Brazil 2014 World Cup law still not given official go-ahead
By Andrew Warshaw
February 29 – The sale of alcohol at the 2014 World Cup remains a major sticking point after Brazilian officials failed to make a definitive ruling on the issue.
Exclusive: We’ll try to avoid making teams travel across Russia, says 2018 World Cup chief
By David Gold
February 29 – Alexey Sorokin (pictured), the chief executive of Russia 2018, has told insideworldfootball that he would prefer to avoid having teams flying long distances during the group stage of the competition.
David Owen: Why football may play a part in the Scottish independence debate
On February 29 at the bijou Bonifika Stadium in Koper, Scotland take on Slovenia in one of those rather pointless friendly internationals.
The match takes place with Scottish independence high on the UK news agenda and a referendum expected in 2014.
You might think the fortunes of the Tartan Army have little if anything to do with the complexities of Scotland’s constitutional arrangements with the rest of the United Kingdom.
FIFA maintain moral high ground in war of words with ECA
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – The tit-for-tat war of words between Europe’s clubs and FIFA was stepped up today when football’s world governing body reacted with surprise at suggestions that relations between the two parties had irretrievably broken down.
Agents gain €400 million from the Big Five each year, reveals new survey
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Football agents cream off a remarkable €400 million (£340 million/$540 million) a year from Europe’s professional clubs according to a new survey.
South Korea drop K-League Cup in war against match fixing
By David Gold
February 28 – South Korea has dropped the K-League Cup in a bid to clamp down on match fixing in the wake of last year’s scandal.
Mihir Bose: Despite the turmoil, the racism debate might spark some good progress in English football
Good can sometimes come out of evil, and the debate on racism that the game is going through could well lead to English football going down the road of America and adopting the Rooney rule. This rule, named for Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and chairman of the league’s diversity committee, was introduced in 2003 so that minority coaches, especially African Americans, were at least considered for high-level coaching positions.
It basically states that,
Troubled Syria and Yemen to play Asian Cup “home” games abroad
By David Gold
February 29 – Due to the deteriorating security situation in both Syria and Yemen, the country’s clubs have been told by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to play their “home” AFC Cup games abroad.
German champions announce record revenue
By David Gold
February 28 – German champions Borussia Dortmund have registered revenues of over €100 million (£84 million/$135 million) for the first time in their history.
Agreement with UEFA is major breakthrough, says ECA chair Rummenigge
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Europe’s leading clubs today struck a landmark agreement with UEFA giving them a bigger share of the European Championship pot – but warned their relationship with FIFA was still deadlocked.
Revenues from Egypt friendlies to be donated to Port Said disaster victims
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – The revenues earned by Egypt from three forthcoming friendlies in Qatar will be donated to the victims of the Port Said disaster following direct intervention from national coach Bob Bradley (pictured), the former United States World Cup coach.
Gold Coast United in hot water with refugee supporting slogan
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – An Australian club is on a collision course with its national association, Football Federation Australia (FFA), after sending out its players bearing a slogan supporting the plight of refugees.
Beşiktaş President Demirören named as new TFF chairman
By David Gold
February 27 – The embattled Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has elected Beşiktaş President Yıldırım Demirören (pictured) as their new chairman at a general assembly today.
UEFA President Platini slams goal-line technology as “nonsense”
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – UEFA President Michel Platini (pictured) has racked up the anticipation ahead of next weekend’s International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting by once again slamming the idea of goal-line technology, this time describing it as “nonsense”.
Exclusive: There has been no satisfactory answer to our demands, says ECA vice chair Gandini
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – One of the leading officials driving the campaign by Europe’s top clubs to have a greater say in the way the game is run, Umberto Gandini (pictured), has added his voice to the breakdown in talks with FIFA.