February 24 – UEFA president Michel Platini has countered opposition to those who claim expanding the European Championship finals to 24 teams will water down the competition and reduce the quality and spectacle.
By Andrew Warshaw in Amman
February 25 – Asia’s FIFA vice-president has added his voice to those who believe the issue of workers’ rights in Qatar has become far more crucial than whether the 2022 World Cup is played in winter or summer. But, said Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al Hussein, the Gulf state had to be given a fair chance to prove it can implement the measures it promises will be put in place in order to ease the plight of migrant workers.
By Paul Nicholson
February 23 – The MLS has bought back the Chivas USA franchise from Mexican owners Jorge Vergara and Angelica Fuentes (pictured) with immediate effect. The Los Angeles team will compete this season under the Chivas name, but will have a new president appointed by the MLS who will take over the running of the business. Head coach Wilmer Cabrera, who only joined the club on January 9, will remain in charge of the team.
By Paul Nicholson
February 23 – Europe’s federations took their minds off World Cup 2014 today as the draw for Euro 2016 qualifying competition took place in Nice, France. This is the first finals to be competed under UEFA’s increased format of 24 teams. It is also the first qualifying competition to have matches staggered from Thursday to Tuesday to create UEFA’s so-called Week of Football.
By Andrew Warshaw in Amman
February 22 – Asian football today agreed on a raft of measures for tackling cardiac arrest following the death last November of under-22 Jordanian footballer Qusai Khawaldeh whose tragic loss sent shockwaves throughout the region.
By Paul Nicholson
February 21 – Speaking at an international finance conference in the Cayman Islands, CONCACAF President Jeff Webb emphasised the economic benefits sports can bring to a country and encouraged greater investment in sports as a tool for growth and social change. He made it clear that economic opportunity and social responsibility can, and should, work together comfortably, and that success would be achieved through leadership rather than following.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 21- FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne has fired his first thematic salvo in his unlikely bid to take over from Sepp Blatter by focussing on the need to reform the current transfer system.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 21 – The prospect of Turkish Cypriot footballers playing for a national Cyprus team, ending more than half a century of isolation, has moved a step closer following the latest re-unification talks. Earlier this week, Greek and Turkish Cypriot officials attended a reception held by the French ambassador in Nicosia aimed at strengthening ties between the two communities on the disputed Mediterranean island.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 21 – Fabrice Muamba, the former Premier League footballer who was forced to give up playing after suffering a massive cardiac arrest during a cup match just under two years ago and whose plight made worldwide headlines, is among the speakers at special conference on football and medicine being held in the Jordanian capital of Amman on Saturday.
By Paul Nicholson
February 21 – The largest 5-a-side competition the world has ever seen has been launched with 100,000 players from 180 countries already signed up to play against each other worldwide, but all competing in the same ranking.
February 21 – FIFA sponsor Budweiser has launched its 2014 World Cup marketing campaign, Rise As One, aimed at celebrating the moments that unite and captivate fans and nations. The official beer sponsor’s global ad campaign will run on TV and outdoor in the run-up to the summer tournament and launches March 5.with a series of online teasers with a full launch being March 24.
February 21 – UEFA has opened an investigation into Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini’s comments about the referee following Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League loss to Barcelona. Pellegrini was uncharacteristically critical of Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson, claiming he was “not impartial to both teams”.
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
February 20 – Ruch Chorzow has signed an innovative sponsorship deal with Germany’s Fuchs Oil. Under the first long-term deal of this kind in Poland, the new sponsor will pay the club a fee each time it scores a goal.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 20 – Two controversial Champions League sendings-off this week have re-focussed attention on the so-called ‘triple punishment’ – penalty, sending off and subsequent suspension – that continues to so cause so must consternation throughout the game.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 20 – Kosovan football authorities are celebrating another significant step forward after the head of their federation, Fadil Vokrri, held potential breakthrough talks with UEFA President Michel Platini in the Albanian capital of Tirana.