Li Tie pleads guilty to receiving $10m+ in bribes and fixing matches
April 2 – Li Tie, the former head coach of China’s national men’s team, has pleaded guilty to accepting more than $10 million in bribes.
Everton feel the heat as losses double to £89m and second points deduction looms
April 2 – More pressure has been heaped on English Premier League club Everton after they reported losses of £89.1 million for the 2022-23 season in their latest accounts report, almost double the previous figure of £44.7 million in the previous campaign.
Textor puts match-fixing claims that lost Botafogo Serie A title in writing
April 2 – Botafogo owner John Textor has repeated his claim that match-fixing riddled the Brazilian top flight in 2023 and that decided the destination of the championship that was won by Palmeiras. Both Sao Paulo and Fortaleza have threatened legal action against the American.
Adidas to redesign number 4 on Germany shirt and bans sales of 44 kit number
April 2 – The German FA and Adidas have withdrawn the sale of customised shirts incorporating the number 44 because of a resemblance to the logo of the Nazi Party’s notorious SS paramilitary units.
US investor Bright Path Sports pays £100m+ buy-in as Ipswich chase Premier League spot
April 2 – Championship leaders Ipswich Town Football Club have taken a £100 million+ investment from US-based private equity firm, Bright Path Sports Partners.
Fluminense agree €7m+ short sponsorhip with Superbet
April 2 – Superbet will become a new main sponsor of South American champions Fluminense in a deal worth at least €7.7 million a year.
Foreign ownership nears dominance of Big 5 club landscape, US investors lead the influx
April 1 – Just under 40% of the 96 teams in Europe’s Big 5 leagues are controlled by a foreign owner. The English Premier League has 16 clubs under foreign ownership, ten of them owned by US investors.
Botafogo close in on Braga’s Artur Jorge
April 2 – Portuguese manager Artur Jorge has confirmed he will move from Braga to Botafogo to lead the Rio club in the Brazilian league and Copa Libertadores this season.
Man Utd chase Saints’ Jason Wilcox for technical director role
April 2 – Manchester United has initiated discussions to recruit Jason Wilcox, director of football at Southampton, as technical director within the club’s revamping footballing division under the control of new shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
World Leagues goes from Forum to Association as it rebrands and toughens-up its advocacy
April 2 – The World Leagues Forum is rebranding, changing its name and reworking its graphic identity under the new banner of the World Leagues Association.
Fulham set to open ticket sales for ‘redefining’ Riverside stand
April 2 – Premier League Fulham have unveiled the redeveloped Riverside stand ahead of a ticket release for the new matchday hospitality facilities on April 9.
Bosnia’s top ref refuses to take charge of Sarajevo derby after family threatened
April 2 – Bosnian referee Irfan Peljto, who is on his country’s international list, has refused to officiate matches in the Bosnia and Herzegovina league following threats against him and his family.
ICSS takes centre stage as demand for sports integrity expertise grows
By Andrew Warshaw
March 28 – When Mohammed Hanzab set up the International Centre for Sport Security back in 2010 with the vision of safeguarding global sport from corruptive practises, there were plenty of cynics who took the view it was simply a self-serving vanity project.
Spanish prosecutor presses for 2.5 year jail term for Rubiales
March 28 – Spanish prosecutors are seeking a prison term of two years and six months for former federation (RFEF) chief Luis Rubiales for his infamous unsolicited kiss on the lips of women’s World Cup winner Jennifer Hermoso.
Red Bull gives young players wings. Athletic Club and Liverpool head Big 5 ranking of youngest players recruited
March 28 – Red Bull clubs lead the way as the recruiters of the youngest players in world football, according to CIES Football Observatory data that examines the average age of players signed over the last ten transfer windows.