Big score, but no problem? Paide put 31 past Raudteetoolised
July 2 – No-one is suggesting any shenanigans or rigging by Asian syndicates but yet another football scoreline in Estonia has raised eyebrows.
World Football
Fox feeds on World Cup success, closing TV deal with NWSL in US
By Ben Nicholson
July 2 – Whilst the Women’s World Cup in Canada is attracting record numbers of spectators, Fox Sports are capitalising on the growing market for women’s soccer in North America by securing a broadcasting deal with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Where Blatter could be talk of the Toon
By Paul Nicholson
July 2 – If Sepp Blatter is looking for something to do when he finally hands in his FIFA presidential mandate we think we may have found just the activity in England’s Newcastle upon Tyne.
Romanian federation boss stands himself down amid corruption probe
By Mark Baber
July 2 – Gheorghe Chivorchian (pictured), the general secretary of the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) has suspended himself from his position after prosecutors charged him with abusing his position and forging documents when he was chairman of club side Poli Timisoara.
Pakistani president Hayat re-elected despite court ban
By Mark Baber
July 2 – Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat was re-elected President of the Pakistani Football Federation (PFF) for a further four years at a meeting of the PFF congress held in Abbotabad’s Hotel Legrand.
Infantino urges Spanish league to drop Winter 2022 legal challenge
By Andrew Warshaw
July 1 – Clearly aware that his president Michel Platini voted for Qatar to stage the 2022 World Cup on condition it was held in winter, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino has urged Spanish football officials to stop challenging the decision to switch the tournament from its traditional summer slot to November-December.
UEFA stick by Olympiakos despite match-fixing shame, for the moment
July 1 – Olympiakos are for the moment retaining their spot in the Champions League despite the Greek club’s owner Evangelos ‘Vangelis’ Marinakis being accused of running a racketeering and match-fixing ring.
CONCACAF brings in specialist to review operations
By Paul Nicholson
July 1 – CONCACAF has called in management consultancy Alvarez & Marsal to review its finances and operations. The confederation that was rocked by the arrest of its president Jeffrey Webb and vice president Eduardo Li, has moved swiftly to establish a review of its procedures already having installed a ‘Special Committee’ of its three senior north American federation presidents to stabilise the organisation.
Kenyan chaos as power struggle causes AGM to be abandoned
By Mark Baber
June 30 – The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Friday was aborted by controversial FKF President Sam Nyamweya (pictured), allegedly on the grounds of insecurity and too many people turning up to the venue.
UEFA tweaks FFP to allow clubs to invest new cash
By Andrew Warshaw
June 30 – UEFA’s tweaked financial fair play rules come into effect tomorrow with the organisation re-iterating the system has been a success despite the highly-publicised legal challenge from Belgium which threatens to undermine years’ of painstaking work to ensure clubs balance their books.
China’s Evergrande lay down marker with £9.8m Paulinho buy from Spurs
By Mark Baber
June 30 – As the centre of gravity of the world’s economy shifts toward the Asia-Pacific region, the signing of Tottenham midfielder Paulinho for £9.8 million, in the wake of the country’s leadership putting its weight behind the development of football, looks like a statement of intent from the Chinese club football.
Serie B Catania faces drop as president admits buying matches
June 30 – Italian Serie B club Catania faces relegation after its president admitted fixing five games last season to avoid dropping out of the division.
De Keersmaecker re-elected in Belgium but clubs threaten sanctions
By Samindra Kunti
June 29 – Francois de Keersmaecker has been reelected as president of the Belgian Football Association, the KBVB, but the Pro League has already threatened to take financial reprisals after a contentious voting procedure and more accusations of mismanagement at the KBVB.
As UEFA top brass meet, will Platini take the FIFA challenge?
June 29 – UEFA’s new-look executive committee holds its first meeting today and tomorrow with financial fair play and the format for the 2016 Euro finals the top items on the agenda though discussions on a successor to FIFA president Sepp Blatter seem certain to take place, whether formally or informally.
Spanish league takes on FIFA over €65m losses of a 2022 Winter World Cup
By Mark Baber
June 29 – The Spanish League (LFP) has filed an appeal regarding the playing dates for the 2022 World Cup, according to a spokesperson for the Court of Arbitration for Sport, although a date for the hearing has yet to be set.