Olympic chief Bach tells FIFA ‘enough is enough’
FIFABy David Owen
October 9 – The most powerful administrator in world sport has added his voice to the mounting clamour for far-reaching reform at FIFA.
David Owen: Welsh find harmony where ‘club’ has helped ‘country’ to excel
From my name, you might think me as Welsh as a laverbread breakfast. But I’m not, so I have been able to observe the recent Welsh sporting resurgence with cool, objective detachment.
Blatter appeals suspension as Exco members call for emergency meeting
By Andrew Warshaw
October 9 – Sepp Blatter has become the first of football’s suspended powerbrokers to officially appeal against his 90-day sanction imposed Thursday by FIFA’s ethics committee.
Chung to appeal ban, as he keeps up fight against Platini and Blatter
By Andrew Warshaw
October 9 – Banned former FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon is determined not to go quietly and to keep alive his hopes of becoming the organisation’s new president.
Platini complains of ‘farcical’ charges for suspension and vows to fight on
By Andrew Warshaw
October 9 – Michel Platini has re-iterated his innocence in the light of being suspended by FIFA’s ethics committee as his top brass at UEFA closed ranks and said they were firmly behind their beleaguered president.
Spanish judge rules Messi will stand trail for fraud, jail beckons
October 9 – The world’s best-known and most talented footballer faces a possible jail sentence after a Spanish court ruled that Argentine and Barcelona striker Lionel Messi and his father should stand trial on tax fraud charges, rejecting a request by prosecutors to drop the charges against the mercurial superstar.
Blatter and Platini issue defiant defences as doubts raised over Swiss ‘evidence’
By Andrew Warshaw
October 8 – Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have wasted no time forcefully defending themselves after being suspended by FIFA’s ethics committee.
CIES report tracks football migrants with Brazil topping export list
By Mark Baber
October 8 – The CIES Football Observatory has produced a report titled “Exporting countries in world football” providing an overview of migration of footballer’s around the world and, based on the data used, suggesting Brazil is the most represented country amongst migrant footballers , followed by Argentina and France.
FIFA suspends Blatter, Platini and Valcke. Chung banned
By Andrew Warshaw
October 8 – FIFA’s crumbling, corruption-tainted foundations were smashed to pieces today when Sepp Blatter and his would-be successor as president, Michel Platini, were both given provisional 90-day suspensions along with Jerome Valcke, FIFA’s number two who was recently put on gardening leave.
90min raises $15m and focuses expansion on US and Germany
October 8 – Football fan website and digital platform 90min has completed a round of fund raising that has brought in $15 million to cashflow the group’s expansion into new international markets and increase content.
Sport is at a “defining moment”, says ICSS chief, calling for neutral integrity body
By Paul Nicholson
October 8 – The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) has issued a statement from its executive director Chris Eaton reacting to media reports of the impending suspension of FIFA president Sepp Blatter saying this “represents a defining moment for world football and wider sport” and calling for a “independent and neutral global oversight body” to take on the monitoring of sport governing bodies.
FIFA reviews decision to switch venue for Palestine vs Saudi World Cup qualifier
By Andrew Warshaw
October 8 – The dispute over the contentious Palestine-Saudi Arabia World Cup qualifier that has made headlines throughout the region has taken a decisive twist.
Martin Volkmar: Boring Bayernliga
German media and fans are united in agreement that after just eight weekends of the Bundesliga the championship is decided. Although the club bosses won’t entertain the same opinion, the frenetic 5: 1 victory over supposed challengers Borussia Dortmund has eliminated any lingering doubts concerning the dominance of Bayern.
Man Utd outgunned but Strudwick focused on building a winning performance culture
By Samindra Kunti
October 8 – As Arsenal blitzed their way past longtime arch rivals Manchester United with a superb brace from the inimitable Alexis Sanchez and a strike from Mesut Ozil inside the first 19 minutes last Sunday at the Emirates stadium, Louis Van Gaal was left stunned on the touchline.
Exclusive: FIFA Ethics to hand down 3 suspensions and a ban today, Blatter and Platini included
By Andrew Warshaw
September 8 – A ruling on the immediate futures of both Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini is expected to be made at around lunchtime Thursday following unconfirmed reports that a provisional 90-day suspension has been recommended for the respective presidents of both FIFA and UEFA.