Infantino says he feels the love in the Caribbean
By Andrew Warshaw
January 19 – FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino is confident Caribbean support can push him over the line when he contests the election on February 26.
Franchise thinking: MLS treads where NFL fears to go
By Ben Nicholson
January 20 – MLS Commissioner Don Garber (pictured) recently commented that the prospects for an MLS franchise in St. Louis and Sacramento are good, while San Diego needs to “figure itself out”. He intimated that the NFL’s decisions to move into and leave areas, influences the MLS’ franchise decisions.
French pump €37m into grassroots to cement Euro2016 legacy
By Samindra Kunti
January 20 – Back in 1984 France won their first major tournament by defeating Spain 2-0 on home soil to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy. Michel Hidalgo’s eleven became part of French football folklore as the French came off age in the beautiful game. Coaches Alain Giresse, Luis Fernandez and Tigana later nurtured a next generation of French football players who’d excel at the 1998 France World Cup and EURO2000 co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
Infantino launches election manifesto with cash pledge to voting members
By Andrew Warshaw
January 19 – Just over a month before the FIFA presidential election, Gianni Infantino has published his eagerly awaited manifesto, much of it either mirroring the ideas of fellow candidates or simply reflecting already-approved reform measures that are being put to the vote on election day on February 26.
European football market set to smash $30bn revenue barrier, says report
By Mark Baber
January 19 – Audit firm Deloitte Global predicts that the European football market may generate $30 billion (€27 billion) in revenues in 2016/2017, an $8 billion (€7 billion) increase relative to 2011/2012, and a compound annual growth rate of seven percent.
Stoke are most efficient team in Europe, PSG rank 3rd, Man Utd 5th
January 19 – Stoke City are the most ‘efficient’ team in Europe’s Big 5 leagues, according to the latest data from the CIES Football Observatory. PSG are beaten into third place in the ranking by Villareal, while Manchester United are placed fifth.
CFU brings in penalty shoot outs in group games for its top Cup competition
By Paul Nicholson
January 19 – With FIFA election candidates lobbying for votes and a flamethrower as entertainment for the assembled, the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) focused on its own football activity at the weekend, for the first time holding a ‘public’ draw ceremony for the 2016 CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup in Antigua.
Bolton given lifeline in search for cash to pay £2.2m tax bill
January 12 – Bolton Wanderers, one of the most iconic names in English football, have been given a stay of execution by avoiding an immediate winding-up order.
Galatasaray face ban; Hull, Panathinaikos and Sportlng Lisbon clear FFP
January 19 – Hull City, Panathinaikos and Sporting Lisbon have all settled their financial fair play issues with UEFA but Galatasaray have failed to comply with break-even rules and have been referred to the governing body’s adjudicatory chamber.
Swimming with the fish. Arrested Swiss banker could open a new can of worms
By Paul Nicholson
January 19 – The US investigation into money laundering by South American football officials has gained a wider perspective as news has broken that one of the senior bankers at Swiss bank Julius Baer has been in US custody since the autumn.
After Spain, Premier League clubs will be next to get hit by FIFA transfer bans
By Mark Baber
January 18 – According to Real Madrid general manager Jose Angel Sanchez, Premier League clubs are under investigation by FIFA over transfers of minors and could face bans similar to those imposed on Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid last week.
Hayatou temporarily hands over CAF reins as FIFA role escalates
By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – In a seemingly deliberate move to avoid being accused of conflict of interest, African football boss Issa Hayatou is distancing himself from his confederation while the FIFA presidential campaign gains momentum.
La Liga says Real and Atletico transfer bans are excessive
January 18 – The Spanish league has come out in support of Real and Atletico Madrid describing the FIFA transfer bans meted out to both of them as “disproportionate” and “excessive”.
Does the punishment fit the crime? Mayne-Nicholls to appeal ban
By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the FIFA-appointed Chilean who headed the inspection team that examined the credentials of all nine candidates for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, is to appeal against his seven-year ban imposed six months ago by FIFA’s ethics committee, saying he cannot understand why he has been treated so harshly.
David Owen: Rwanda spat raises question of how much football politics is really changing
United States attorney general Loretta Lynch may change FIFA, but old school football politics is likely to prove an altogether tougher dragon to slay.