Bundesliga builds Chinese footprint with Baidu partnership
March 1 – Germany’s Bundesliga has partnered with Chinese internet giant Baidu to become the web company’s first European league to have an official web presence on its platform.
FIFA bosses fire African development staff but fail to meet their severance payments
By Paul Nicholson
February 28 – FIFA’s firing of all its development staff across Africa and the closing of offices in four countries was met with a barrage of criticism within the region last December. Now the governing body of world football is facing a series of legal challenges from former employees to whom it has allegedly refused to make severance payments in accordance with national law.
Former SAFA chief Sedibe demands $5m from FIFA for defamation from match-fixing ban
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – I’ll see you in court if necessary. That is the defiant message issued to FIFA by former South African Football Association (SAFA) CEO Leslie Sedibe (pictured) who has served world football’s governing body with a claim for $5 million for defamation of character after being banned for five years over the 2010 matchfixing scandal along with three other SAFA officials.
Ceferin warns Trump’s US border policy would prevent 2026 World Cup hosting
February 28 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says Donald Trump’s immigration policies could potentially work against the United States in their bid to stage the 2026 World Cup.
Nordic nations scrap Euro24 bid plans leaving Germany and Turkey to battle it out
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Just days before the first UEFA-imposed deadline for national associations to confirm their interest, Nordic federations have ditched plans to bid for the 2024 European Championship – leaving Germany and Turkey to fight it out.
Former FIFA boss Valcke appeals his 10-year ban at CAS
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Jerome Valcke (pictured), former number two to Sepp Blatter who spectacularly fell from grace after spending years as the organisation’s go-to troubleshooter, is taking his 10-year ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Brazil state championships prove to be the drag on progress of club game
By Samindra Kunti
February 28 – This weekend Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo and Fluminense will dispute the final of the Taça Guanabara. It is but a footnote in the drawn-out and archaic state championships, which are increasingly holding back Brazilian football.
Villa reports losses of £80m as club struggles to find winning returns
By David Owen
February 28 – Aston Villa have disclosed a heavy operating loss of more than £80 million for the year to 31 May 2016, which saw them relegated from the Premier League.
The benevolent ghost of Ranieri haunts a suddenly in-form Leicester
February 28 – There’s nothing like a barrage of criticism to fire up an under-performing team. No sooner had Claudio Ranieri been sacked as manager of Premier League champions Leicester City than his former players – many of whom had been accused of letting down the Italian – bounced back in style on Monday on an emotional night.
Man Utd crow after a week of wins and the first trophy of the year
February 28 – After a busy week that saw Manchester United qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League and then lift the EFL Cup at Wembley on Sunday, the club not surprisingly topped (yet again) the growth in new followers table. The club also topped the tweets table.
Comoros splits solidarity of COSAFA support for Ahmad for CAF presidency
By David Owen
February 27 – Doubts are emerging as to whether Ahmad Ahmad, the challenger in next month’s crunch Confederation of African Football (CAF) Presidential election, will secure blanket support from members of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA).
Infantino at 1. Are the Ethics bigwigs the next stop on his personal ‘reform’ agenda?
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Some might suggest that in Gianni Infantino’s case they have actually got worse.
Infantino parties on but denies African influence, as Pinnick’s Nigerian support questioned
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – The race for the presidency of African football is turning ugly with Nigerian football federation boss Amaju Pinnick criticised by one of his own people for revealing he will vote for the sole challenger to Issa Hayatou next month.
Door open for Real Madrid striker Benzema to return to French national team duty
February 27 – The French FA president Noel Le Graet has opened the door for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema’s return to the French national team.
Roma wasn’t built in a day. Club at last wins go-ahead to build Stadio della Roma
February 27 – The long-running on-off saga of Roma’s new stadium plans looks to have been resolved with the club and the Rome local authorities announcing they have come to a deal on the new Stadio della Roma late on Friday. To celebrate Roma beat in-form Inter Milan 3-1 in Milan to retain second spot in Serie A.