Spurs launch new mobile app globally
June 23 – English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur has launched a new club app – Spurs Go – which will provide on demand video as well as the club’s Match Centre and social hub.
Cruyff under fire for exploiting Ajax for own business priorities
By Samindra Kunti
June 23 – In recent years Ajax Amsterdam has become subservient to the business interests of Johan Cruyff, according to a report in Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant. Youth staff must follow a course at the Cruyff institute and Cruyff, rather than keeping the knowledge to Ajax, sells the secrets of the youth academy to foreign football clubs.
Russia cuts $560m from 2018 World Cup infrastructure budget
By Paul Nicholson
June 23 – Russia has formalised a 30 billion rubles ($560 million) cut in its 2018 World Cup spending. The government cuts will be around planned infrastructure projects with hotel development plans being the hardest hit. There are no plans to cut spending on stadia and construction will continue unaffected.
Bankrupt Parma relegated to Serie D after no buyer found for €75m debt
June 23 – Parma have finally been stripped of their status as a professional football club as the administrators of the bankrupt club conceded defeat in their attempts to find a buyer after Baseball legend Mike Piazza and Giuseppe Corrado pulled out of talks.
Government watchdog points finger at banks in FIFA corruption scandal
By Mark Baber
June 23 – Whilst most attention has been focused on the role of the FIFA President and General-Secretary in relation to the current US and Swiss investigations of corruption in football, a largely unnoticed statement by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – the inter-governmental body whose responsibility it is to promote policies to protect the global financial system against money laundering – has pointed a finger of blame at financial institutions.
With CSKA gone, Kiziloz focuses on buying Lokomotiv
By Alexander Krassimirov
June 23 – With the future of CSKA Sofia now sealed in the amateur leagues but under the financial stewardship of Bugaria’s richest man Vasil Bozhkov, Turkish businessman Deniz Kiziloz (pictured) who several times tried to start negotiations with the club, said he now intends to invest in another Bulgarian club – Lokomotiv Plovdiv.
Ukraine Federation plots to ‘revive’ Crimea’s historic Tavria club
By Mark Baber
June 23 – The Ukrainian Football Federation (FFU) is to set up a working group to examine the idea of reviving ‘Tavria’ the formerly top flight Ukrainian club based in Simferopol, Crimea, which was disbanded and replaced by a new club ‘TSK’ in the hope of playing in the Russian Leagues.
UEFA club rankings – where does your club stand?
By Matt Scott
June 23 – Insideworldfootball has conducted an exclusive 10-year analysis of UEFA’s official club rankings for the top-five or -six clubs in the big five European leagues, showing where each of Europe’s biggest club brands stands.
EURO2016 ticket demand tops 3.7m as fans dash for cheap seats
23 June – Tickets for EURO2016 are in hot demand. So far 3.7 million tickets have been requested, organisers have said.
Teixeira denies bribes but details vote swapping deal
June 22 – Former FIFA and Brazilian powerbroker Ricardo Teixeira has spoken openly for the first time about his role in the 2018 and 2022 bid process, describing claims that he took bribes as “nonsense.”
Blatter sticks to reform agenda with proposed exco change and integrity checks
By Andrew Warshaw
June 22 – Writing in the latest edition of FIFA magazine, president Sepp Blatter talks of the need to “strengthen democracy within the ‘FIFA government’.”
Houses, ranches and a luxurious lifestyle – how Leoz lined his pockets
June 22 – Increasing details are being leaked of the scale of the money laundering by South American confederation CONMEBOL’s former president Nicolás Leoz, who seamlessly moved millions from the confederation’s accounts to his personal accounts and business interests.
New Balance kicks on with new boots and Porto kit launch
June 22 – New Balance has continued its football expansion with the launch of the new 2015/16 FC Porto home kit as well as the global debut of the clothing company’s first football boots, the Visaro.
CSKA Sofia dumped to amateur leagues, but Bozhkov steps up with cash
By Alexander Krassimirov
June 22 – The saga over the future of the Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia has finally ended with the club suffering a similar the fate to that of Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers being relegated three divisions. CSKA will start next season in Bulgaria’s amateur leagues in the ‘A’ Regional group.
Man Utd crash through 100m social connections barrier
By Paul Nicholson
June 22 – Premier League social media giants Manchester United have broken yet another record, storming through the 100 million connections threshold when all accounts are aggregated.