Barca partners with UAE bank in Gulf region
By Mark Baber
September 9 – Barcelona announced on Sunday a three year deal with UAE’s United Arab Bank (UAB) – its first partnership with a financial institution outside of Spain and Andorra.
FIFA kick starts 27 new Goal and 16 new Performance projects
By Mark Baber
September 9 – The FIFA Development Committee has outlined 27 new Goal projects to be implemented around the world, including the first to be planned for Indonesia as well as 16 new recipients for FIFA’s Performance Programme.
Azteca defeat forces Compean to make change in Mexico
By Andrew Warshaw
September 9 – José Manuel ‘Chepo’ de la Torre has been sacked as Mexico coach following last Friday’s shock 2-1 home defeat by Honduras that seriously dented their automatic World Cup qualification hopes.
Former PL chief hits out as English FA asking if ‘they really want to govern’
By Andrew Warshaw
September 9 – Former Premier League chief executive Rick Parry (pictured) has issued a damning indictment on the governance of English football saying the Football Association is too weak and antiquated and has been left behind.
[b]Exclusive with Sepp Blatter:[/b] Everyone complains about winter 2022, but what about discrimination
September 9 – The recent heated debate about potentially playing the FIFA World Cup 2022 in what would be the European winter (note European) has generated some agreement and considerable dissent among football pundits, administrators and politicians alike. Insideworldfootball’s Paul Nicholson spoke exclusively to FIFA’s President, Joseph S. Blatter, and asked him what repercussions he is expecting – if any – to his proposal to shift dates.
Last minute sponsors step up for African World Cup qualifiers
By Mark Baber
September 6 – Hours ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers in Africa, a sponsorship deal has been signed between Crown Beverages and the Kenya national team, whilst Meanwood Properties and Zambeef Plc have come in to help pay for TV rights for today’s game between Ghana and Zambia.
Exclusive: Rajoub pours scorn on Israel’s commitment despite FIFA talks
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
September 6 – Palestine football’s leading figurehead has poured scorn on Israel’s commitment to easing the plight of his country’s players and officials – and says the FIFA initiative to resolve the deep divisions between the two Middle East neighbours will never work unless Israel stops its “bullying” tactics. Earlier this week, FIFA president Sepp Blatter hailed initial talks aimed at easing travel restrictions for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza as “historic”
Farnborough cleared to play, but without Messi, Beckenbauer and Maradona
By Mark Baber
September 6 – English Football Conference South club Farnborough FC, who recently emerged from administration with support from bookmaker Paddy Power, have been given permission by the Football Conference Board to compete in the Conference from tomorrow, albeit the players will have to compete under their real names.
Lee Wellings: The Real Illusion – where DO they get the money?
How do Real Madrid do it?
No it’s not a rhetorical question, really how do they do it?
For over 100 days the question was when will Gareth Bale join them in a world record deal from Tottenham.
With the deal finally, mercifully done, we now need to ask a more interesting question. How did they do it? I can’t be the only one to believe that world record transfers should be more plausibly made by clubs with oil money behind them.
Top coaches back a shorter transfer window to end Summer madness
By Andrew Warshaw
September 6 – Coaches of many of Europe’s leading clubs have backed UEFA President Michel Platini’s suggestion to shorten the summer transfer window in order to allow for greater stability and planning.
Valcke reassures that World Cup 2014 prep is on-track
By Andrew Warshaw
September 6 – As the World Cup qualification process moves towards its conclusion, Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke insists organisers are “heading in the right directions” despite various ongoing issues inside Brazil, including cost and infastructure.
Messi stumps up €5m to escape posting bail in tax fraud case
By Mark Baber
September 5 – Lionel Messi and his father Jorge have paid €5 million (£4.2 million) over to the Spanish tax authorities, leading a Catalan court to deny a request from the State Agency for Tax Administration to set bail for the accused pair in the legal process of their pending tax fraud trial.
Spain and Germany lead coaching league, English playing long game of catch-up
By Andrew Warshaw
September 5 – Whilst the speech of new FA chairman Greg Dyke highlighted the dearth of English players in the Premier league eligible for the national team, buried in the text was evidence of a lack of highly skilled English coaches.
Romario and Maradona unite ‘to take fight to CONMEBOL’
By Andrew Warshaw
September 5 – Two of South America’s biggest footballing icons, Diego Maradona and Romario, have joined forces to denounce the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) for not doing enough to distribute its funds.
Rooney’s paid-for Nike tweet clears ad regs as being obviously a promo
By Mark Baber
September 5 – Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been cleared by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of breaking advertising rules banning subliminal promotional messages and no further action will be taken after it was decided a tweet he had posted plugging Nike was “obviously identifiable as a marketing communication.”