Inside World Football - Page 1966 of 2166 - For the Business of Football

Mihir Bose: Refereeing gaffes are making a mockery of football

Mihir Bose_blog_picture1

Michel Platini’s Financial Fair Play may finally deal with the financial doping the UEFA President feels is ruining the game. But there is an equally serious crisis confronting the game which Platini and other football administrators refuse to address.

This is the failure by football’s bosses to deal with the events on the pitch where almost every game is blighted by incidents the referees do not spot. These then become the subject of calls for disciplinary inquiries by frustrated managers,

Archive

Over $20 million spent at Indian football auction

Hernn Crespo_31-01-12

By David Gold

January 31 – India’s Premier League Soccer (PLS) has held an auction in Calcutta, in which almost $21 million (£13 million/€16 million) was spent by franchises on the likes of 2006 World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro and former France midfielder Robert Pirès.

Archive

Brazil raises to world’s sixth richest league

Brazil fans

By David Gold

January 31 – Brazil’s Brasilierão has climbed above Holland’s top flight to become the world’s sixth richest league, according to a study by BDO RCS, as football benefits from the country’s economic boom.

Archive

Exclusive: Britain’s FIFA Presidency is not under threat, insists Prince Ali

Prince Ali_Bin_Al_Hussein_31-01-12

By Andrew Warshaw

January 31 – Britain’s automatic FIFA Presidency is no longer under threat despite last year’s opposition to Sepp Blatter’s unchallenged re-election as FIFA President, according to the newest member of the organisation’s hierarchy, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured).

Archive

Women’s Professional Soccer season ditched after legal dispute

Dan Borislow_31-01-12

By Andrew Warshaw

January 31 – Just days after qualifying for the London Olympics, women’s soccer in the United States has suffered a massive blow with the announcement that the entire 2012 season is being scrapped.

Archive

Qatar’s London 2012 hopes dashed by FIFA ruling

Abdelaziz Hatim_01-02-12

By Andrew Warshaw

January 31 – Qatar’s hopes of participating in this summer’s London Olympics have been dealt a potentially critical blow after FIFA ruled they fielded an ineligible player in last year’s 1-1 draw against Oman in Muscat.

Archive

Poland’s Euro 2012 showpiece stadium finally opened

warsaw stadium_30-01-12

By Andrew Warshaw

January 30 – Poland’s showpiece venue for this summer’s European Championship finals was opened on Sunday – eight months late.

Archive

Gary Speed sent texts to wife about “taking his life”

louise speed_30-01-121

By Andrew Warshaw

January 30 – Former Welsh manager Gary Speed texted his wife, Louise Speed (pictured), four days before his tragic death and “talked in terms of taking his life”, an inquest was told today.

Archive

Ukraine’s Oleksandr Rybka hit with two year ban after positive doping test

Oleksandr Rybka_30-01-12

By David Gold

January 30 – Ukrainian international goalkeeper Oleksandr Rybka (pictured) has been banned by UEFA for two years after testing positive for a banned substance last year.

Archive

Gazprom and Rosneft step in to save Tom Tomsk

TomTomsk 30-01-12

By David Gold

January 30 – Tom Tomsk are set to be saved after Gazprom and Rosneft stepped in to help the ailing Russian Premier League side, following pressure from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

African Nations Cup

Zambia coach calls for crackdown on naturalised player rules

Herve Renard_30-01-12

By Andrew Warshaw

January 30 – Zambia’s coach at the African Cup of Nations, Hervé Renard (pictured), has called on FIFA to tighten the regulations on naturalised players.

Archive

There will be ample affordable accommodation for Euro 2012 fans, insists tournament director

Kiev football_30_Jan

By Andrew Warshaw

January 30 – The man leading the Ukrainian side of Euro 2012, Markiyan Lubkivskyi, insists there will be enough hotel rooms to accommodate the thousands of fans expected to pour into the country for the world’s third largest sports event this summer.

Archive

Exclusive: I’m not impressed by the politics, says FIFA’s youngest executive member Prince Ali

Prince Ali_Bin_Al_Hussein_30-01-12

By Andrew Warshaw

January 30 – Just over a year after becoming the youngest member of FIFA’s inner sanctum, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured) of Jordan believes there is still too much politics and a lack of openness within world football’s governing body and that those who wish to speak out should not be silenced.

Archive

US women’s football squad claim victory at London 2012 Olympic playoffs

Rhian Wilkinson_of_Canada_and_Alex_Morgan_us_30-01-12

By David Gold

January 29 – The United States crushed Canada 4-0 to cap a dominant showing at BC Place in Vancouver, where they have strolled through the CONCACAF qualifiers for the London 2012 Olympic Games women’s football tournament.

Archive

Asian Football Confederation supports campaign to lift hijab ban on female football players

Zhang Jilong_30Jan

By Andrew Warshaw

January 29 – The acting head of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), China’s Zhang Jilong (pictured), has lent his support to the campaign for the wearing of the Islamic headscarf hijab by female footballers during matches.