Inside World Football - Page 1650 of 2202 - For the Business of Football

Mihir Bose: What shall we do with Qatar?

It is impossible to feel any sympathy for Qatar. An oil-rich Gulf state which somehow manages to get the World Cup and then lavishes money to try and convince the world it can not only stage the event but contribute to a better understanding of the world of sport hardly qualifies for sympathy. The immediate response would be there are far worthier subjects to feel sorry for. Yet as Qatar continues to get a bad press we must ask ourselves what is Qatar doing wrong and can they ever get out of this terrible spiral of distrust and dislike?

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Freestyle footballers get animated for world championships

Anton v3

October 15 – The Freestyle Football Federation (F3) is launching a series of animated characters from Northern Creative Studio to promote the sport in digital media ahead of the World Freestyle Football Championships taking place in London on October 22.

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Indian Super League opens in Bollywood-style

ISL launch event

By Mark Baber
October 14 – The Indian Super League held an extravagant Bollywood/footballing extravaganza on Sunday to open the long-awaited start of the new competition which aims to awaken the “sleeping giant” of Indian football. Amidst all the hype, voices of caution advised of the difficulties involved in building fan bases from scratch, in a cricket obsessed country and warned of the historical precedent of similar ventures in the USA.

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Lega Pro renews focus on integrity and anti-match-fixing measures

Lega Pro match ball

By Paul Nicholson
October 14 – Italy’s Lega Pro are the latest to renew their match-fixing monitoring and prevention partnership with Sportradar. The league has also taken their commitment to fight match-fixing a step further with a logo emphasising ‘Lega Pro-Integrity’ being carried on the league’s official match ball.

Matt Scott

Matt Scott: Pride is proving deadly to English hopes of success

“When his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.” Daniel 5:20, the King James Bible

“Working hard all your life is a talent.” Ryan Giggs

Greg Dyke last week issued the second instalment of his Football Association Chairman’s Commission report and there were a number of welcome developments contained within.

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Garcia back on offensive over report publishing and ethics

Michael Garcia6

By Andrew Warshaw
October 14 – Michael Garcia, whose report into possible corruption surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids is dominating the football politics landscape, is back on the offensive, declaring that FIFA’s way of conducting its business is not open enough and needs a culture change.

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Blatter adds to condemnation of bomb attacks on Cypriot refs

Cyprus

October 14 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has condemned the latest attack against referees in Cyprus, one of the less publicised by most worrying trends in European football.

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UEFA and its clubs keep working on the relationship

uefa flag

October 14 – UEFA’s improving relationship with Europe’s major clubs has taken another turn for the better after “constructive” talks over financial fair play.

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Sacramento’s richest back the Californian capital’s MLS bid

Sacramento Republic

By Ben Nicholson
October 14 – Just a fortnight after Sacramento Republic FC won the USL Pro Championship, the second tier of US professional football, the club has added an impressive list of local investors to its shareholder roster. The capital of California is chasing the final MLS expansion spot and the new stakeholders boost the club’s financial credentials in terms of local support for their venture.

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Homeless World Cup offers lifetime seat in virtual stadium

Mel Young

October 14 – This weekend the Homeless World Cup kicks off in Santiago, Chile, in a week-long tournament with 43 nations competing in the men’s competition and 13 in the women’s. The Chile event will be the 12th edition of the competition.

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Santos cleared to sit in Portuguese dugout while CAS considers appeal

Fernando Santos

October 14 – Portuguese national coach Fernando Santos has had his eight match ban suspended while his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is considered.

Lee Wellings

Lee Wellings: Fishy business for Garcia

It was in the Fishmongers Hall, yes the Fishmongers Hall, chasing investigator Michael Garcia through tables of lunching American lawyers, that the World Cup bid story reached the level of high farce.

Consider the scene. A lawyer who, perhaps advantageously, knew little of football when he took on the independent investigation into the 2018/2022 bid process. Hired, to its credit, by FIFA. Telling his dining peers endearingly that the only live football he had watched was his daughter’s year 12 games.

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Shirt off their backs, Premier League rule enough is enough but Reds want more

Rooney kit ad

By Mark Baber
October 13 – A Manchester United proposal to discuss the introduction of sponsorship on the back of replica shirts has been rejected by all the other Premier League clubs, according to reports.

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St Petersburg venue announced for 2018 World Cup qualifying draw

Konstantinovsky Palace

October 13 – The march towards the 2018 World Cup is relentless, despite the calls (generally hysterical) off-stage from various US senators for the event to be moved. FIFA and the local Russian organisers have announced the venue and date for the Preliminary Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

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Cypriot players cross the divide, but route to unification is rocky

Marios Lefkaritis

By Andrew Warshaw
October 13 – A second Greek Cypriot player is reported to have transferred to the Turkish-controlled north of the divided island in another success for supporters of re-unification.