SAFA call on FIFA to speed up match-fixing probe
September 5 – South African officials say they are becoming increasingly frustrated by a match-fixing saga that has been dragging on for four years and has still not been resolved.
FIFA task force meets to review issues of TPO
September 5 – A diverse group of stakeholders set up under the auspices of FIFA to get to grips with third-party ownership of players’ economic rights met for the first time this week with a view to coming up with concrete proposals later this month.
Rojo wrangles fade as he is cleared for Man Utd debut
September 5 – Manchester United’s £16 million Argentine signing Marcos Rojo has been cleared to join the club following a third party ownership wrangle and the complications of a criminal case back home.
Webb commends Brazilians for ‘landmark’ ban on Gremio for racist fans
September 5 – CONCACAF president and chairman of the FIFA Anti-Racism and Discrimination Task Force, Jeffrey Webb, has moved swiftly to praise the Brazilian expulsion of Gremio from the Brazilian Cup following a section of the club’s fans racially abusing a Santos player.
Sports data giant STATS captures Bloomberg’s sports analytics group
By Paul Nicholson
September 5 – Sports data gathering giant STATS has acquired Bloomberg Sports, the sports data and analytics leaders in the US sports market. The merger creates a powerful data, technology, analytics and content group serving a broadbase of clients from media to leagues and teams globally.
World Football Forum announces Moscow speakers
September 4 – The World Football Forum 2014 to be held at the Ritz-Carlton in Moscow, November 13, has announced that a panel discussion on the implications of UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations will be led by the Chief Executive of Chelsea Football Club, Ron Gourlay.
Women go legal as they ramp up pressure for grass pitches at 2015 World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
September 4 – Lawyers representing many of the world’s leading female footballers protesting against playing next year’s Women’s World Cup in Canada on artificial turf have written to FIFA president Sepp Blatter as well as all six Confederation heads as the campaign for natural grass intensifies.
FIFA steps in with new deadline for Nigeria to restore order or be suspended
By Mark Baber
September 4 – FIFA has again stepped into the Nigerian football morass in a further attempt to bring sanity to the troubled federation which has seen rival factions emerge, both claiming leadership. The Giwa faction claims Chris Giwa was fairly elected whilst Aminu Maigari was under arrest by security forces. The Maigari faction was planning to hold elections today and regards Giwa as an interloper.
Jordan opt for Wilkins to take them to 2015 AFC Asian Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
September 3 – Although he is mainly known in football politics for being Asia’s FIFA vice-president and one of the game’s renowned modernists, Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein is also head of Jordanian football and in an attempt to boost his country’s profile has turned to one of England’s most familiar faces to be its next national coach.
Zero tolerance in Brazil as Gremio kicked out of Cup after racist chanting
By Andrew Warshaw
September 4 – Despite all the pre-World Cup rhetoric about the tournament helping to reduce racism in Brazilian football, leading club Gremio have just been banned from the country’s main cup competition after some of their fans abused a Santos player.
England and Germany put past behind them and trade support for future Euros
By Andrew Warshaw
September 4 – Further evidence has emerged that Germany will withdraw its bid to host the latter stages of Euro 2020, ensuring Wembley stages the semi-final and final. Last week in Monaco, both countries privately hinted that a deal had been done, echoing a previous gentleman’s agreement England were accused of reneging on back in the 1990s.
US women coaches look to build their numbers
September 4 – A Female Coaches Advocacy Group has been launched in the US to encourage and promote women into coaching the game. The group is to start at the state level in Colorado and in Southern California with Cal South to create a state network of women in coaching to start dialogue with mentor college women to get involved in coaching.
Nigerian candidates battle for legitimacy ahead of new poll tomorrow
By Mark Baber
September 3 – Nigerian football remains in chaos as two rival factions within the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) battle for legitimacy. The Giwa-led faction claims he was elected President last week whilst the Maigari-led faction have organised new elections for tomorrow (Thursday).
Blatter backs Russia 2018 as Eurocrats try to turn hosting into political football
By Andrew Warshaw
September 3 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has re-iterated his stance that Russia will not be stripped of the 2018 World Cup despite European diplomats reportedly considering calling for a boycott in protest at the worsening crisis in eastern Ukraine.
Will he, won’t he? Does Tavecchio have courage to face Rome racism talkshop
September 3 – UEFA are attempting to distance themselves from a potentially awkward situation at next week’s anti-discrimination conference in Rome.