January 25 – It was supposed to be a new dawn free of controversy. But the appointment of former England international Phil Neville as the new coach of the national women’s team has hardly got off to the best start.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 24 – Former UEFA president Michel Platini, a largely peripheral figure in the game since his ban for financial wrongdoing, has decided to take one last stand to try and clear his name by going to the European Court of Human Rights, according to reports in France.
January 24 – A former England international who was banned by the Football Association in April last year for breaching betting rules claims 50% of professional players bet on matches and that gambling is “culturally engrained” in the sport.
By Paul Nicholson
January 22 – Allegations of match-fixing are still blighting Greek football with clubs complaining that the promised clean-up has not happened and that referees appointments are being influenced and that in turn is manipulating results.
January 22 – With US Soccer president Sunil Gulati and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani about to begin their charm offensive in Europe for the North American bid for the 2026 World Cup, Gulati has been hit with new problems.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 22 – The head of Norway’s FA has called on FIFA to step up its investigation into the Russian doping scandal and even consider a ban, comments that have prompted a furious response from his Russian counterpart.
July 19 – The confirmed speaker line-up for the Tackling Matchfixing conference, March 9-10, has been released. The conference, to be held at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel with a Gala Dinner at Stamford Bridge on March 9, is now open for registration.
January 19 – FIFA are again reported to be investigating Chelsea over possible breaches surrounding signing under-age players. And once again the club are denying any wrongdoing.
January 19 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS has lifted a five-year ban imposed on Senegalese club US Ouakam. In July 2017 eight people were killed by a stampede at the game US Ouakam – Stade de Mbour during Senegal’s cup final.
January 18 – An Atletico Madrid supporter is in a “serious condition” after being stabbed three times before the club’s Copa del Rey defeat to Sevilla on Wednesday.
January 16 – Has Lionel Messi done it again? The diminutive Argentine keeps scoring and evading his opponents on the field, but off the pitch he may not be as adept at evading tax obligations in Spain, according to various media reports.
January 16 – The extent to which football might have been affected by the Russian doping scandal has finally prompted action by FIFA which has confirmed it has questioned whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov.
January 16 – One month after UEFA rejected a request to waive Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules for AC Milan, saying they remained unconvinced about the club’s new Chinese backers, reports have apparently been submitted by Italy’s finance police over potentially suspicious activities relating to the sale.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – Disgraced former Asian football leader Mohamed Bin Hammam has broken his long silence by confirming he received €6.7 million in a payment that is long suspected to have been linked to the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – The tired claim by Russia’s World Cup organisers that racism is no worse in their country than elsewhere in football and only occasionally rears its ugly head has yet again been called into question by the latest distasteful incident involving Spartak Moscow.