Catalonia’s nationalist boo-boys land Barca with UEFA and government fines
July 29 – Spain’s anti-violence commission has fined Barcelona €66,000 after the Catalan club’s fans booed the national anthem before the Copa del Rey final in May.
BT Sport gears up for season launch with Gumtree sponsorship
July 29 – After a summer of international tours and ad hoc tournaments, the Premier League kicks off August 8 and for those watching on TV it will be amid a barrage of bookmakers offering special odds, sign-up bonuses and exclusive bets.
Exclusive: Platini poised to hold UEFA and FIFA top jobs at same time
By Andrew Warshaw
July 28 – Michel Platini could remain in temporary charge of UEFA even if he takes over from Sepp Blatter as FIFA president, Insideworldfootball has learned.
Parma reboot in Serie D fuelled by pasta magnate Barilla
By Mark Baber
July 28 – Parma Calcio 1913, a new club backed by pasta maker Guido Barilla with ex-coach Nevio Scala (pictured) as president, has been given the go-ahead by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) to compete in Italy’s Serie D following the bankruptcy of the old club.
FIFA Reform Task Force debate stuck on ‘independent’ criteria
By Andrew Warshaw
July 28 – The much-anticipated Reform Task Force set up by FIFA in response to its burgeoning corruption crisis appears to have hit a potentially serious snag after Domenico Scala (pictured), favourite to land the job as the body’s chairman, said he would not take it on unless he was guaranteed full independence.
Warner wins time and claims he is not getting a fair trial
July 28 – Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has bought yet more time in his bid to avoid being extradited from his native Trinidad and Tobago to the United States to face corruption charges as part of the FBI probe into widespread corruption involving senior football officials.
Putin lauds Blatter but questions US motivation
By Andrew Warshaw
July 28 – Far from being in any way responsible for the corruption crisis that has embroiled FIFA, Sepp Blatter in fact deserves the Nobel Peace prize for the way he has run the organisation, according to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd top Euro league of big spending fans
By Paul Nicholson
July 28 – English Premier League clubs on average generate almost twice as much revenue per seat than clubs in Spain. While Chelsea top the list of clubs making the most per seat from their fans at €78, compare this with Italian giants Inter Milan who make more than seven times less at €7 per seat.
CSKA fears ‘look-a-like’ as it begins long journey back to top tier
By Alexander Krassimirov
July 28 – Bulgaria’s richest man, Vasil Bozhkov (pictured), has registered a new company called ‘CSKA Sofia’, in the Bulgarian Commercial Register. Chairman of the company is Tsvetomir Naydenov, who owns bookmaker Efbet. Bozhkov and his son Anton are members of the Board.
Is MLS taking first steps to break the NCAA development bonds?
By Ben Nicholson
July 28 – The MLS has formed a partnership with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), making the school its exclusive education partner.
Brussels court boots TPO, slave traders and ‘loan sharks’ into touch
By Andrew Warshaw
July 27 – UEFA and FIFA are celebrating a landmark victory in their joint fight to outlaw Third Party Ownership (TPO) after a Brussels court threw out a legal case against them launched to try and overturn the worldwide ban on the practise.
Romania’s FC Botosani unveils €18m stadium expansion
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
July 27 – Two years after the side secured a promotion to Romania’s top tier Liga I, FC Botosani unveiled the design of its new stadium which is estimated to cost about €18 million. Under the plan, the stadium will be fitted with a seating capacity of at least 11,000.
Sacked Keshi hits Nigerian FA with $4m lawsuit
By Mark Baber
July 27 – Former Nigerian national team coach, Stephen Keshi, who was sacked by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) after his name came up in a list of applicants for the vacant Ivory Coast coaching job, is suing the NFF for more than $4 million in compensation, according to local reports.
Roma’s gladiators sent back from the gates of Indonesia
July 27 – Five Roma players were refused entry into Indonesia for a pre-season game and forced to fly home.
Twente given lifeline as Eredvisie OKs debt plan and clears club to play
By Samindra Kunti
July 27 – FC Twente will start the new Eredivisie without a points deduction or any other sanctions after the Dutch FA KNVB approved the club’s new plan to further reduce its debts.