Kiwis crushed by Olympic disqualification but open legal action
July 14 – New Zealand are to take legal action after their men’s team were controversially thrown out of Olympic football qualifying for fielding an ineligible player.
Blatter to face press in Zurich after exco meets, but declines US Senate invite
By Andrew Warshaw
July 14 – In what promises to be one of the most eagerly awaited appearances of his 17 years in charge, Sepp Blatter is set to face the media next week for the first time since announcing he is stepping down as FIFA president.
Doyen banking on Brussels court seeing value in football’s ‘slave trade’
By Andrew Warshaw
July 14 – An investment company supporting Third Party Ownership says it hopes to learn by July 24 whether it has been successful in challenging FIFA’s recently introduced global ban on the practise.
Telefónica picks up €600m La Liga rights in landmark Spanish deal
By David Owen
July 13 – Telefónica, the Spanish telecommunications group, has agreed to pay €600 million for domestic broadcasting rights to La Liga for the forthcoming season, in a landmark deal for Spanish football.
Andrew Warshaw: Who will climb FIFA’s Alpine heights?
In a week’s time, FIFA’s new-look executive committee is due to decide on a date for the eagerly-awaited extraordinary congress that will elect a successor to Sepp Blatter after 17 often turbulent years in charge.
CAS hits Serbia overturning UEFA decision with big award to Albania
By Mark Baber
July 13 – Friday’s decision by the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) to overturn the ruling of UEFA concerning the Serbia-Albania game of October 14 and award the game to Albania leaves the court open to accusations it has been influenced by anti-Serbian sentiment.
Man Utd celebrate Giggs’ career with dedicated exhibition
July 13 – It is said that no player is bigger than the club, and this is especially so at the big clubs. But some players, even within the ‘legends’ category, have a special status. Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs is one of those and the club has used his fame and achievements to open a special exhibition.
Swiss investigators flag more suspicious transactions around 2018 and 2022 bids
By Andrew Warshaw
July 13 – Despite persistent claims by Russia and Qatar that their respective 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids were clean, the Swiss investigation into possible corruption linked to the bids has flagged up another 28 acts of possible money-laundering which have been received since June, bringing the total to 81.
FIFA Seven: Webb agrees to US extradition
By Paul Nicholson
July 13 – The Swiss Federal Office of Justice last Friday said that one of the seven FIFA officials arrested in the dawn swoop on the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich on May 27, had agreed to extradition to the United States.
Dyke tells Blatter he doesn’t like him, in case anyone didn’t know
July 13 – Just when you thought it had all died down, outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter and English FA chairman Greg Dyke have engaged in another unsavoury war of words.
Bulgaria: Friendly turns sour when fans attack players
By Alexander Krassimirov
July 13 – The Ultras of Bulgaria’s Cherno more prematurely ended the club’s last friendly game before the start of the season against Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa. Fans of Bulgarian Cup holders, invaded the pitch during the first half, an attacked the Lokomotiv players.
Brugge set sights on buying US club to nurture fresh talent
By Samindra Kunti
July 13 – Belgian top-flight outfit Club Brugge has set its sights on acquiring an American club from the lower divisions in the future in a bid to bolster its youth operations.
English FA rejigs its top brass as Dyke pushes it for extra £30m
By David Owen
July 13 – The English Football Association has announced the departure of three members of its senior management team, in a move portrayed as a re-prioritisation of “significant investment” towards grass-roots football and the England squads.
Brazilian stadium success: Mineirão is a hit with Atletico fans
By Samindra Kunti
July 13 – The new Mineirão stadium is proving to be a hit with Atletico Mineiro fans. The club has recorded an average attendance of 49,175 at the ground so far this season, beating average Premier League and Bundesliga attendances.
Street Soccer builds a home in Times Square, NY
July 10 – New York hosts the US Women’s Victory parade today. On Sunday it hosts a very different football event when Manhattan’s Times Square will be the venue for Street Soccer USA’s four-a-side tournament.