Bulgarian clubs fined in match-fixing clampdown
By Alexander Krassimirov
July 23 – Bulgaria’s Marek Dupnitsa have been fined BGN 210,000 (€105,000) by the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) disciplinary committee for match-fixing. The steep fine, in Bulgarian terms, is a hard hit for the club which was relegated from the top flight last season.
French civil war as federation rules out Ligue 1 plan to cut relegation spots
By Mark Baber
July 23 – The plan of French League (LFP) president Frederic Thiriez (pictured) to protect investors in Ligue 1 clubs by reducing the number of relegation and promotion places between Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 to two up and two down hit a major obstacle today as the France Football Federation (FFF) annulled the move in its Executive Committee meeting.
Belgian court dismisses challenge to UEFA’s FFP
July 23 – UEFA is celebrating a landmark court ruling which it says justifies its policy of financial fair play. The European Court of Justice has dismissed a legal challenge to the system following a Belgian court’s request for a preliminary judgment.
Makudi disgraced as Thai court convicts him of electoral fraud
By Andrew Warshaw
July 23 – Three months after being replaced on FIFA’s executive committee following an 18-year stint, Thai football boss Worawi Makudi has been found guilty of electoral fraud in his homeland and sentenced to a suspended jail term.
Lemke critical of Blatter record, but says he is not corrupt
By Andrew Warshaw
July 23 – The United Nations’ chief sports administrator admits Sepp Blatter has “made some very bad mistakes” during his 17-year tenure but does not believe the outgoing FIFA president is corrupt.
Reggae Boyz jammin to Gold Cup final to meet Mariachi Mexicans
By Paul Nicholson
July 23 – Not even the FBI could prevent the Caribbean having their day in the Gold Cup sunshine in the US. A history making 2-1 semi-final victory over the US in Atlanta yesterday catapulted the Reggae Boyz from Jamaica into a final against Mexico in Philadelphia this Sunday.
Brazil vs Argentina Superclassico in San Francisco scrapped
By Samindra Kunti
July 23 – A September friendly between Brazil and Argentina in San Francisco has been cancelled as the fallout of the FIFA corruption scandal continues. Problems with Full Play have impeded the staging of the match.
Russians deny Spartak ‘monkey chants’, Frimpong says it is ‘beyond a joke’
July 23 – As Russian football prepares to portray itself in the best possible light at Saturday’s star-studded 2018 World Cup draw, its record on racism has again been questioned with FC Ufa midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong describing the rejection of allegations he made as “beyond a joke”.
Lyon and Lille sign McDonald’s and Partouche sponsor deals
By Samindra Kunti
July 23 – French clubs Olympique Lyon and Lille OSC are gearing up for the 2015/16 Ligue 1 season with new commercial deals. Lyon have teamed up with McDonald’s, while Lille have extended a deal with Groupe Partouche.
Mihir Bose: FIFA reform needs practical ideas not wild, stupid ones
Any organisation in crisis prompts outlandish ideas on what should be done to reform it. But even then some of the ideas proposed to reform FIFA are so absurd as to make you wonder if those proposing them are really serious or just seeking sound bytes. That FIFA needs reform is a given. But to reform FIFA we need to understand what kind of an organisation it really is.
Laos child trafficking: FIFPro says FIFA TMS has failed minors
By Mark Baber
July 22 – FIFPro has revealed details of a case they have been working on involving children from Africa being trafficked to Laos, telling FIFA “the current Transfer Matching System (FIFA TMS) does not guarantee the protection of minor players.”
Scala favourite to head new FIFA reform task force
By Andrew Warshaw
July 22 – Domenico Scala, the no-nonsense and increasingly influential Swiss-Italian who has been at the forefront of pushing for meaningful change at FIFA, has emerged as the favourite to lead the newly established body charged with implementing concrete, lasting reform in the post-Sepp Blatter era.
ICSS sign new government deal and prepare for FITS Forum
July 22 – The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) has signed another agreement with a government body, this time with youth and sport ministers from Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). At the same time preparations for ICSS’s Financial Integrity and Transparency in Sport (FITS) Forum are continuing at speed.
FIFA cash flasher charged with trespassing after Blatter stunt
July 22 – The professional prankster who broke through security to gatecrash Sepp Blatter’s press conference on Monday is to be charged with trespassing by Swiss authorities.