FIFA plots pathway to end of TPO
By Andrew Warshaw
September 29 – After being besieged by constant condemnation of third-party ownership, FIFA has finally agreed to ban the practise – but only after a transitional period has been phased in.
MLS infrastructure: clubs build their stadium bases
By Ben Nicholson
September 29 – With new MLS teams cropping up around the US, and existing teams rejuvenating, the creation and expansion of stadiums has been in the forefront of minds and proposals all round country. Here is an update on the current happenings.
Gibraltar take appeal to CAS after FIFA reject nation status
By Andrew Warshaw
September 29 – FIFA’s decision to reject Gibraltar’s application for membership has thrown the British overseas territory’s international status into confusion given that it has just started playing official games as the 54th member of UEFA.
Legia adds new money, with Wandzel buying 20% stake
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
September 29 – Polish businessman Maciej Wandzel has acquired a 20% stake in Legia Warsaw from Dariusz Mioduski, the majority shareholder in the club, who now holds 60% of the shares.
Club Protection Programme renewed until 2018
By David Owen
September 28 – FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee has approved the renewal of the Club Protection Programme (CPP) – the scheme designed to remove a longstanding bone of contention by compensating clubs when players they employ are injured on international duty – for a further four years.
David Owen: The broader significance of Gibraltar’s application for FIFA membership
I have to admit I wouldn’t normally dwell on an announcement by FIFA President Sepp Blatter that the FIFA Executive Committee had decided that the football association of a rocky 2.3 square mile enclave at the tip of the Iberian peninsula cannot be accepted as a member of FIFA.
Confidential means confidential, says FIFA. Blatter formally declares
By Andrew Warshaw
September 26 – The hotly debated report into possible corruption surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid process will not be made public by FIFA president Sepp Blatter or his executive committee.
Torpedo Moscow hit with stand closure after racist chanting
September 26 – Leading Russian club Torpedo Moscow have been ordered to close a section of their stadium for one match following racist abuse aimed at rival Dynamo Moscow’s English defender Christopher Samba.
Fiscal 2015 starts off on the right foot for Nike
By David Owen
September 26 – Buoyant footwear sales, including football boots, helped Nike to a highly satisfactory 23% advance in net income for the three-month period including the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Cypriot divisions narrow as Greek player signs for Turkish club
By Andrew Warshaw
September 26 – Cypriot football has taken another symbolic step towards re-unification after a Greek-Cypriot player signed for a club in the Turkish-controlled north of the divided island.
Chinese move to boost technical know-how with new FIFA deal
By Mark Baber
September 26 – At a meeting at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Chinese Football Association Vice Chairman and Secretary-General Zhang Jian (pictured) and FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke have signed a technical cooperation agreement aimed at improving the technical level of Chinese football coaches, referees, and managers, improving the national team at all levels of achievement, and promoting the development of youth and women’s soccer.
Clubs feel UEFA’s bite as it sinks deeper into policing FFP
By Andrew Warshaw
September 26 – Four of Europe’s major clubs – Liverpool, Monaco, Inter Milan and Roma – are among a fresh list issued by UEFA as being under investigation for possible breaches of financial fair play.
Spain rocked by Primera result rigging claims that kept Zaragoza in top flight
September 26 – Frequently denounced by FIFA and UEFA but still dangerously prevalant, match-fixing has struck at the heart of top-ranked Spanish football with the state prosecutor to question players over allegations of possible rigging in a 2011 league game between Levante and Real Zaragoza.
FIFA turns 15 match-fixing bans into global sanctions
September 26 – Thirteen Estonia-based players and two from Slovakia, already suspended by their own respective federations for match-manipulation, have had their bans extended worldwide by FIFA.
Bulgaria’s Hristo Botev stadium gets back on track, slowly
By Alexander Krassimirov
September 26 – The construction of the Hristo Botev stadium in Plovdiv has restarted with the backing of the local city government. In July, construction work at the stadium was frozen after club owner Tsvetan Vasilev’s Corporate Commercial Bank was closed.