Former Liverpool boss Ayre to front new MLS franchise in Nashville
May 22 – The new Nashville MLS franchise that will start play in the 202 season has named former Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre as its chief executive officer.
China’s Vatti comes to World Cup boil with Henry on the menu
May 22 – Arsenal and French legend Thierry Henry is the latest of football’s superstars to benefit from Chinese sponsorship in advance of the Russian World Cup. The World Cup winner in 1998 has been named as the official ambassador of Chinese kitchen appliance manufacturer Vatti.
Time waits for no Premier League boss: owners shuffle the management pack
By Andrew Warshaw
May 22 – No sooner has the English season finished than the merry-go round of managerial departures and sackings has begun – with two in particular illustrating the short-sighted attitude of top-flight chairman.
Platini says 98 World Cup draw was fixed, they all are – sort of
May 21 – Former UEFA president Michel Platini is unlikely to re-emerge as a footballing political force following his worldwide ban but that hasn’t stopped him stirring things up when the opportunity comes around.
2026 bid trail: COSAFA’s South Africa meeting is next stop for lobbyists
March 21 – The two contenders to stage the 2026 World Cup are returning to southern Africa this week in a final push to secure the potentially pivotal backing of the region according to local reports.
2019 Gold Cup host cities unveiled as well as expansion to Central America and Caribbean
May 21 – Concacaf is taking its expanded 16-team Gold Cup to 15 venues spanning 13 US cities in 2019, as well as taking matches to Central America and the Caribbean to venues that will be announced later this year.
Ozil and Gundogan clear the air with Steinmeier after Erdogan gaffe
May 21 – British-based German internationals Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan met German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the weekend in a series of clear the air talks after they were pictured with Turkey’s controversial president President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
UK-based Centricus putting backers together for Infantino’s $25bn plan
By David Owen
May 20 – Unlike, say, FIFA, FEMS is not an acronym that many football fans will be familiar with. But it is a term that more switched-on supporters may soon come to recognise as global investment continues to flood into the game.
Abramovich misses Chelsea winning FA Cup as UK delays issuing his visa
May 21 – Chelsea’s billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich, whose club won a distinctly unexciting FA Cup on Saturday to save their season, faced delays in renewing his UK visa and did not attend the game, according to reports.
UK football fans data duped into pro-Brexit vote camp via £50m Euro prediction prize
May 21 – The data mining and data harvesting techniques used on Facebook to ultimately form opinion in the US election that saw the election of Donald Trump, were also used in the UK to target football fans and influence them to vote for Brexit in the 2016 referendum.
CSL secures a new motor sponsor, Ronaldo still in the driving seat
May 21 – Chinese corporate sponsorship of football continues seemingly unabated. The Chinese Super League (CSL) has added an official motor sponsor while Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, a marketing force to compete with most national federations and leagues, has similarly secured an official Chinese SUV sponsor.
Matthäus signs on for Morocco 2026 final push
May 21 – In a late run to pick up support ahead of next month’s 2026 world cup vote, Morocco have named former Germany captain Lothar Matthäus as its latest promotional ambassador.
Task Force ruling on Morocco 2026 eligibility expected end May
By Andrew Warshaw
May 18 – Morocco’s attempt to wrest the 2026 World Cup away from the North American favourites reaches its most decisive point to date on May 29 when FIFA’s evaluation Task Force delivers its verdict on whether the north Africans have met the criteria and can be on the ballot paper in Moscow.
Russia 2018 contenders Belgium extend Martinez deal through to 2020 Euros
By Samindra Kunti
May 18 – Roberto Martinez has extended his contract with Belgium in a two-year deal. He will remain Belgium’s coach until Euro 2020.
James Dostoyevsky: There is the carrot. And then there is the stick.
The FIFA trials – somewhat misnamed as they were very much more to do with CONCACAF and CONMEBOL and greedy individuals – are not over. A lot of people are still trembling in their shoes and watching carefully – but what for?