World Cup suspension on Belize has been lifted
By David Gold
August 17 – Belize has been cleared to compete in World Cup qualifying after FIFA removed a threat to suspend the country over alleged Government interference in football affairs.
Romario strikes a blow for the common man
By David Gold
August 17 – Brazilian legend Romario (pictured) has claimed that the 2014 World Cup will only benefit the wealthy, calling ticket prices “absurd”.
Mihir Bose: Money doesn’t always guarantee sporting success
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The beginning of the football season always turns to talk of money and how much clubs have spent on the transfer market.
Yet what this misses is the age-old truth that money does not buy sporting success. Spending money can keep the fans happy and raise their expectations for the season, but is no guarantee of silverware at the end of the season.
This is something that Manchester City fans might well discover this season as they finally strive to wrest back some glory from their more famous city rivals.
Blazer denies being investigated by the FBI
By David Gold
August 17 – CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer (pictured) has vigorously denied reports circulating that he is being investigated by the FBI.
Manchester United to float on Singapore stock exchange
By David Gold
August 16 – Manchester United are set to publicly float up to £610 million ($1 billlion /€690 million) of the club’s shares on the Singapore Stock Exchange by the end of the year, it was revealed today.
Rupert Murdoch company being probed over Champions Leagues television rights
By David Gold
August 16 – An investigation into Rupert Murdoch’s Sky Italia by Italy’s competition authority for its acquisition of the rights to air the 2010 and 2014 World Cups has been extended to include the News Corp subsidiary’s UEFA Champions League rights.
Head of Brazil 2014 being investigated for embezzlement
By David Gold
August 16 – A police inquiry has been opened up against Brazilian football chief Ricardo Teixeira, who is suspected of involvement in the embezzling of nine million reales (£2.5 million /€2.8 million) generated from a friendly game between Brazil and Portugal in 2008.
Turkish league season to belatedly begin following match-fixing probe
By David Gold
August 15 – The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has confirmed that their league season, which had been postponed due to a match-fixing probe, will begin on September 9, and that no sanctions would be forthcoming for the teams involved.
FIFA President should be limited to two terms says Transparency International
By David Gold
August 16 – Corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI) has told FIFA to limit to two terms the length of time their Presidents can serve if they want to reform their image and rebuild trust with the football community.
FIFA says FC Sion’s ban on fielding new signings must be enforced
By David Gold
August 15 – FIFA has warned Switzerland to enforce its ruling that FC Sion are unable to field six new signings after the Swiss League allowed the club to select three players barred from competition by world football’s governing body last weekend.
FIFA announce probe into 16 Caribbean football officials
Andrew Warshaw
August 11 – Sixteen Caribbean officials are to be probed by FIFA for their roles in the recent bribery scandal that led to the downfall of former Asian football supremo Mohamed Bin Hammam and the resignation of senior FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.
Strike action by players hits La Liga fixtures
By David Gold
August 11 – Players in Spain have announced that they will go on strike for the opening two rounds of fixtures in La Liga and the Segunda Liga, Luis Rubiales, the President of the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE), has confirmed.
Tottenham’s opening Premier League fixture succumbs to the London riots aftermath
By Andrew Warshaw
August 11 – The widespread civil unrest that has gripped parts of England snared its first Premier League game today when Saturday’s sold-out fixture between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton was called off.
Million dollar donation by FIFA to help those affected by drought in Somalia
By David Gold
August 11 – FIFA has donated $1 million (£616,523/€700,918) to those affected by the crisis in Somalia, brought on by the drought which has struck East Africa in recent months.
Mihir Bose: The silence of the world’s football players is deafening
Like the dog that did not bark in the night in the Sherlock Holmes mystery, The Hound of the Baskervilles, one of the most fascinating aspects of the FIFA crisis is that one group has said nothing: the players.
It is astonishing to consider, given all that has been written about the problems of FIFA, that there is very little about what the players think. Their silence has been stunning.