By Andrew Warshaw
January 27 – The staging of this year’s World Cup in Brazil has come under renewed intense scrutiny following fresh street protests over the cost of hosting the tournament.
January 27 – The thought of a big-league derby match being held in an empty stadium would generally be ridiculed. But that is what could happen next Sunday (February 2) in Genoa when kick off comes at 12.30am local time.
Just in the middle of the noise of Wang Jianlin’s potential purchase of Southampton FC, another piece of news related to The richest man in China and CFA (China Football Association) came out.
On January 21, 2014, the National Congress of CFA was finally held in a small town outside of Beijing. A new generation of leaders of CFA was elected by raised hands, and Wang Jianlin was appointed as the Adviser of CFA.
January 24- Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will help shape the future of European football after being unveiled today by UEFA as its new coaching ambassador.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 24- Euro 2016 hosts France are to play in the competition’s qualifying competition — but with a guarantee of their place in the finals secure.
By Richard van Poortvliet
January 24 – Fabio Capello has signed a contract extension with the Russian national team, which will see him in charge through to the 2018 World Cup, which the country will host.
January 24 – German prosecutors have searched tax offices in Bavaria as part of the probe into Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness who last year caused a sensation when he admitted publicly that he had millions of euros in a Swiss bank account that he had not declared.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 24 – Two days after one of Brazil’s 12 World Cup stadia learned it may have to be scrapped from the schedule because of construction delays, Brazil’s leader Dilma Rousseff and FIFA president Sepp Blatter presented a joint charm offensive following a courtesy meeting at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 24 – Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, one of the most influential figures in European football, has sensationally resigned over an investigation into last year’s signing of star Brazilian forward Neymar.
By Paul Nicholson
January 24 – Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) president Victor Montagliani unveiled yesterday a new strategic plan for the sport in the country. Titled Leading a Soccer Nation, the document outlines priorities for 2014-18. But Montagliani is looking further ahead and says that Canada should bid for the 2026 World Cup.
By Paul Nicholson
January 24 – Bloomberg Sports is launching its first weekly TV show this weekend on its own network, Bloomberg TV Africa. Titled Football Dynamics, the show will air three times on Saturdays and repeat twice on Sundays.
“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” Plato, The Republic
Since the earliest days of democracy, political apathy has carried a price. In the UK, bizarre though it still seems, the price of a low voter turnout and diminished engagement with the political process was a £1,645 claim for a “floating duck island” by a member of the British parliament and knight of the realm.
By Tom Parsons
January 23 – There is an old English saying that “if you are lost, ask a policeman”. But Greater Manchester Police have asked Manchester United supporters not to call 999 about concerns over the clubs recent loss of form.
January 23 – Fresh details of next month’s draw in Nice for the first ever 24-team European Championship finals are expected to be revealed on Friday after UEFA complete its first executive committee meeting of the year at its Swiss headquarters.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 23 – The financial power of Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City has stretched to the other side of the world with the announcement that the high-flying Premier League club have taken over cash-strapped A-League team Melbourne Heart.