Ouseley to step down at Kick It Out, with challenge to football to make ‘lasting change’
December 12 – Lord Herman Ouseley is to stand down as chairman of British football’s anti-discrimination group Kick It Out at the end of the season.
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Betting: Sky boss argues against TV match ad ban, Luton Town reject bookies’ money
By Paul Nicholson
December 11 – The debate over gambling ads in the UK has intensified with League One side Luton Town saying it has rejected sponsorship from betting companies while Sky CEO Stephen van Rooyen (pictured) has argued that banning gambling ads from being broadcast during matches will only drive that marketing spend online.
Chelsea ban abusive fans and say they will support any criminal prosecution
December 11 – Chelsea have taken immediate action following the foul-mouthed abuse perpetrated towards Manchester City’s England forward Raheem Sterling last weekend by banning four fans pending an investigation.
FIFA rejects bias to Infantino-supporting Chiyangwa but deploys ‘observers’ for ZIFA election
December 10 – FIFA is to send a delegation to observe the forthcoming and increasingly bitter Zimbabwe football federation elections pencilled in for December 16.
Afghan FA boss Keram suspended over sexual abuse allegations
December 10 – Afghan Football Federation president Keramuddin Keram (pictured centre) has been suspended while allegations of sexual abuse against members of the country’s women’s national team are investigated.
Chelsea’s racially abusive fan sparks storm of condemnation
December 12 – A week after a banana was thrown by a Tottenham Hotspur fan – inexcusable but a rare occurance in English football – the far more prevalent problem of verbal racism has again reared its ugly head.
FifaGate: Criminal conspirator Salguero gets free pass for co-operating with FBI
September 7 – Former Guatemala football chief and one-time FIFA executive committee member Rafael Salguero avoided a jail term when he was sentenced on Thursday to time served, releasing him from house arrest following his role in the FifaGate corruption scandal.
Integrity bypass? Saudis attempt to buy their way to respectability with Italian Super Cup
December 6 – The global condemnation of Saudi Arabia for its role in the brutal murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi appears to have had little effect on top-flight Italian football administrators.
Online bookies agree ‘whistle-to-whistle’ TV ad ban in UK
December 6 – British gambling companies have struck a ground-breaking deal which will see the end of their tv adverts during live matches.
Afghan government opens investigation into sexual abuse allegations against its FA
December 5 – The Afghan government has now followed the lead of the AFC and FIFA and opened an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against the national women’s football. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called the allegations of abuse by male coaches and officials ‘shocking’.
FifaGate: Court docs show Salguero was offered bribe (unpaid) for World Cup vote
December 5 – Former Guatemala football chief and one-time FIFA executive committee member Rafael Salguero (pictured left) will be sentenced by a judge in New York this week in the latest move in the FifaGate scandal.
FIFA support of Johansen forces CAF to kick Sierra Leone out of AFCON qualifiers
December 5 – The still unresolved power battle within Sierra Leone football administration has had a significant damaging on effect on the field with the country thrown out of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign because of government interference in the running of the federation.
Twerp Solveig asking Hegerberg to Twerk goes down like a lead Ballon d’Or
December 4 – As faux pas go, it was right up there with the most awkward. Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris was in full swing and Norway forward Ada Hegerberg had just won the inaugural award for the best player in women’s football when the moment was tarnished by a moment of chauvanistic indiscretion.
FIFPro demands urgent investigation of Cypriot clubs injecting players
November 30 – The world players union FIFPro has called for an urgent inquiry into suspect medical treatment administered at several top-tier clubs in Cyprus.
FIFA Ethics ban former Sao Tomean FA boss Dende for corruption and fine him CHF75k
November 30 – FIFA’s ethics committee has imposed a four-year ban on Manuel Dende (pictured second left in happier times), former president of the Sao Tomean Football Association, for accepting a bribe believed to be from former Asian confederation chief and FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.