolfgang Niersbach, as well as Horst R. Schmidt and Fedor Radmann in order to protect itself from potential damages of up to €25 million.
African solidarity splinters as Egypt, Liberia and South Sudan break ranks
By Andrew Warshaw
February 9 – Three African federations say they will openly defy an instruction to support front-runner Sheikh Salman in the upcoming FIFA presidential election, proof if ever it was needed that confederation directives are not always followed by individual voting members.
Panic buyers: 5 PL clubs ‘overpay’ for players in January window
February 8 – The Jonjo Shelvey transfer showed €14.9 million of value to Newcastle, but they overpaid by €7 million for Andros Townsend, according to the latest report from the CIES Football Observatory.
Figueredo trades $10m in assets in bid to reduce jail time and stay safe
By Mark Baber
February 8 – Former president of the South American Football Confederation and former FIFA vice-President Eugenio Figueredo has agreed to hand over more than $10 million in stocks and property in a deal to reduce his punishment, according to Uruguayan prosecutor Juan Gomez.