Europe Archives - Page 430 of 509 - Inside World Football

Singapore enlists French help to develop next generation

Singapore and France sign MoU

By Mark Baber
October 2 – A wide-ranging Football Association of Singapore (FAS) – French Football Federation (FFF) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focusing on youth development was signed at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore yesterday. In hailing the new MOU, representatives focused on the successes of the French youth system which was demonstrated as the France Under-20 side won the 2013 FIFA Under-20 World Cup title whilst the Under-19 side finished runners-up at the UEFA European Under-19 Championships.

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Gazprom protestors drop in to halt CL group game

Gazprom protest

October 2 – UEFA seem certain to impose sanctions after activists protesting against Champions League sponsor Gazprom interrupted the Basel-Schalke group game Tuesday by abseiling from the stadium roof at St Jakob-Park, forcing a brief suspension.

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Hublot to mark Paris Saint-Germain’s glory years

Hublot and PSG

By Mark Baber
October 1 – Hublot, the luxury watch-maker, have agreed a partnership with Paris Saint-Germain to become the Official Timekeeper and Watch of Paris Saint-Germain FC in a deal which will afford them branding exposure at the Parc des Princes stadium.

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FIFpro calls on EU to step in to protect players and stop criminal activity

October 1 – The international players’ union FIFpro has called on the European Union to pressure FIFA into changing the transfer system which, it warns, is putting the careers of the majority of players “at the mercy” of their employers.

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Loan shark Wonga cashes in with a 2013 Football Business Award nomination

wonga at newcastle United

By Mark Baber
October 1 – The finalists for the UK’s 2013 Football Business Awards have been announced, throwing up a few surprises including the shortlisting of Newcastle Utd and Wonga for Sponsorship Deal/Partnership of the Year. Perhaps less surprisingly the award ceremony will be hosted by alternative comedienne, Jo Brand.

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PAOK to appeal UEFA fan ban extension for Maccabi visit

PAOK empty stands

By Panos Bletsos
October 1 – Having not played an international home game in front of their fans for more than 13 months, Greek outfit PAOK are hoping to welcome Israel’s Maccabi Haifa to a packed Toumba ground on October 24, having lodged an appeal against UEFA’s decision to extend their home ban on fans to four matches following “irregularities” during the UEFA Champions League play-off clash against Schalke.

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German fans want football to lead fight against discrimination and racism

Zwanziger

By Mark Baber
September 30 – German football fans, polls reveal, want to see football taking a lead on social issues. Only 18% of German fans believe that the DFB is doing enough to combat homophobia, with 55% saying not enough is being done. Regarding racism, 40% are happy with the DFB’s commitment, whilst 46% see the need for more action.

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Valencia court orders Isco to pay €2.6m to former agents

isco 2

By Gareth Messenger
September 30 – A court in Valencia has told Real Madrid attacking midfielder, Isco Alarcon, that he must pay €2.6 million to Eleven Sports.

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Messi now waits for Superior Court ruling in tax fraud case

messiandbrotherarriveatcourt

September 30 – The tax evasion case involving Lionel Messi and his father Jorge “should not take long” to be resolved, according to the Spanish Superior Court. Both appeared in court last Friday to face charges of evading €4.2 million in tax by filing incomplete returns for the years 2006 to 2009, allegations they deny but which have caused widespread consternation in Spain where the Argentine superstar is currently out injured.

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Ukraine fans excluded for key World Cup qualifier

Ukraine fans

By Andrew Warshaw
September 30 – FIFA has ordered Ukraine to play next month’s potentially decisive World Cup qualifier against Poland in Kharkiv behind closed doors after fans hurled racial abuse during the win over San Marino earlier this month. The country has also been banned from playing in the Arena Lviv stadium for the whole of the 2018 World Cup qualification programme.

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Messi tax fraud case in court today, despite €5m payment sent

messiandbrotherarriveatcourt pic courtest of laliganews.tv

By Andrew Warshaw
September 27 – Lionel Messi was in court today (pictured) to face charges of tax fraud that have caused widespread astonishment in Spain and cast a dark shadow over the Argentine superstar’s squeaky clean image as the world’s finest footballer.

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Besiktas hit with 4-game stadium sanction following fan pitch invasion

Beiktas pitch invasion

By Andrew Warshaw
September 27 – Already thrown out of this season’s Europa League by UEFA over match-fixing, Besiktas have now been ordered by the Turkish football authorities to play four games behind closed doors as a result of the violence which caused last weekend’s Istanbul derby against bitter rivals Galatasaray to be abandoned.

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Cypriot crisis as clubs chased for tax money and top league cut to 12 teams

Cypriot football

By Mark Baber
September 26 – Cypriot football has been hit by the financial tsunami which has hit the island as the Ministry of Finance is expected to file charges against clubs’ non-payment of taxes, Separately the board of the CFA Championship has decided to cut the league to 12 teams from the current 14.

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PST keeps the faith and, piece by piece, puts Pompey back on the rails

fratton park

By Andrew Warshaw
September 26 – The group running the largest fan ownership in English football says it has proved its critics wrong in terms of being able to do the job.

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Nae problem: World Cup, Christmas Day, North Pole – the Scots are in

North Pole football

September 25 – The Scottish Football Association say they’d willingly play the 2022 World Cup in winter, even “on the north pole”, if it meant them qualifying.