Nae problem: World Cup, Christmas Day, North Pole – the Scots are in
September 25 – The Scottish Football Association say they’d willingly play the 2022 World Cup in winter, even “on the north pole”, if it meant them qualifying.
Spanish football deepens its links with Gulf and opens up in Dubai
By Mark Baber
September 26 – Spanish football is developing ties with the Gulf State of Dubai and has announced plans for La Liga to open an office in the Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZA). Dubai’s bid to host the World Expo 2020 is also being heavily promoted in Spanish stadiums.
Brazilian players call for a cut in club fixtures pre-World Cup 2014
By Andrew Warshaw
September 25 – A group of more than 70 players from Brazil’s top two soccer leagues say their health could be at risk because of fixture congestion to accommodate the 2014 World Cup.
Malaysian match-fixer denied bail in Aussie as investigations deepen
By Andrew Warshaw
September 25 – The Malaysian alleged to have been the middle man in Australia’s match-fixing scandal has been denied bail in a Melbourne court for being a possible flight risk, according to local reports.
EA kicks off FIFA 14 in the US and scores early goals
By Mark Baber
September 25 – Electronic Arts’ (EA) FIFA 14 became available in America on Tuesday. The new version of the game features improved and more realistic physics as well as new team and multi-player modes. Initial market reaction was positive with EA shares up 1.37% on the day to $26.55.
Interpol claims Singapore match-fixing bust is a major breakthrough
By Andrew Warshaw
September 25 – The recent crackdown on match-fixing by authorities in Singapore has been hailed by Interpol as the biggest breakthrough to date in the global effort to catch the ringleaders. Singapore is one of the Asian nerve centres of the illegal practice from where games around the globe are manipulated.
Mihir Bose: Why Spurs supporters chanting yids devalue sport
Why should it matter if a section of Tottenham supporters chant yids?
I entirely take the point my colleague Andrew Warshaw has made that Spurs fans, “have for years used chants like “yid” and “Yid Army” not as term of abuse but exactly the opposite: as a badge of honour, of identity, of pride, of endearment.”
However I disagree with him that the chanting is now acceptable. Don’t get me wrong.
Osasu Obayiuwana: Bunglers’ club gets another new member
The proverbial ink had barely dried, after writing last week’s column, when Liberia became the eighth African country to be investigated by FIFA, for using an ineligible player in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
Goalkeeper Nathaniel Sherman, who received yellow cards in games against Uganda and Senegal, was fielded in their final qualifier against Angola, which they lost 4-1.
Should they be found guilty, as they most likely will be, the West Africans will be paying a $6,300 fine for their avoidable error.
Bosman 2? Yoffe ponders challenge to transfer rules for restraint of trade
By Andrew Warshaw
September 24 – In what is being flagged up as a case potentially as far-reaching as the Bosman ruling that changed the face of football, a journeyman English player is considering taking legal action against FIFA over what he claims are unfair restraints on player movement outside the transfer window.
Matt Scott: Football’s good fortune is that fans only see fixtures, not fixes
Search Google News for “Manchester City United” after the Premier League champions’ 4-1 defeat to their local rivals and you will return 12.2 million results. Search the same channel for “Singapore match fixing arrests” and you get back 14,300 articles.
Naturally there is a tremendous amount of tribal braggadocio at stake in any derby between title chasers, and Sunday’s 4-1 win for City was certainly action packed. But in the grand scheme of things it amounts only to 1⁄38 of a single Premier League season for each club.
Palestine-Israel stand-off eases slightly as FIFA mediates next steps
By Andrew Warshaw
September 24 – A rapprochement between Israeli and Palestinian football officials has moved a vital step closer – but only as a result of FIFA’s involvement as mediators. Delegations from both countries met FIFA officials in Zurich on Monday and agreed to each appoint a liaison officer to facilitate the movement of players in and out of the Palestinian territories.
Profits dip, costs rise as Gunners aim for glory, but cash is still available
By Mark Baber
September 24 – Arsenal’s accounts for the year ending May 31 reveal a fall in profits, rise in turnover and a significant cash reserve, a chunk of which has since been spent on the signing of Mesut Ozil as the North London club seeks to reap the rewards of years of financial prudence.
CAF selects host countries and confirms venues for 2015 Cup of Nations
By Mark Baber
September 24 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the host countries for its upcoming competitions and the Moroccan host cities for the Africa Cup of Nations 2015.
CSKA Sofia and Celtic to sign development partnership
By Alexander Krassimirov
September 24 – Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia will work together with Scottish giants Celtic, according to Laurence Davis, the English chairman of the club’s Supervisory Board.
Turks take pole position in race for hosting Euro 2020 final rounds
By Andrew Warshaw
September 24 – The English FA have conceded that Turkey are emerging as favourites to host the latter stages of Euro 2020. Although England and Germany are among a group of nations with aspirations to stage the semi-finals and final of the one-off pan-European tournament, UEFA president Michel Platini’s preference for Turkey looks set to give the country a leading advantage.