Palestine rise up FIFA rankings despite Gazan player restrictions
August 21 – Despite the ongoing military crisis in Gaza, Palestinian football has managed to achieve its highest ever world ranking by surging to 85th.
Asia
Indians agree dates for 2015 Federation Cup as Super League reveals draft names
By Mark Baber
August 20 – The All India Football Federation (AIFF) have announced that Jammu and Kashmir will host the Federation Cup in August 2015, whilst the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) announced the names of the international players who will be playing in the new league.
India defeats Pakistan 1-0 but real winner could be Pakistan’s economy
By Mark Baber
August 18 – India defeated Pakistan 1-0 on Sunday in the first match between the two Asian neighbours for nine years. All sporting ties between India and Pakistan were suspended following the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai, with little contact since then other than a one-day cricket series in 2012.
Indonesians bet on Sportradar’s FDS in battle against match-fixing
August 14 – The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) is the latest Asian federation to turn to betting monitoring tools to battle the threat of match-fixing in its leagues. Earlier this week the Football Association of Thailand announced it had signed up to use Sportradar’s Fraud Detection System (FDS).
Palestinian football under attack in Gaza, as football mourns its losses
By Mark Baber
August 14 – Palestinian football was never going to escape unscathed from the latest war in Gaza, which has cost the lives of more than 1,900 Palestinians and 66 Israelis, destroying much of Gaza’s infrastructure. However, the killing of local football legend and coach Ahed Zaqqut, suggests the damage to the Palestinian football community may be more than just collateral.
Japanese football diplomacy embraces Iran
By David Owen
August 13 – The Japan Football Association (JFA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with its Iranian counterpart, the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRIFF), as part of what appears to be an ongoing diplomatic offensive in the Asian region.
Sportradar to monitor the Toyota Thai Premier League 2014 season
August 11 – Thailand’s Premier League has brought in betting fraud monitoring service Sportrader to track betting patterns and monitor any suspicious activity for the 2014 season.
AFC bans two for positive dope tests at Challenge Cup
August 11 – The Asian Football Confederation has handed out two-year bans to two players for doping offenses.
Al Ain targets female fans and families to fill new stadium
August 8 – Abu Dhabi club Al Ain has launched a season ticket initiative for fans in its new Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, one of the few clubs in the region to have such a scheme. But what is most notable about the initiative is that females and families across the region are being encouraged to participate.
AFC bans Vietnamese match-fixers as police swoop again
August 1 – The Asian Football Confederation has extended the domestic ban on nine Vietnamese players to confederation level for their role in the country’s match-fixing scandal. The chairman of the AFC Disciplinary Committee took the move following a request from Vietnam’s own national federation.
Fight against match-fixing turns to education in Asia, while Turks block online sites
By Andrew Warshaw
July 30 – Asian football is stepping up its collective effort to tackle match-fixing by distributing a detailed booklet to member federations throughout the Continent highlighting the dangers of being drawn into manipulation.
Indian Super League start pushed into October, Pires signs as marquee player
By Mark Baber
July 29 – The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has granted the Indian Super League (ISL) permission to delay the start of the competition for a third time, whilst the signing of the 40-year old Robert Pires generates more enthusiasm.
Sheikh Ahmad forecasts new era of harmony, at last, for AFC
By David Owen
July 21 – The President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is hoping that next year’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Presidential election will usher in a period of much-needed harmony in the region’s football affairs. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, the former OPEC chairman who has become one of world sport’s foremost power brokers, said he thought the 2015 election “will found the unity of Asia”.
Interpol World Cup raids arrest 1,400 and seize $12m across Asia
By Paul Nicholson
July 21 – Interpol are claiming a major success in the battle against illegal betting rings in Asia with a six-week World Cup operation carrying out more than 1,000 raids, 1,400 arrests and the seizure of $12 million.
Aussie court fines third Brit for match-fixing down under
July 18 – An Australian court has sanctioned a third British footballer for his part in a match-fixing racket that rigged games in the semi-professional league in the state of Victoria.