Hull City take stand over criminalisation of fans and organise game day protest
By Mark Baber
March 19 – Hull City has expressed frustration with the police and solidarity with its fans in advance of its away game against Huddersfield Town.
Education is key and sport is part of it, says UN’s Lemke
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
March 19 – The Greek footballer who made a Nazi gesture after scoring a goal at the weekend has come under fresh condemnation – this time from a leading United Nations adviser.
Thaljieh makes a passionate plea for Palestinian equality
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
March 19 – Speaking at the Securing Sport 2013 conference in Doha, Palestine’s leading women’s football pioneer has added her name to those who believe UEFA were fundamentally wrong to award this summer’s European under-21 championship to Israel.
Russians to sell beer in stadiums, as Mutko prepares for success on the field
By Paul Nicholson
March 18 – The Russian ban on selling alcohol in stadiums looks to have been lifted, with drinks companies saying they have bought licenses to sell beer in stadiums from 2018, in time for the FIFA World Cup 2018.
Campaigners call for FIFA to show the red card to homophobia
By Mark Baber
March 18 – The revelation that the head of the Nigeria Women Professional League (NPWL) has been actively discriminating against suspected lesbian footballers has unleashed a storm of protest including a petition to FIFA which has so far gathered nearly 50,000 signatures.
The Times retracts its Dream League nightmare story
By Paul Nicholson
March 18 – The Times has today published a retraction of the Dream League story it ran over its three back pages last Wednesday morning (March 13).
Greeks move swiftly to ban Katidis after Nazi salute
March 18 – A top-flight Greek footballer has been handed a life ban from the national team for making a Nazi salute to fans. AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis (pictured), former captain of Greece’s under-19 team, conceded the “stupidity” of his actions after making the gesture in celebrating his winning goal in a 2-1 win over lowly Veria on Saturday.
Indonesia’s rival factions agree to unite under a single banner
By Andrew Warshaw
March 18 – Under pressure from FIFA to resolve their differences or face severe sanctions, Indonesia’s two rival football associations have struck an 11th hour agreement to merge, ending a long and bitter feud that could have resulted in the country being suspended from international competition.
Sports leaders gather in Doha for Securing Sport 2013
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
March 17 – High-ranking decision makers from across the globe converge on Qatar on Monday and Tuesday for another prestige summit organised by the Gulf state, keeping itself firmly in the sporting spotlight.
Jean Francois Tanda: Hard to say I’m sorry
What a story! Loads of Money. Qatar! One tournament every two years. A project including big names such as Barcelona, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool and the best football players worldwide. What a dream of a football league!
The story run by The Times of London has all the ingredients of a fairy tale for adults. And like the lovely stories for kids, it was freely invented. At least, all available information so far suggests it.
FIFA concern at Guatemala overturning match-fixing bans
By Mark Baber
March 15 – FIFA has written to the Guatemala FA expressing concern over the decision by Guatemala’s national sport tribunal to overturn the lifetime ban imposed for match-fixing on three national team players.
Change of FIFA exco election rules may take longer than 2015
Exclusive: By Osasu Obayiuwana
March 15 – A recommendation that the new FIFA president and his executive committee members are both elected by its congress, an important part of the proposed reforms for world football’s governing body, may not be achieved by 2015, when the next presidential election is due, says Sepp Blatter.
Infantino demands global ban on third party player ownership
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 15 – Third party ownership, the process by which professional footballers’ ‘rights’ and careers are controlled by outside parties, is one of the most serious issues facing the European game, according to UEFA, and could be banned from all its competitions.
Mihir Bose: English football should not turn defeat into disaster
It is always tempting in sport to draw huge global lessons from one defeat or victory. That is a temptation that should be avoided for the simple reason that sporting victories or defeats on their own do not signify vast changes. That only emerges if they are part of a consistent pattern over several seasons.
The most potent example of this was provided by Barcelona. Before their match against A.C. Milan many were prepared to write their obituary.