Mexican team put beef on backburner as they prepare for Brazil
May 23 – Mexico’s World Cup squad have decided to avoid eating beef during their preparations for fear of testing positive for the banned drug clenbuterol.
Gulati wants rules of bidding game changed before US will bid again
By Andrew Warshaw
May 23 – The head of US Soccer says has reiterated his country will only target the 2026 World Cup if FIFA’s bidding rules are significantly tightened up – including votes being made public. Sunil Gulati and other senior executives within his CONCACAF confederation have long been uncomfortable with the way the joint ballots for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments were conducted.
Beckham turns to Plan B for Miami stadium
By Ben Nicholson
May 23 – David Beckham, in his bid to build a Major League Soccer stadium in downtown Miami, is envisioning a new location for his home turf. Having met with opposition for a waterfront park, largely from disgruntled businessmen from the port area, he has switched his attention to filling a water basin with a 20,000-seat stadium.
Massimo Cecchini: Less is more for Serie A as it starts a diet
Che noia la Serie A: Meglio Metteral a dieta
Evviva, il campionato di Serie A è finito! La Juventus ha vinto con 102 punti, macinando record su record e lasciando la seconda in classifica, la Roma, a 17 lunghezze di distanza. Non basta. Anche la stessa Roma ha fatto registrare diversi primati storici, senza contare che – grazie ai suoi 85 punti – in due stagioni su tre avrebbe vinto lo scudetto.
ICSS expands into European HQ
May 22- The International Centre for Sports Security, which earlier this month published the most comprehensive report to date into the scale of illegal betting, is expanding its global operations by opening a European head office and appointing former European Professional Football Leagues chief Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros as the new Chief Executive of ICSS Europe from early June.
PSG back before UEFA, this time for racist fans
May 22- Paris St Germain have been called before Uefa’s disciplinary commission over allegations of racism by their fans at last month’s Champions League clash against Chelsea in Paris.
Clubs fail to meet AIFF licensing criteria for I-League
By Mark Baber
May 22- The All India Football Federation’s Club Licensing Committee First Instance Body announced Wednesday that only 9 out of 14 applicants met the required administrative, sporting, infrastructure and financial criteria to play in the I-League, though newly promoted Royal Wahingdoh have been given a one-time exemption.
All bets off as FA clamps down on English pros
May 22- All professional footballers in England will be banned from betting on football matches from next season following a string of damaging incidents that have rocked the domestic game.
FIFA move Sao Paulo stadium test date to ensure a big crowd
By Andrew Warshaw
May 22 – A vital final test event at the troubled stadium that is hosting the opening game of the World Cup has been postponed for three days, raising fresh concerns that the Sao Paulo venue will be far from ready for the June 12 kickoff.
Right places, right time: Brazil 2014 digital football guide launches
May 22 – Fans looking to find the authentic Brazilian football experience in Rio or Sao Paulo at the World Cup this summer should download a couple of digital guides written by Brazilian journalist Qiana Martin and writer of the of www. http://eatsoccer.wordpress.com/ blog.
Lee Wellings: World wide Webb tackles racism his way
Jeffrey Webb knows it should be harder to find examples of racism in football
While in London to speak at an event marking 20 years of the trailblazing anti-discrimination group Kick It Out, yet another example of racism in football reared its ugly, pointless head.
The morning of our meeting in a London hotel, Mario Balotelli had been abused by a group of Italy fans at the team’s training base in Florence.
Brazilian players go legal with FIFA, complaining it is too hot for early kick offs
By Andrew Warshaw
May 22 – FIFA is holding firm on kickoff times for the World Cup despite being threatened with legal action by Brazil’s athletes’ union (Fenapaf) which is calling for two-minute water breaks at the midway point of each half.
City Football Group invest in Japan’s Yokohama F Marinos
By Mark Baber
May 21 – City Football Group (CFG), owners of Manchester City, Melbourne Heart and New York City Football Club have taken a minority stake (believed to be 20%) and formed a partnership with the Nissan-owned Yokohama F Marinos, one of Japan’s leading sides.
End to hijab ban welcomed in Jordan as game is opened to more women
By Andrew Warshaw
May 21 – The lifting of the ban on Muslim women footballers wearing the hijab has been welcomed by organisers of the 2016 under-17 Womens World Cup in Jordan, a tournament viewed as potential breakthrough it terms of breaking down social barriers.
IMG picks up master licensee rights package for Euro 2016
May 21 – IMG Licensing has been appointed by UEFA as the master licensee for Euro 2016 and will have global rights until the end of the following year. The contract, to be run from IMG’s Paris office, also covers the UEFA European U21 Championship, the UEFA European Women’s Championship and the UEFA Futsal Euro.