Hull City take stand over criminalisation of fans and organise game day protest
By Mark Baber
March 19 – Hull City has expressed frustration with the police and solidarity with its fans in advance of its away game against Huddersfield Town.
World Football
Thaljieh makes a passionate plea for Palestinian equality
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
March 19 – Speaking at the Securing Sport 2013 conference in Doha, Palestine’s leading women’s football pioneer has added her name to those who believe UEFA were fundamentally wrong to award this summer’s European under-21 championship to Israel.
Russians to sell beer in stadiums, as Mutko prepares for success on the field
By Paul Nicholson
March 18 – The Russian ban on selling alcohol in stadiums looks to have been lifted, with drinks companies saying they have bought licenses to sell beer in stadiums from 2018, in time for the FIFA World Cup 2018.
Campaigners call for FIFA to show the red card to homophobia
By Mark Baber
March 18 – The revelation that the head of the Nigeria Women Professional League (NPWL) has been actively discriminating against suspected lesbian footballers has unleashed a storm of protest including a petition to FIFA which has so far gathered nearly 50,000 signatures.
The Times retracts its Dream League nightmare story
By Paul Nicholson
March 18 – The Times has today published a retraction of the Dream League story it ran over its three back pages last Wednesday morning (March 13).
Greeks move swiftly to ban Katidis after Nazi salute
March 18 – A top-flight Greek footballer has been handed a life ban from the national team for making a Nazi salute to fans. AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis (pictured), former captain of Greece’s under-19 team, conceded the “stupidity” of his actions after making the gesture in celebrating his winning goal in a 2-1 win over lowly Veria on Saturday.
Indonesia’s rival factions agree to unite under a single banner
By Andrew Warshaw
March 18 – Under pressure from FIFA to resolve their differences or face severe sanctions, Indonesia’s two rival football associations have struck an 11th hour agreement to merge, ending a long and bitter feud that could have resulted in the country being suspended from international competition.
Sports leaders gather in Doha for Securing Sport 2013
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
March 17 – High-ranking decision makers from across the globe converge on Qatar on Monday and Tuesday for another prestige summit organised by the Gulf state, keeping itself firmly in the sporting spotlight.
Infantino demands global ban on third party player ownership
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 15 – Third party ownership, the process by which professional footballers’ ‘rights’ and careers are controlled by outside parties, is one of the most serious issues facing the European game, according to UEFA, and could be banned from all its competitions.
More Milan racism at Europa League tie vs Spurs
March 15 – UEFA seem likely to investigate yet another instance of racism following complaints by Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas that the club’s Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor suffered abuse during last night’s Europa League game at Inter Milan.
Webb sits on fence over Gulati or Compeán for FIFA ExCo
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 15 – CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb is steering a diplomatic path when it comes to favouring either of the two candidates running for north America’s vacant FIFA executive committee seat.
Tim Leiweke out as president and CEO of AEG
By Mark Baber
March 15 – Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), the multinational corporate behemoth which owns the Los Angeles Galaxy, is no longer for sale and CEO Tim Leiweke has stepped down by “mutual agreement”.
Outgoing Jilong calls for unity ahead of AFC elections
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 14 – The outgoing head of the Asian Football Confederation has called for unity as lobbying intensifies ahead of the AFC presidential election in May.
Roma banks on Nike deal to help restore former glory
By Mark Baber
March 14 – AS Roma have signed a 10-year kit supply deal with Nike as part of its plans to return it to the top tiers of European and world fotball.
Goa takes further steps to position as gateway to Indian football
By Mark Baber
March 14 – The Indian State of Goa is holding a football conference on March 15-16 to further develop the coastal state as the ‘gateway to football’ in India.