India’s U17 win over Italy proves to be not so historic
By Samindra Kunti
May 21 – India’s U17 team defeated Italy’s U17 2-0 on Friday, but in reality the ‘Indian Colts’ beat a selection of lower league Italian players.
Grindel looks forward as ethics row rumbles on
By Andrew Warshaw
May 21 – Germany’s FIFA Council member Reinhard Grindel has re-iterated his opposition to the removal of FIFA ethics chiefs Cornel Borbely and Hans-Joachim Eckert saying the surprise move should have been handled more transparently.
Man City head Stateside with Carlsberg support
May 22 – Manchester City have signed Carlsberg as their Official U.S. Beer Partner. Carlsberg, through its US distributor St. Killian, will promote initially around the Man City pre-season tour to the US.
Livingston £3.8m share issue to cut debt and raise cash to invest in squad and facilities
May 22 – Livingston, newly promoted to the Scottish Championship, is looking to raise up to £3.8 million via a share issue but the club says that there are no plans to pay investors a dividend. Shares are priced at £1 each.
OFC chief Chung underfire in PNG as rivals claim he rigged election and form new FA
By Paul Nicholson
May 19 – David Chung, president of the Oceania Football Confederation as well as the Papua New Guinea FA, is facing a revolution in his home country where a rival faction has established its own federation, is playing its own matches and has more members than the FIFA-recognised federation Chung leads.
Marinakis takes control at Nottingham Forest and sets sights on return to ‘glory days’
By Paul Nicholson
May 18 – The long expected sale of Nottingham Forest has been completed with NF Football Investments (NFFI), headed by Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis, taking 100% control.
China eye World Cup bid but non-committal on whether 2030 or 2034
May 19 – Zhang Jian, China’s newly elected FIFA council member, says a World Cup bid from his country will come “sooner or later” but has declined to specify when.
South Korea set for U-20 World Cup kick off with France and Uruguay favourites
By Samindra Kunti
May 19 – This Saturday the FIFA U20 World Cup kicks off with Germany and Venezuela playing the opening match in Daejeon, South Korea, thought the tournament favourites are a two other teams from Europe and South America – France and Uruguay.
FIFA to roll out video refs at U20 World Cup in South Korea
May 19 – The Under-20 World Cup, which runs from this Saturday to June 11 in six South Korean cities, will be the first FIFA youth tournament to employ video assistant referees but the world governing body’s head of refereeing has cautioned against its over-use.
English FA cracks down on ‘diving’ cheats as reforms start to filter through
May 19 – Players who dive or feign injury could face two-match suspensions from the start of next season under a new English Football Association crackdown.
Swedish FA calls off top tier fixture after match-fixing attempt on AIK player
May 19 – One of the biggest fixtures in the Swedish football calendar has been postponed due to match-fixing fears.
Schalke to put payment chip in AllyouneedFresh sleeve sponsorship
May 19 – German Bundesliga club Schalke 04 will have an integrated chip in its replica shirts next season allowing fans to pay for services in the Veltins-Arena.
Two more FIFA Ethics bigwigs quit in protest over Maduro firing
By Andrew Warshaw
May 18 – Two more highly respected members of FIFA’s governance committee have resigned in protest at the removal the body’s chairman, Miguel Maduro, axed in last week’s purge of senior ethics watchdogs.
Poisoned fixture: Malaysia hope for neutral venue for North Korea qualifier
May 18 – Malaysia still hopes its postponed Asian Cup qualifier against North Korea can be played at a neutral venue despite an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) ruling to postpone the highly sensitive match yet again – this time until October.
Trepca ’89 get UEFA approval to make Kosovo’s Champions League debut
May 18 – Trepca ’89 will make history next month when they become the first Kosovan club side to compete in Europe after winning a spot in the Champions League qualifying draw.