Beşiktaş President Demirören named as new TFF chairman
By David Gold
February 27 – The embattled Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has elected Beşiktaş President Yıldırım Demirören (pictured) as their new chairman at a general assembly today.
Europe
UEFA President Platini slams goal-line technology as “nonsense”
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – UEFA President Michel Platini (pictured) has racked up the anticipation ahead of next weekend’s International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting by once again slamming the idea of goal-line technology, this time describing it as “nonsense”.
Exclusive: There has been no satisfactory answer to our demands, says ECA vice chair Gandini
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – One of the leading officials driving the campaign by Europe’s top clubs to have a greater say in the way the game is run, Umberto Gandini (pictured), has added his voice to the breakdown in talks with FIFA.
European Clubs Association boycotts talks with FIFA
By Andrew Warshaw
February 26 – The European Club Association (ECA), which comprises Europe’s top 200 clubs, is boycotting all further talks with FIFA because of its reluctance to streamline the international match calendar.
Scotland to invest £25 million in National Performance Centre for sport
By David Gold
February 22 – Up to £25 million ($39 million/€30 million) will be invested into the first ever national performance centre for sport in Scotland, it has been announced.
Prime Minister backs FA homophia and transphobia campaign
By David Gold
February 22 – The English Football Association has launched a campaign at Wembley Stadium, “Opening Doors and Joining In”, backed by Prime Minister David Cameron, which aims to tackle homophobia and transphobia.
Fenerbahçe chair Yıldırım protests innocence in court over match fixing allegations
By David Gold
February 22 – Fenerbahçe chairman Aziz Yıldırım (pictured) has been in court defending himself against allegations of involvement in the match fixing scandal which has thrown football in Turkey into disarray.
Porto face UEFA hearing over Manchester City chanting
By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Porto for “improper conduct” of their fans during the recent Europa League match against Manchester City.
Rosneft and Gazprom investment gives Tom Tomsk spending money
By David Gold
February 21 – Ailing Russian Premier League side Tom Tomsk have been given 50 million rubles (£1.06 million/$1.7 million/€1.2 million) to invest in new players after being saved by state energy giants Rosneft and Gazprom last week.
Manchester City protest over racism towards Toure and Balotelli
By Andrew Warshaw
February 17 – Manchester City have protested to UEFA over alleged racist abuse aimed at their players during last night’s 2-1 Europa League victory at FC Porto.
Barry Hearn: London 2012 Olympic Stadium is not fit for football
By David Gold
February 20 – Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn has claimed that the London 2012 Olympic Stadium “is not fit for football.”
Azerbaijan mobile phone company sign-up as World Cup sponsor
By David Gold
February 16 – Bakcell, one of Azerbaijan’s leading mobile phone providers, has been confirmed as the third company so far committed to support the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, being held later this year from September 22 to October 13.
Rangers making “very good progress” claim administrators
By Andrew Warshaw
February 15 – Administrators in charge of Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers are confident the club will not go out of business, citing “very good progress” within the first 24 hours of taking over the running the 54-times league champions.
Olympiakos Volos lose Europa League CAS appeal
By Andrew Warshaw
February 15 – UEFA have won another battle in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) with the news that Greek club Olympiakos Volos have failed to overturn being kicked out of this season’s Europa League.
Rangers enter administration and suffer 10 point penalty
By Andrew Warshaw
February 14 – Twenty-four hours after filing the relevant papers, Glasgow Rangers became one of the world’s most high-profile clubs ever to enter administration today, a stunning humiliation for a team supported by millions of fans worldwide and a severe wakeup call for clubs who fail to properly manage their financial affairs.