January 12 – Despite at last managing to concentrate on matters on the pitch – a 4-0 win over newcomers Palestine at the Asian Cup – Japan coach Javier Aguirre continues to face questions about his alleged role in a bribery scandal from his time in Spanish football.
January 12 – Lionel Messi has hit back at reports that he is unhappy at Barcelona and that he disagrees with coach Luis Enrique’s methods.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 12 – Are the cracks beginning to show in Jerome Champagne’s bid for the FIFA presidency? Champagne, the former FIFA deputy general secretary regarded as an outsider even before Prince Ali bin al-Hussein announced his bid to enter the fray – even though he is the only candidate to have issued a firm election manifesto – has admitted for the first time that he may not be able to fulfil the criteria for standing.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 12 – FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein says he will launch a 10-year programme of reform and change if he manages to unseat Sepp Blatter in May.
By Paul Nicholson
January 12 – Rangers have turned down a revised bid of £20 million for a majority stake in the Scottish club from American Robert Sarver. The announcement was made to the London Stock Exchange this morning. Sarver had also offered the club an emergency £6.5 million loan as part of the deal.
January 12 – The US appetite for big tournament soccer is growing with 24 cities in 18 states having indicated an interest in hosting matches in the 2016 Centennial Cup America (Copa America Centenario).
As if events swirling around FIFA needed to get any more surreal, Joseph Blatter was last week challenged for the Presidency of the world football governing body by a man purported to be a direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad.
By Paul Nicholson
January 9 – CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb says that his focus is on his region. Speaking to Insideworldfootball, Webb was reacting to speculation linking him to running for the FIFA presidency, but said: “I am the president of CONCACAF and that is my 100% commitment. That is my responsibility, that is my job, that is my focus.”
By Mark Baber
January 9 – Mike Adenuga’s mobile phone operator, Globacom Limited, the second biggest telecom operator in Nigeria, signed a new deal with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to sponsor the annual African Player of the Year Awards on Thursday on the eve of the 2014 awards ceremony.
January 9 – Campaigners pressing for greater reform at FIFA, including at least one of the candidates for FIFA president, are to converge on Brussels later this month to discuss how to bring about significant change. The meeting will take place at the European Parliament.
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 9 – Serbia’s Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has announced that various investors have expressed interest in the much-awaited privatisation of two of the country’s top football clubs, Red Star and Partizan Belgrade.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 9 – Key Asian football chiefs have staunchly re-iterated their support for FIFA president Sepp Blatter following young pretender Prince Ali’s announcement that he was making a bid for the FIFA throne.
January 9 – The International Sports Press Association, AIPS, has issued a damning statement condemning the terrorist attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that killed 12 people including 10 journalists.
January 9 – English third-tier club Oldham Athletic have pulled out of a deal to sign a convicted rapist in a case that has split public opinion over whether he should be allowed a second chance.
