Blatter re-iterates zero tolerance on racism and tough punishment
By Andrew Warshaw
April 9 – FIFA have been quick to dispel any suggestion that Sepp Blatter has eased his hardline stance against racism.
Brazilian ‘pride’ as Arena Fonte Nova opens on time
By Mark Baber
April 9 – Brazil completed its third stadium in readiness for the Confederation Cup later this year. The Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Bahia state, held its first match April 7 after four years of planning and construction, with local rivals Vitoria beating Bahia 5-1.
FIFA payments to top people soar
By David Owen
April 8 – FIFA payments to so-called “key management personnel” have surged in the past four years, as revealed by figures in the world governing body’s financial reports.
FIFA warns Cameroon of government influence in football
April 9 – Cameroon are the latest country to fall foul of FIFA’s strict rules on government interference in football.
FIFA steps in to support for South African match-fixing enquiry
By Andrew Warshaw
April 9 – The match-fixing scandal that has rocked South African football because it directly involves the national team, is to be investigated by an three-man independent team – backed by FIFA.
Valladolid consider action against Atlético de Madrid over player ‘tapping up’
By Mónica Villar
April 9 – Spain’s PLa Liga side Valladolid are considering legal action after it came to light that Atlético de Madrid’s Sporting director, José Luis Pérez Caminero, has had a secret meeting with Valladolid winger Patrick Ebert.
Deportivo get tax back but TV cash and image rights revenue still withheld
By Monica Villar
April 8 – Deportivo La Coruna may be showing signs of improvement on the pitch as the season comes to a close, but economically the Galicians are having a tough time as the life-threatening battle over cash to run the club intensifies.
Zimbabwe match-fixing saga nears end of appeals process, further bans expected
By Mark Baber
April 8 – This Wednesday the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) special appeals committee is expected to make its final determinations in the “Asiagate” match-fixing scandal.
Foxtel pumps $20m into youth football in Australia
By Mark Baber
April 8 – Australian pay-TV network Foxtel has pledged $20 million over the next four years to support the development of youth football in Australia.
Al Serkal manifesto promises unity, transparency and crackdown on match-fixing
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent, in Dubai
April 8 – Against the backdrop of one of the world’s most famous racecourses, Asian Football Confederation presidential candidate Yousuf Al Serkal surged out of the blocks today and declared himself the best man to restore unity and transparency to the troubled region.
PepsiCo links up with Asian ‘Kick for Hope’ social development project
April 8 – PepsiCo, has entered into a one-year partnership with the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP) under the theme ‘Kick for Hope’ which will focus on India and 11 countries in the Middle East including the UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen.
Aon changes shirts in new £120m sponsorship deal at United
April 8 – Manchester United shirt sponsor Aon, has swapped match day sponsorship for training kit and the naming rights to the Carrington training ground in an estimated £120m ($183.6m), 8 year deal.
Caribbean mayhem or post-colonial arrogance?
CONCACAF is voting again. Chuck Blazer, a US citizen, is stepping down to be succeeded by Sunil Gulati, a US citizen, who will be promoted to FIFA’s Executive Committee. Meanwhile, the tiniest of Caribbean islands that make up the majority of the CFU, are following orders as usual. This time, not those of the much maligned Jack Warner, but those of a dubious and FIFA-reprimanded figure, Gordon Derrick, victorious in a somewhat weird election to the helm of the CFU in Budapest last year (held in parallel to the FIFA Congress),
Andrew Warshaw: It is hard to get a turkey to vote for Christmas – reform ins and outs
When FIFA President Sepp Blatter told the world over two years ago that his organisation would clean up its act and enter a new era of transparency after sinking to a low following an unprecedented period of corruption, supporters took him at his word while cynics – of whom there are a fair few – looked to the heavens and questioned whether it would really happen.
Since then there have been hundreds of column inches written about the Great Reform Process designed pull FIFA into the 21st century and which comes to head on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius at the end of next month when 209 member nations vote at FIFA’s annual congress on the need for change.