Usmanov raises stakes in Kroenke takeover battle
By David Gold
May 25 – Arsenal’s second largest shareholder, Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, is attempting to block Stan Kroenke’s bid to take full control of the Premier League club.
FIFA opens investigation into Bin Hammam and Warner following fresh bribery allegations
By Andrew Warshaw
May 25 – Football’s world governing body FIFA was plunged into disarray today when it was forced to launch an investigation into alleged bribery involving both Presidential challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam and veteran vice-president Jack Warner.
Blatter turns down invitation to appear before British MPs
By Andrew Warshaw
May 24 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has turned down a chance to appear before British MPs to explain his plans for reforming football’s world governing body.
Coward confirmed as latest speaker at Inside World Football Moscow Forum
By David Gold
May 24 – Premier League general secretary Nic Coward is the latest speaker to be confirmed for the Inside World Football Moscow Forum.
FIFA general secretary denies Bin Hammam withdrawal claims
By Andrew Warshaw
May 23 – FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke (pictured) has rejected accusations that Mohammed Bin Hammam was asked to scrap his election challenge to Sepp Blatter because of the corruption allegations concerning Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid.
Blatter promises to lay down law in final term as FIFA President
By Andrew Warshaw
May 23 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has promised to use his fourth and final term of office to take a tougher stance against improper behaviour – even by his own inner sanctum.
FIFA legal delegation impressed on first official trip to Russia
By David Gold
May 23 – FIFA’s legal delegation has concluded its first official visit to Russia ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
Blatter confirms Japan will host 2011 World Club Cup
By David Gold
May 23 – Japan will be hosting the Club World Cup in December as planned despite continuing fears over the nuclear crisis in the country following March’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, FIFA President Sepp Blatter has confirmed.
Qatar 2022 hit back at Sunday Times claim they bribed FIFA Executive Committee members
By Andrew Warshaw
May 23 – Qatar’s football authorities today hit back with a vengeance at what they termed “a series of serious, unsubstantiated and false allegations” that bribes were paid to two senior FIFA officials to support the Gulf state’s 2022 World Cup bid.
Mihir Bose: Triesman’s revelations are explosive but there is no smoking gun
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Lord Triesman’s testimony in Parliament may not prove to be quite the defining moment for FIFA that the media coverage suggests. Triesman’s statements have been seen as FIFA’s equivalent of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Salt Lake City moment. That ended with the IOC cleaning up its act and expelling 10 members.
My worry is that the Triesman intervention could be great theatre but not lead to any real change.
I say this based on having witnessed an even more explosive drama at the IOC’s headquarters in Lausanne back in December 1998.
Blatter blames rival for bringing in man alleged to have delivered Qatar bribes
By Andrew Warshaw
May 21 – With 10 days to go until the FIFA Presidential election, Sepp Blatter took another opportunity today to address African football leaders before moving on to Japan for the final leg of his lobbying campaign.
Chairman not guilty of conflict of interest say Premier League
By Andrew Warshaw
May 20 – The Football Assoiciation and Premier League have given written submissions that there was no conflict of interest over the award of merchandise contracts to a company part-owned by the son of Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards.
Blatter stunned by FA’s “strange” decision to abstain from FIFA vote
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 19 – Sepp Blatter reacted with veiled astonishment today at the announcement by the English Football Association that they would be taking the rare option of abstaining at the upcoming FIFA Presidential election.
Top German FA official bemused by FIFA goal-line technology delay
By David Gold at the SPONSORs Sports Summit in Dusseldorf
May 19 – Wolfgang Niersbach (pictured), the general secretary of the German Football Federation (DFB), has hit out at FIFA over how long it is taking to introduce goal-line technology to determine whether a ball has crossed the line or not.
Bundesliga executive wary of “Murphy Ruling” impact on top European clubs
By David Gold at the SPONSORs Sports Summit in Dusseldorf
May 19 – The case of Karen Murphy, the pub owner in Portsmouth whom a European judge ruled could use a Greek decoder to reduce the costs of showing live Premier League television to her customers, was discussed by Wolfsburg managing director Thomas Rottgerman (pictured) here today.