El Salvador match-fixing debacle back in the spotlight
January 9- FIFA have globally banned yet another El Salvador player in relation to the ongoing match-fixing investigation conducted by the El Salvador Football Association.
World Football
Dutch club in hot water over ban on Israeli defender
By Andrew Warshaw
January 9- A top-flight Dutch club is at the centre of a diplomatic storm after going ahead with a winter-break warm weather trip to the United Arab Emirates despite an Israeli defender on its books being refused permission to enter the country.
Malay fans see red as Tan imposes another club colour change
January 9 – Malaysian second tier club Kedah have denied that they have been forced to change their colours from green and yellow to red as a result of fresh investment by controversial Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan.
Hitzlsperger out, coaching body launches LGBT advice section on website
By Paul Nicholson
January 9 – The messages of anti-discrimination and social inclusion of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people might be starting to get through as more high profile athletes and governing bodies are taking stands. Thomas Hitzlsperger became the biggest name footballer to come out as gay, while in the US the National Soccer Coaches Assn. of America has added a ‘Gay, Lesbian and Ally’ page to its website.
Cayman kick off for CONCACAF Women’s U20 championship
January 9 – The CONCACAF Women’s Under 20 Championship kicks off toady in the Cayman Islands with a double headed opener with Guatemala taking on Jamaica, followed by two-time defending champion United States against Costa Rica.
Leeds and Charlton get new owners, while Bolton’s losses sky rocket
By Paul Nicholson
January 8 – English Championship club Leeds United is about to change ownership – again. Currently majority-owned by GFH Capital, a new consortium fronted by the club’s managing director David Haigh and Andrew Flowers, the managing director of the club’s main sponsor Enterprise Insurance, are poised to get shareholder control.
Johnson steps down from English FA’s ‘inclusion’ board over gay comments
January 8 – A former professional footballer has stepped down from a key English pro-equality panel following criticism over comments he made last year describing homosexuality as “detestable”.
Hong Kong arrests match fixers and toughens its financial governance
By Andrew Warshaw
January 8 – Football’s crackdown on match-fixing has now spread to Hong Kong where authorities also plan to introduce tougher measures to check the financial background of club directors ahead of the new domestic Premier League in September.
New Rwandan FA chief calls for unity and common purpose
January 8 – The Rwanda Football Federation has a new chairman Vincent Degaule Nzamwita, who won the five-man race for the position over outgoing interim boss Celestin Ntangungira who had been expected to retain the post. In his first media interview Nzamwita called for unity and co-operation.
CONCACAF sets dates for Champions League final rounds
January 7 – CONCACAF has announced dates for its Champions League final stages. Played over two legs, the quarter finals feature three teams from Mexico, three from the US, and one each from Costa Rica and Panama. The winners qualify for FIFA Club World Cup 2014.
CAF switches draw for 2015 Cup of Nations to Morocco
January 7 – The draw for the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers is reported to have been switched from Cape Town at the end of this month to host nation Morocco in April by the Confederation of African Football.
Walcott out as England’s World Cup campaign suffers first injury blow
January 7 – When the draw was made for next summer’s World Cup finals, England manager Roy Hodgson said his team’s chances might well partly depend on how many players were missing through injury.
Liverpool build fast in India with Academy and first regional sponsor
January 7 – Premier League club Liverpool have taken another step to expand their links with India, with the signing of a regional sponsorship with smart mobile device brand XOLO. This follows an agreement at the end of last year which sees Liverpool open its first academy in partnership with local team DSK Shivajians FC in Pune.
Cup half full as English crowds take a break from league action
By Paul Nicholson
January 6 – English football turned its attention away from league matches to the venerable FA Cup and its third round last weekend. But it seems there is a lack of respect for age amongst the fans as well as some of the Premier League managers.
New football deals to push 2014 TV sports rights to a bumper $24.2bn
By David Owen
January 6 – New analysis by professional services firm Deloitte foresees no sign that the premium sports rights “value bubble” is about to burst and predicts that growth in the value of global premium sports broadcast rights will this year accelerate by an eye-catching 14%.