Anelka mourns loss of Manasse and ponders own future
By Andrew Warshaw
August 26 – Former French international striker Nicolas Anelka is reported to be considering retiring following the death of his agent, Eric Manasse.
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Boateng commits to return to international scene with Ghana
August 26 – AC Milan midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng, known as much for his famous walk-off in January that led to a spate of new anti-racism measures as for his exploits on the pitch, has decided to come out of international retirement and play again for Ghana.
Blatter repeats pledge to move 2022 out of its Summer slot
By Andrew Warshaw
August 26 – President Sepp Blatter has given the strongest indication yet that the Qatar 2022 World Cup will be moved from summer – but tellingly can’t confirm exactly when it would be staged instead.
Caribbean rhythm closes CONCACAF’s first U15 tournament in style
By Paul Nicholson in Grand Cayman
August 26 – “This is where it all starts. CONCACAF has a duty to develop its youth players and these are the seeds to expand the vision of youth development. How many opportunities do these young players get to play against the best of their own age group? Before this they had no opportunity,” said CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb as the final of the confederation’s U15 boys tournament came to a close in the Cayman Islands.
Kühne dictates it’s Magath, the ‘last dictator in Europe’, or he’s out at HSV
By Mark Baber
August 26- Swiss billionaire investor Klaus-Michael Kühne wants to see radical reforms and Felix Magath, known for his tough management style, brought in to run Hamburger SV – and unless he gets his way he will not be putting any more of his money into the club.
Cayman Premier declares the islands open for business and sports tourism
By Paul Nicholson in Grand Cayman
August 25 – At a reception in honour of the inaugural CONCACAF U-15 championship, the Premier of the Cayman Islands, Alden McLaughlin, declared the country “open for business and sports tourism. I am immensely proud and honoured that we in Cayman are hosting this U15 tournament – the first (under 15 tournment) for CONCACAF. It is also appropriate since we in Cayman also have the CONCACAF president.”
Spanish taxman lines up €50m payout from La Liga superstars
By Alex O’Loughlin
August 26 – The Spanish tax authorities will collect almost €50 million from star trio Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar for the 2013-14 tax year.
Nigeria’s Keshi to be reported to FIFA for racist radio outburst
By Mark Baber
August 25 – Malawi’s Belgian national team coach Tom Saintfiet says his solicitors will be reporting Stephen Keshi (pictured) to FIFA after the Nigerian national team coach called him “a white dude who should go back to Belgium.”
Barca are first sports team to hit a million YouTube subs
By Alex O’Loughlin
August 23 – Barcelona have become the first football club in the world to boast more than a million YouTube subscribers to its channel.
Paddy Power bets on Arsenal as SBOBet sign Saints for Asia
By Mark Baber
August 23 – Arsenal Football Club has announced betting company Paddy Power as its Official Betting Partner in the UK, Ireland and Italy for the next three years.
FIFA sticking to principles as Russians scramble to placate IOC on gay law
By Andrew Warshaw
August 23 – FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke (pictured) is keeping up the pressure on Russia over the country’s contentious new anti-gay legislation, saying his organisation will not accept any form of discrimination at the 2018 World Cup.
UEFA hands out life bans to Armenian refs for match-fixing attempt
By Mark Baber
August 23 – Armenian referee Andranik Arsenyan and assistant Hovhannes Avagyan have been handed life bans by UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body (CDB) after admitting attempting to manipulate the outcome of a Europa League match.
On-Off Bale saga now looks set to smash world record transfer fee
By Andrew Warshaw
August 23 – The world record fee for a footballer looks set to be smashed in the next few days when Tottenham Hotspur’s exciting Welshman Gareth Bale is finally sold to Real Madrid after a long-drawn-out transfer saga.
English FA rings more change as Pearce exits and Southgate returns
August 23 – The future of English football at under-21 level and below has been placed in the hands of Gareth Southgate who is heading back to the Football Association in succession to Stuart Pearce, who left in June after a disappointing group stage exit at the European under-21 finals in Israel.
El Salvador suspends 22 players and opens match-fixing investigation
By Andrew Warshaw
August 23 – In one of the most alarming match-fixing scandals of recent months, El Salvador has temporarily suspended 22 players, drawing an immediate response from its governing confederation, CONCACAF, which said it was “deeply saddened” by the allegations.