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’
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.
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.
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.
By Mark Baber
October 1 – The finalists for the UK’s 2013 Football Business Awards have been announced, throwing up a few surprises including the shortlisting of Newcastle Utd and Wonga for Sponsorship Deal/Partnership of the Year. Perhaps less surprisingly the award ceremony will be hosted by alternative comedienne, Jo Brand.
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
October 1 – FIFA’s leading corruption buster has admitted for the first time in several months that he is stepping up his investigation into the World Cup bidding process for 2018 and 2022. In the week when FIFA is due to decide whether to move the 2022 event in Qatar to winter, Michael Garcia, head of the investigatory arm of FIFA’s ethics committee, has revealed he plans to visit every 2018 and 2022 bidding candidate to see whether any campaign rules were broken.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 1 – British Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has waded into the debate over the 2022 World Cup by laying the blame for the “mess” over whether to switch the tournament to winter firmly at FIFA’s door – but says Qatar have every right to be hosts.
By Panos Bletsos
October 1 – Having not played an international home game in front of their fans for more than 13 months, Greek outfit PAOK are hoping to welcome Israel’s Maccabi Haifa to a packed Toumba ground on October 24, having lodged an appeal against UEFA’s decision to extend their home ban on fans to four matches following “irregularities” during the UEFA Champions League play-off clash against Schalke.
If “a week is a long time in politics”, as the oft-quoted remark of the late British Prime Minister Winston Churchill reminds us, 202 days is certainly an eternity.
That’s the period between March 10, when Danny Jordaan lost a second successive bid to earn a seat on the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and September 28 when he won, by a landslide, the South African Football Association (SAFA) presidential poll.
By Mark Baber
September 30 – German football fans, polls reveal, want to see football taking a lead on social issues. Only 18% of German fans believe that the DFB is doing enough to combat homophobia, with 55% saying not enough is being done. Regarding racism, 40% are happy with the DFB’s commitment, whilst 46% see the need for more action.
By Gareth Messenger
September 30 – A court in Valencia has told Real Madrid attacking midfielder, Isco Alarcon, that he must pay €2.6 million to Eleven Sports.
In a resounding match, Guangzhou EverGrande defeated Kashiwa Reysol 4:1 at the Japanese club’s home pitch in the first round of the semi-final of Asian Champions League, a place for Guangzhou in the final is almost a certainty.
This would be regarded as a great breakthrough for Chinese football, some media even described it as the twilight of the dark age. A series of records will be broken if Guangzhou could make it to the final and win it,
By Andrew Warshaw
September 30 – Danny Jordaan, the public face of the 2010 South Africa World Cup, is finally back in high authority after winning a landslide victory to become the new president of the South African Football Association.
By Mark Baber
September 30 – Questions have been asked in the Malaysian parliament has about the £7.35 million sponsorship of Cardiff City by the Malaysian Culture and Tourism Ministry. Opposition MP Hee Loy Sian, revealed that the Malaysian taxpayer will stump up £3 million for the 2013/2014 Premier League season sponsorship of the Welsh club, owned by Malaysian businessman Vincent Tan (pictured).
By Andrew Warshaw
September 30 – As FIFA’s top brass gather in Zurich for this week’s landmark decision on whether to switch the 2022 World Cup from the tournament’s traditional summer slot, the new president of the International Olympic Committee says he doubts there will ultimately be a clash with the winter Olympics the same year.