Rooney apologises as judge orders community service and driving ban
September 18 – Former England captain Wayne Rooney received a two-year driving ban today after pleading guilty in a British court to drink-driving.
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Comment: Maduro opens Pandora’s Box. What next for FIFA?
By Andrew Warshaw
The FIFA-appointed lawyer was the first to arrive, briefcase and notes in hand, an hour before the hearing.
Infantino punched again as ethics guru Weiler blows whistle on political manipulation
By Paul Nicholson
September 14 – At FIFA they come like buses, you wait for one and another follows right behind. No sooner had sacked former chairman of FIFA governance committee Miguel Maduro lifted the lid on new FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s manipulations of the ethics system, than another former governance committee member revealed that he had filed a complaint to FIFA Ethics.
Rooney is not alone. Footballers more likely to commit crime than any other athlete
September 14 – It seems footballers are following the example of their administrators by being leaders when it comes to a comparison of athletes from different sports who commit crime off the pitch.
Beitar boss quits after saying he would never sign a Muslim at the club
September 14 – The new adviser to Israel’s Beitar Jerusalem, the most nationalistic club in the country, has quit a mere 10 days after assuming the post for refusing to apologise for declaring he would never sign a Muslim player.
FIFA gags Borbely from speaking at UK sports corruption inquiry
By Andrew Warshaw
September 13 – Cornel Borbely (pictured), FIFA’s former ethics investigations chief whose work brought down a string of corrupt officials, has been barred from giving evidence to a British parliamentary committee, blatantly calling into question FIFA’s insistence it has nothing to hide and that the dark days of corruption are over.
Borbely and Eckert to join Maduro at Council of Europe grilling of FIFA governance
By Andrew Warshaw
September 12 – As Miguel Maduro, axed as head of FIFA’s governance committee last May during a purge of senior ethics watchdogs, prepares for his appearance before a British parliamentary committee later today, it has come to light that both of FIFA’s former ethics chiefs are also set to go public to discuss their time at the organisation and the controversial circumstances of their removal.
Axed FIFA governance chief Maduro to take centrestage in UK parliament ethics probe
By Andrew Warshaw
September 11 – Will this be the moment that exposes key ethical questions about Gianni Infantino’s conduct as FIFA president amid his claims that he is persuing meaningful reform?
SAFA meet to discuss landmark replay decision, but call for calm over Samoura accusations
September 11 – South Africa’s Football Association (SAFA) are holding an emergency committee today “to discuss the way forward” following FIFA’s decision to order a replay of the World Cup qualifier against Senegal over “match manipulation” by the referee.
Chelsea fans sing their racist songs again, told off again. Sanction? Not yet
September 11 – Not for the first time, English champions Chelsea are under the spotlight for anti-semitic chanting that continues to undermine the reputation of their fans.
Carlos Slim exits Mexican club ownership but holds on to broadcast rights
September 11 – There has been a significant shift in the balance of power in Mexican club football with telecoms billionaire Carlos Slim announcing through his América Móvil that he is selling his 30% stakes first division clubs Pachuca and Club León.
South Africa say replaying Senegal qualifier is unfair, even though Lamptey fixed the match
September 8 – South Africa are considering appealing against FIFA’s decision to order a replay of their World Cup qualifier against Senegal 10 months ago over “match manipulation” by the referee.
Fickle finger of FIFA fate. At least Dele Alli wasn’t wearing a poppy
September 8 – FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli over his middle-finger gesture during England’s World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on Monday.
Van der Sar says UEFA must reform loan system to protect clubs’ young talent
September 8 – Edwin van der Sar, the former Dutch and Manchester United goalkeeper and now CEO of his beloved Ajax, says something has to be done about the European loan system which, he says, is stifling the first-team development of the brightest young talent.
News Analysis: Big money big problems. Tebas tells it how he sees it
By Andrew Warshaw
September 7 – Like him or loathe him, it’s hard to ignore Javier Tebas when he is speaking his mind. Critics may accuse the Spanish league boss of being a publicity seeker but his comments at this week’s Soccerex sports business conference in Manchester, when he took to the podium with all guns blazing to attack those he accused of “financial doping”, was not some ill-thought-out rant.