Clubs to celebrate world’s first football derby
By David Owen
July 25 – The origins of one of football’s most emotive and universal concepts are to be celebrated in a small town in north Derbyshire, not far from Sheffield, on Saturday.
World Football
AirAsia lands $1.4m three-year sponsorship with Singapore FA
By Mark Baber
July 25 – Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) have agreed a S$1.8 million ($1.4 million) sponsorship deal, including the cost of flights for the under-21, under-23 and senior national teams, as well as the National Football Academy’s age-group teams and women’s teams.
Jordaan appointed as advisor to CAF president Hayatou
By Mark Baber
July 25 – South African Football Association (SAFA) vice-president and respected anti-apartheid activist Dr Danny Jordaan has been appointed to serve as advisor to Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Issa Hayatou.
Another Milan walk-off re-ignites racism issues in Italy
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – Six months after Kevin Prince Boateng famously walked off the pitch during a winter break friendly because of racist abuse that led directly to strict new anti-discrimination measures by football’s two main authorities, another AC Milan player has followed suit.
Football back on in Egypt, for a day, to allow Champions League match
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – Egypt’s volatile political situation briefly gave way to football on Wednesday as Al Ahli drew 1-1 with arch-rivals Zamalek in the African Champions League. Domestic Egyptian football is currently suspended.
Lazio prosecutor demands points, fines and suspensions as trial starts
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – Italian giants Lazio could start next season with a six-point deduction and be without their captain Stefano Mauri for more than four years following the start of their match-fixing trial.
Critics sceptical of measures to resolve Nigerian club crisis
By Mark Baber
July 23 – A week after an emergency meeting between the Nigerian Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi (pictured) and board members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the League Management Company (LMC) and Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), doubts are being expressed about the feasibility of the measures promised by the Sports Minister, which included paying players the money they are owed and instituting a minimum wage.
Putin signs anti-hooligan measures into law
By Mark Baber
May 23 – Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law Tuesday legislation that increases the sanctions which can be applied to convicted hooligans at sports events. The so-called Fan Law will come into effect on January 19, 2014.
AFDP provides youth support for Tajik initiatives
July 23 – The Asian Football Development Project (AFDP), chaired by FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured), is stepping up its support of the grass-roots game in less established footballing nations by targeting Tajikistan, with special emphasis on advancing girls’ football.
Gamers ready for Interactive Gold Cup final live at Cowboys Stadium tonight
July 23 – Tonight’s double header semi-finals of CONCACAF’s Gold Cup at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, will be split between matches by the final of the CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup 2013 (CIGC13), played out live on the big screen in the stadium by gamers using Playstation 3 consoles.
Nigerians ban teams, players and officials over ‘goal-fest’ disgrace
By Andrew Warshaw
July 23 – Players and officials of four Nigerian clubs involved in two promotion play-off games that produced farcical 79-0 and 67-0 scorelines have been thrown out for life by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
Juve tops payout table as UEFA distributes bumper €1.1bn
By Andrew Warshaw
July 24 – The financial importance of playing in the cash-rich Champions League for Europe’s top clubs has been starkly underlined yet again by the latest figures from UEFA which show that €904.6 million was distributed among the 32 teams competing in the competition from the group stage onwards last season. The payments cover participation, TV pool and performance-related revenue.
Shaikh Salman steps up to the plate with FIFA-style Ethics initiative
By Paul Nicholson
July 23 – The Asian Football Confederation has announced plans to create its own Ethics Committee that it expects will be operational by January 2014. An initiative of new AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, he said he hoped that the committee will help fight AFC corruption at all levels.
FIFA warns Uganda of suspension if FUFA loses legal status
By Mark Baber
July 23 – FIFA has warned the Uganda Football Association (FUFA) against government interference which could lead to a worldwide football ban for the country.
English Premier League out in the cold over opposition to Winter 2022
By Andrew Warshaw
July 23 – The English Premier League’s opposition to a winter World Cup in Qatar is looking increasingly isolated after the head of the European Club Association, which represents over 200 clubs across the Continent, re-iterated his organisation’s support for switching the 2022 tournament from the searing heat of the summer.