Inside World Football - Page 1757 of 2159 - For the Business of Football

Exclusive: Qatar may provide the face-saving, no break in Platini’s ranks

FIFA House

By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
October 3 – Qatar is coming under subtle pressure to formally request switching the 2022 World Cup from the searing heat of the Gulf summer in order to save FIFA having to make the landmark one-off decision. Although the Qataris have long insisted they would never contemplate taking unilateral action and being the ones to ask for a change, InsideWorldFootball has learned that a deal could be struck to ensure the 2022 hosts are not unduly jeopardised by offering themselves to hold the tournament in winter.

Archive

Striani and Dupont in court today to start Financial Fair Play challenge

jean louis dupont

By Mark Baber
October 3 – The challenge to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations by Daniel Striani, is due in Brussels’ Court of First Instance today in what will be a short hearing to set a schedule for handling the complaint lodged in May.

Archive

Manchester United expand TV footprint into the South Seas

MUTV

By Mark Baber
October 3 – Manchester United has announced a three-year agreement with Fijian Holdings Limited (FHL)’s Fiji TV to bring MUTV to the South Pacific for the first time.

Archive

FA criticised as English match fixing scandal deepens and links to Aussie arrests

The FA banner

By Paul Nicholson
October 3 – The match fixing scandal surrounding non-league players in England has deepened with the revelation that three of the four players arrested in Australia were from AFC Hornchurch in England’s Conference South division.

Mihir Bose

Mihir Bose: Brussels, not Westminster, may turn the tide for Barry Hearn’s Olympic Stadium bid

Disenchantment with Europe is now so prevalent in Britain that it seems hard to find anyone who looks to Europe to help their cause. Yet Barry Hearn, who has got nowhere in his fight to share the Olympic stadium with West Ham, may find Brussels rather than Westminster is his best bet.

At the moment, having spent three quarters of a million pounds in legal fees over three years and got nowhere –

Archive

IFA readies for October forum with focus on the future and ‘mega’ events

marcel schmid ifa 630

By Paul Nicholson
October 2 – The International Football Arena will celebrate the 15th edition of its Zurich meeting October 28-29. The invitation-only event has grown into an important discussion forum as well as a key networking event for leaders in football from across the game’s different disciplines and geographies. IFA founder Marcel Schmid says the event at FIFA House this year will be looking forward and predicting the next 15 years for the football business

Andrew Warshaw: Eerie calm before the desert storm

Whatever transpires at the eagerly awaited gathering of FIFA’s top brass in Zurich on Friday, any decision to switch the 2022 World Cup in Qatar from the searing heat of the Gulf summer has suddenly taken on additional intrigue following the revelation that FIFA’s chief corruption-buster is stepping up his investigation into the entire bid process for 2018 and 2022 to find out what, if any, illegal shenanigans took place.

FIFA’s executive committee,

Africa

Nigerian federation cash crisis leaves it unable to move into new HQ

Musa Amadu

October 2 – Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary Musa Amadu (pictured) told lawmakers on Sunday that the federation has been unable to move into its new headquarters because of a cash crisis.

Africa

Benin elects Ahouanvoébla on platform of revival and promise of new era

Augustin Ahouanvoébla

By Mark Baber
October 2 – Augustin Ahouanvoébla has been elected President of the Benin Football Federation (FEBEFOOT) for a four-year tenure, as his ‘Revival of Football’ list (of candidates for office) beat Bruno Arthur Didavi’s ‘Renewal’ list narrowly by 23 votes to 21, with two votes declared invalid in the final round of the elective General Assembly held on Monday September 30 at the Palais des Congres in Cotonou.

Archive

Singapore enlists French help to develop next generation

Singapore and France sign MoU

By Mark Baber
October 2 – A wide-ranging Football Association of Singapore (FAS) – French Football Federation (FFF) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focusing on youth development was signed at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore yesterday. In hailing the new MOU, representatives focused on the successes of the French youth system which was demonstrated as the France Under-20 side won the 2013 FIFA Under-20 World Cup title whilst the Under-19 side finished runners-up at the UEFA European Under-19 Championships.

Archive

Gazprom protestors drop in to halt CL group game

Gazprom protest

October 2 – UEFA seem certain to impose sanctions after activists protesting against Champions League sponsor Gazprom interrupted the Basel-Schalke group game Tuesday by abseiling from the stadium roof at St Jakob-Park, forcing a brief suspension.

Lee Wellings

Lee Wellings: Is ‘Open Season’ on Qatar fair?

In the three years since Qatar was awarded hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup I haven’t heard their Supreme Committee or anyone with power deny anyone the right to free speech, to question or to criticise the decision.

But what would be helpful is if the critics made sure they were accurate, well researched and fair.

Some chance.

It’s open season on the 2022 hosts, where many ‘commentators’

Archive

Hublot to mark Paris Saint-Germain’s glory years

Hublot and PSG

By Mark Baber
October 1 – Hublot, the luxury watch-maker, have agreed a partnership with Paris Saint-Germain to become the Official Timekeeper and Watch of Paris Saint-Germain FC in a deal which will afford them branding exposure at the Parc des Princes stadium.

Matt Scott

Matt Scott: Manchester United – where £50m is not all it seems

Manchester United’s three defeats from their first six Premier League matches have left the reigning champions in 12th place and the jokes are out already. Wags have begun calling them “Port Talbot” because they’re somewhere between Swansea and Cardiff.

This industrial-scale mess has prompted the new manager, David Moyes, to adopt a risky strategy. After defeat to West Bromwich Albion at home on Saturday he said his side lacked the “world-class players” required to win the Champions League.

Archive

FIFpro calls on EU to step in to protect players and stop criminal activity

October 1 – The international players’ union FIFpro has called on the European Union to pressure FIFA into changing the transfer system which, it warns, is putting the careers of the majority of players “at the mercy” of their employers.