South African captain shot dead by intruders at home
By Andrew Warshaw
October 27 – South African football has been plunged into mourning after national team captain Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead by intruders at his girlfriend’s home.
World Football
Broadcast: Ekstraklasa launches free live app, Liverpool go HD
October 24 – Poland’s Ekstraklasa has launched a free app that will broadcast coverage of the matches as well as latest news and personalised updates from the league. The app is available on IOS and Android devices.
Romania’s Craiova unveils €55m stadium design for Universitatea
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
October 24 – Romanian government authorities have unveiled the design of a planned stadium for top tier football club CS Universitatea Craiova.
Court overturns Nigerian elections, Giwa is back, FIFA ban looms
By Mark Baber
October 24 – The Nigerian High Court sitting in Jos on Thursday held that the disputed September 30 elections for the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) Board, in which Amaju Pinnick was elected President, were invalid, upholding the disputed August 26 election in which Chris Giwa was elected President.
Garber says Miami stadium is a must-have if MLS is to grant Becks franchise
October 24 – Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber says an apparent lack of political will is hindering David Beckham’s bid to set up a new franchise in Miami.
Both sanctioned as Serbia vs Albania walk-off row keeps running
By Andrew Warshaw
October 24 – In one of the most scrutinised judgments handed down in recent years, UEFA have effectively punished both parties for the politically-fuelled mayhem that caused last week’s Euro 2016 qualifier between Balkan rivals Serbia and Albania to be abandoned while goalless on 41 minutes after descending into chaos.
Hoeness’ Swiss banker feels long reach of the law in Poland
By Andrew Warshaw
October 24 – A Swiss banker has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the €28.5 million tax evasion case that sent former Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness, one of Germany’s most venerated footballing figures, to jail.
Temperatures overheat in Ebola row
By Andrew Warshaw
October 23- An unsavoury tit-for-tat spat between the respective leaders of European and African football appears to have been resolved after threatening to get out of hand.
Uefa president Michel Platini reportedly demanded an apology after the Confederation of African Football, led by Issa Hayatou, criticised the Frenchman for interfering in the debate over whether to stage the Africa Cup of Nations because of the Ebola virus.
Bayer Leverkusen ordered to repay €16m sponsorship money
By Mark Baber
October 23 – Wednesday was a great day on the pitch for Bayer Leverkusen as they topped UEFA Champions League Group C after defeating FC Zenit 2-0 in the BayArena. Off the pitch, however, things were not so good as a court ordered the club to repay €16 million of sponsorship money received from electricity company Teldafax which went bust in 2011.
IFA storms Berlin and readies for IFA Zurich at FIFA House
By Paul Nicholson
October 23 – Marcel Schmid, the boss of boutique conference organiser International Football Arena, is feeling uncharacteristically happy. His Berlin conference taking place October 30, titled Football’s Digital Transformation, is now full and closed to registrations. His main conference, IFA Zurich, which takes place December 3 at the House of FIFA, is rapidly gathering momentum.
UEFA opens doors to closed stadium sanction rethink
By Andrew Warshaw
October 23 – UEFA are to review their policy of handing out behind-closed-doors sanctions to clubs guilty of misbehaviour following complaints that innocent away fans were unfairly penalised in Tuesday’s Champions League clash between CSKA Moscow and Manchester City.
Greece’s Irodotos heavily sanctioned after Ethnikos fan death
October 23 – A Greek third division club has been heavily sanctioned following the death of a rival fan last month after being attacked.
Brazil’s Santos suffer World Cup blues as accounts bleed red
By Ricardo Setyon
October 23 – Santos, one of the world’s most iconic football clubs and the home team of Pele and more recently Neymar, is facing the battle of its life, perhaps even for its life. Expensive player acquisitions, dwindling attendances and 2015 TV money already spent, the club is in a desperate financial position despite currently sitting 7th in the Brasileirão.
Can FIFA legally publish the Garcia corruption report?
Writing in LawInSport, Hill Dickinson lawyer Kevin Carpenter examines whether FIFA can legally publish the Garcia report into the allegations of corruption surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids. He also looks at the legal position in relation to the publication/confidentiality of the report.
Lennart Johansson career explored in new TV documentary
By David Owen
October 23 – A new TV documentary on the career of former UEFA President Lennart Johansson has been produced by the Swedish company, Mastroc Mediaproduktion.