Man City expands regional deal with AvaTrade to its global platform
June 12 – On-line trading broker AvaTrade has expanded its regional sponsorship partnership with Manchester City into a global partnership in a new multi-year deal.
African turmoil as Conmebol blanks Morocco and Nyanteki quits as CAF roles
By Andrew Warshaw in Moscow
June 11 – The two sides in the bid to stage the 2026 World Cup upped the ante today as they made final presentations to all but one of FIFA’s six individual regional groupings – and not without considerable controversy.
FIFA backtracks on 48 teams for 2022 study, saying Qatar must be consulted
By Andrew Warshaw in Moscow
June 11 – The chances of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar being expanded to 48 teams appear to have faded as quickly as they arose.
Plans for a feasibility study have been put on hold and the idea pulled from Wednesday’s FIFA Congress after FIFA President Gianni Infantino said agreement from the Gulf nation is a “precondition.”
Based on player transfer values France will play England in 2018 World Cup final
June 11 – The CIES Football Observatory has ranked teams participating in the Russia 2018 World Cup by their transfer values. Top of the table are France with a total squad value of €1.41 billion.
UEFA and FIFA impotent as AEK’s Melissanidis heaps further shame on Greek football
By Paul Nicholson
June 11 – UEFA and FIFA’s failure to get any kind of control or governance over Greek football is reaching unprecedented levels even by their own woeful standards. The integrity of the game in Greece was hammered again with news that champion club AEK’s owner Dimitris Melissanidis is under investigation for accounting fraud.
Kosovo football legend and pioneer Vokrri dies suddenly, aged 57
June 11 – One of the main architects in getting Kosovo recognised as an international football federation and admitted as a UEFA and FIFA member, Fadil Vokrri, has passed away aged 57.
Man Utd push to front of queue with fledgling women’s team and Stoney taking the lead
June 11 – One of the benefits of being Manchester United is that you seemingly don’t have to wait in a queue for anything. Two weeks ago the club that has never had a women’s team was catapulted straight into the FA Women’s Super League. Last week they announced former England international Casey Stoney (pictured), an MBE, as head coach of the new team.
USL breaks attendance records as league admits New Mexico franchise for 2019
June 11 – The rapidly expanded secoind tier US professional league, the USL, broke another record last week as total attendance for the 2018 season broke the one million barrier at the earliest point in its history.
Ghana crisis as FIFA ban arrested Nyantakyi and government moves to dissolve FA
By Andrew Warshaw
June 8 – Just days before FIFA’s top brass and entire membership are both due to meet on the eve of the World Cup, explosive new corruption allegations have plunged African football into disgrace and led to Ghana dissolving its national federation.
World Cup 2018 ticket sales hit 2.4m with FIFA set to release another 100,000
June 8 – FIFA has announced that 2.4 million tickets have already been sold for the World Cup, which kicks off next Thursday. International demand accounts for 54%. On Friday evening, the governing body will release another batch of 100,000 tickets.
Frederick challenges Harris for Caribbean leadership with solidarity of CFU on the line
By Paul Nicholson
June 8 – While Concacaf focus in Moscow next week will be on the United 2026 bid to bring the World Cup back to the region, the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) also faces a potentially pivotal moment.
Zimbabwe declares for United 2026 bid after meetings with government
By Andrew Warshaw
June 8 – Having already seemingly lost out to their North American rivals to secure the votes of both South Africa and Liberia, 2026 World Cup underdogs Morocco have received a further blow to African unity with the news that Zimbabwe has also declared itself for United 2026.
Racism: Refs have power to suspend Russia 2018 matches if crowds turn ugly
June 8 – FIFA has reiterated that referees will have the power to suspend games at the World Cup in cases of persistent discrimination by the crowd.
Putin calls in World Cup cities to seize the opportunity and deliver a strong legacy
June 8 – With the World Cup on the doorstep, Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged the eleven host cities to take advantage on the tournament and deliver a strong footballing legacy after the finals.
UNODC conference gathers law enforcers to tackle sport corruption issues
June 8 – Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), speaking at the opening of a conference on safeguarding sport from corruption in Vienna emphasised that investing in fighting corruption in sport was an investment in our economic and social future.