By Paul Nicholson
January 17 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is holding its 2014 NWSL College Draft today with more than 180 players submitted for selection by the nine teams in the US-based professional league. Now preparing for its second season, the eight founding clubs have been joined by an expansion franchise – Houston Dash – who were given an initial pre-draft 10-player selection.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 16 – In another blow to the image of Brazil’s status as World Cup and Olympic hosts, the prestigious annual Laureus sports awards – dubbed the Oscars of sport and due to have taken place in March in Rio de Janeiro – have suddenly been called off.
It’s a worrying scenario isn’t it.
A searing sun, temperatures over 40 degrees, players and spectators wilting, the action bordering on farce as it becomes survival of the fittest, not the most talented.
It’s not going to happen with the World Cup in Qatar 2022 though is it? Just ask Jerome Valcke.
No, I refer of course to the Australian Open tennis. You see Melbourne can get quite hot at this time of year.
Ormai sembra più di un’impressione: scegliendo Clarence Seedorf come nuovo allenatore, il Milan non ha individuato soltanto un avventuroso profilo professionale, ma anche un fedele portavoce di quella filosofia aziendale che fa capo al presidente Silvio Berlusconi, ovvero uno degli uomini più ricchi e più controversi d’Italia.
Non è un mistero, infatti, che il campione olandese originario del Suriname, anche quando era semplicemente un calciatore rossonero, si fosse distinto per la adesione alle posizioni anche extra-sportive del suo datore di lavoro.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 16 – Amidst the razzmatazz of this week’s world player of the year award, FIFA president Sepp Blatter provided small but significant new details of the time scale leading up to a decision on the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
By Alexander Krassimirov
January 16 – German company IFS has reached an agreement with the Bulgarian Football Union to build a new modern stadium in Sofia. The facility will be built on the site of Slavia stadium and will be the national stadium for home games as well as being used by Slavia FC.
By Paul Nicholson
January 16 – Fans who are being priced out of attending the Brazil World Cup because of the high rates of accommodation should take a look at a campsite option launched by two Englishmen in Recreio, in the west of Rio de Janeiro. For £35 a day per person, campers can turn up and get the full World Cup experience in one of Rio’s safer districts and in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 16 – In what might be perceived, somewhat controversially, as a sign that Lionel Messi is losing his lustre, millions of fans have bizarrely left the Barcelona and Argentine superstar out of UEFA’s team of the year.
January 16 – Leeds United, one of the biggest names in English football but struggling to rekindle past glories, have moved a step closer being taken over after Bahrain-based investment company Gulf Finance House (GFH) agreed to sell part of its stake in the iconic club.
January 16 – The prospect of a women’s Club World Cup to mirror the men’s event has reportedly moved a step following the first session of the FIFA Task Force for Women’s Football, chaired by Moya Dodd, the Australian co-opted member of FIFA’s Executive Committee.
By Paul Nicholson
January 16 – CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb was in Senegal, Africa, last night to receive a special recognition award from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
By David Owen
January 16 – Joseph Blatter, it is fair to say, has on occasion been slow to warm to new technology. When it comes to social media, however, the FIFA President is very much down with the kids.
January 15 – FIFA have extended their top-level sponsorship deal with credit card provider Visa until 2022. Visa will retain exclusive global rights in the Financial Services product category.
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 15 – Spartak Nalchik has decided to pull out of the Russian National Football League, the second tier of Russia’s professional football league, due to the club’s ongoing financial woes.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – FIFA’s main corruption-buster has warned that match-fixing criminals may try to target World Cup matches this summer. But says Ralf Mutschke, football’s world governing body will do all it can to make sure the tournament remains clean.