World Football Archives - Page 732 of 912 - Inside World Football

Bayern head for Doha training camp as Real Madrid and PSG return to Europe

PSG vs Real Madrid

By Paul Nicholson
January 3 – Europe’s giant clubs aren’t heading for the alpine ski slopes for their winter break but to the warmer climate of the Middle East for preparation for the second half of their seasons. French champions and league leaders Paris St Germain are already in Doha, Qatar, and last night played a friendly against Spain’s Real Madrid (Madrid won 1-0) in front of a 45,000 capacity crowd at Aspire’s Khalfa Stadium. Bayern leave for Qatar at the weekend.

Archive

ADIB renews UAE Pro League sponsorship and plans ‘affinity’ launch

UAE Pro League

By Paul Nicholson
January 3 – The UAE Pro League Committee has renewed its sponsorship with the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. ADIB will be its exclusive and official bank of the league and UAW Pro League’s other competitions.

Africa

Hosts suffer setback as Kaiser Chiefs refuse to release players for Chan start

kaiser chiefs vs mamelodi sundowns

By Paul Nicholson
January 3 – South Africa, hosts of the African Nations Championship (Chan) that kicks off January 11, face the embarrassment of not being able to get all their own first choice players on to the pitch for Bafana Bafana as leading club Kaiser Chiefs are refusing to release five players.

Archive

Bernstein honoured but no New Year knighthood for ‘King David’

David bernstein

January 2 – Reports that David Beckham could receive a knighthood proved completely unfounded when the former England captain and global footballing icon was omitted from the traditional New Year royal awards list.

Archive

Anelka’s defense fails to quell raging racism debate in France and beyond

Nicolas Anelka

By Andrew Warshaw
January 2 – The ‘quennelle’ Nazi sign made by former French international striker Nicolas Anelka has prompted fierce reaction in both sporting and political circles that is showing no sign of abating – even though the player has promised not to repeat it.

Archive

EC calls in Swansea’s Liberty Stadium funding for closer scrutiny

Liberty Stadium

By Andrew Warshaw
January 2 – The joint use of the Liberty stadium in Swansea, built at a cost of £27 million, is the latest case being investigated by the European Commission as part of a widescale probe into state aid in sport. Officials have asked the local council to supply funding details of a deal which has enabled Swansea City and rugby club Ospreys to play there since 2005.

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Ivanov returns to take top whistle blowers’ job in Russia

valentin ivanov

January 2 – Russian football has taken on former top FIFA official Valentin Ivanov to replace Italian Roberto Rosetti as head of its domestic refereeing department.

Archive

Spartak Moscow owner says new stadium to cost $426m

Otkritie Arena

By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 2 – Russian billionaire Leonid Fedun has announced that the new stadium currently being built for Spartak Moscow will cost 14 billion rubles ($426 million). Fedun told local news agency ITAR-TASS that Spartak is already receiving funds for the investment from its sponsor, Russian bank Otkritie, under a naming rights deal signed in February 2013.

Africa

SAFA sex case goes to court as official battles to clear his name

SAFA HQ

December 30 – A senior South African FA official has been accused of sexual harassment and soliciting sexual favours from a young female colleague.

Africa

Cameroon FA trawls Europe looking for new players

cameroon fan

December 30 – Cameroon football authorities are on a mission to Europe to try and boost their World Cup hopes.

Archive

Brazilian prosecutors demand $2m over Recife ticketing shambles

Recife stadium

By Andrew Warshaw
December 30 – Brazilian prosecutors want FIFA and the organising committee of last summer’s Confederations Cup to settle $2 million worth of claims for alleged ticketing irregularities during the World Cup warm-up tournament.

Archive

Anelka’s Nazi ‘salute’ enrages fans and politicians worldwide

Nicolas Anelka

December 30 – Nazi salute or innocent gesture? Whichever it was, former French international Nicolas Anelka has caused uproar in both sporting and political circles for his unusual celebration after the first of his two goals for West Bromwich Albion during last weekend’s 3-3 Premier League draw at West Ham.

Africa

Fan dies as Malawi Super League finale ends in violence

Malawi super league

By Paul Nicholson
December 30 – The deciding game of the Malawi TNM Super League championship was abandoned after 61 minutes after fan violence leading to the death of one fan and many others left injured, six in a serious condition, on Saturday.

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Fluminense cling on to Serie A status after Portuguesa appeal turned down

Fluminense

December 30 – Fluminense have been spared the embarrassment of being the first team in Brazilian Serie A history to be relegated the season after having won the championship.

Archive

Platini sticks to his guns to free the game of ‘cheating, violence or injustice’

michel platini 5

By Andrew Warshaw
December 30 – UEFA President Michel Platini admits some of his policies, not least financial fair play, have made himself and his organisation unpopular but that he will not waiver from his determination to put European football on a healthier path.