Schalke 04 extends sponsorship deal with Bet-at-home
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
December 23 – Schalke 04 has extended its sponsorship deal with betting operator Bet-at-home until 30 June 2016.
Blame games: Qatar labour issues and a never-ending supply of workers
By Paul Nicholson
December 23 – Human rights abuses in Qatar have made the Gulf state the whipping boy of the western media. If there was no World Cup planned for 2022 in Qatar then probably the rest of the world might not be so interested – perhaps a comment on the west as much as the Qataris. But the World Cup will be in Qatar and the world has been drawn into the story.
Mihir Bose: The streets with no names but only numbers that show the other Qatar
Much has been made in recent weeks of the terrible working conditions of migrant labour in Qatar. As the hosts for the 2022 World Cup, the spotlight was always going to be on the Gulf state but even then Amnesty International’s report on migrant workers presented a dreadfully bleak picture of the conditions of those involved in the infrastructure projects Qatar is undertaking as it prepares for its historic moment in the sun.
The Amnesty report mentioned that more than 80 migrant construction workers,
Malaysians ban 8 for life for fixing domestic league matches
December 23 – Malaysian authorities have imposed lifetime bans on five players and three officials for match-fixing in their domestic league.
Valcke reflects on a challenging 2013 and ‘recharges’ for a big 2014
By Andrew Warshaw
December 23 – FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke says it’s time to “recharge the batteries” over the Christmas period after what he has described as a “momentous” year – in part related to trying to organise next year’s World Cup in Brazil where half the stadiums will not be ready by FIFA’s end-of-year deadline.
Vanishing spray joins Goalline technology for 2014 World Cup debuts
December 23 – Vanishing spray, used for several years in South America to stop defensive walls encroaching at free kicks, is to be employed throughout next year’s World Cup by referees.
Bayern add World Club Championship to CL and Bungesliga crowns
December 23 – Favourites Bayern Munich crowned a momentous year by winning the Club World Cup in Morocco and finally ending the brave challenge of Raja Casablanca who did the host nation proud by reaching the final.
Switzerland in March for Ronaldo and Zidane Match Against Poverty
December 20 – The 11th Match Against Poverty will take place on 4 March 2014 at the Stade de Suisse in Berne, announced United Nations Development Project (UNDP) ambassadors Ronaldo and Zinédine Zidane yesterday.
Barnet open doors to cross-sport ground share with London Broncos
December 20 – London’s only top level Rugby League side, London Broncos, have agreed a two-year ground share with Barnet Football Club, relegated last year to the Football Conference, England’s fifth tier of football.
Andrew Warshaw: The Sack Race is on but are there really any winners?
It’s a familiar jibe at almost every game whenever a manager is under pressure to save his job. “Sacked in the morning, you’re getting sacked in the morning,” goes the refrain, belted out with gusto by fans of the opposing team as they taunt the manager in question.
The chant has become part of the fabric of the game in English football and it is around this time of year – in other words close to the mid-season transfer window –
Gattuso rubbishes accusations as Italian football rushes to his defence
By Andrew Warshaw
December 20 – Italian World Cup winner Gennaro Gattuso has fiercely denied allegations of match-fixing saying he is “angry and offended” at any suggestion that might be involved in any operation.
Police round-up Ethiopian terrorist ring that targeted World Cup qualifiers
December 20 – Ethiopian police have swooped to arrest five more people suspected of plotting suicide bombings during the country’s World Cup qualifier against Nigeria in October that could have killed scores of fans.
Lee Wellings: Been watching the Club World Cup in Morocco?
No I thought not.
It’s taken seriously in South America, where it feels like a Champions League final to them, a chance for the Copa Libertadores winners to topple the best from Europe.
And it occasionally makes its mark elsewhere. I still remember waking to the news that Zico’s Flamengo had humiliated Liverpool 3-0 in the annual Intercontinental game in Tokyo in 1981. I thought my team were indestructible before that.
Ekstraklasa teams up with Transparency to educate players on gambling risks
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
December 19 – Poland’s Ekstraklasa, the operator of the top tier of Polish professional football league, is aiming to educate young footballers on the risks related to gambling. The initiative, carried out by the Ekstraklasa Foundation, is launched in cooperation with Transparency International which also collaborates with six other European football leagues on similar programmes.
Manaus stadium build set to re-start
December 19 – Construction is set to resume at the World Cup stadium in Manaus where a young worker recently fell to his death, prompting a walkout amid heightening safety fears six months ahead of the big kickoff.