Former Portugal star Figo enters contest to replace Blatter at Fifa January 28, 2015 THE FIGHT to oust Sepp Blatter as president of football world governing body Fifa has taken another twist after former Portugal star Luis Figo announced his candidacy. Figo’s surprise move yesterday saw him become the second man in as many days to stand against Blatter, after Dutch chief Michael van Praag declared his interest on [...]
Fifa president election 2015: A guide to the challengers to Sepp Blatter’s throne January 28, 2015 Tomorrow night, at 11pm, football fans around the world will discover the official candidates in the running to be the next Fifa president. Current incumbent Sepp Blatter's popularity has plummeted, and huge numbers of football fans are crying out for a saviour to rescue football's governing body from its current nadir. Five candidates have put [...]
Fifa could lose up to £50m as three sponsors sever ties January 23, 2015 Three sponsors of Fifa during the 2014 World Cup have decided against renewing their contracts with football’s under-fire governing body. Castrol, Continental Tyres and Johnson & Johnson have followed the lead of Sony and Emirates in cutting ties with the organisation by not renewing their deals. As “second tier” World Cup sponsors, each [...]
David Ginola is being paid £250,000 by Paddy Power to stand for Fifa president January 16, 2015 David Ginola is being paid £250,000 by bookmakers Paddy Power to stand in the Fifa presidency elections next year. The former Tottenham, Newcastle and Aston Villa star, known for his long locks and shampoo commercials, shocked the football world last night when he revealed his intention to stand against Blatter. Ginola launched [...]
Nottingham Forest, Norwich City, Ipswich Town and 27 other English clubs receive payments from Fifa January 9, 2015 Football clubs around the world will receive a welcome boost to their bank accounts thanks to Fifa who are sharing a total of $70m with 396 teams from 57 different countries. Fifa is distributing money raised from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil to clubs whose players featured in the tournament, in order to [...]
Prince seeks new power generation at Fifa January 6, 2015 THE MAN credited with giving women’s football the hijab has emerged as the leading challenger to the reign of the man who notoriously said female players should wear tighter shorts. Prince Ali of Jordan, the head of the West Asian football and a Fifa vice-president, yesterday declared his intention to stand against the world governing [...]
The UK is getting less corrupt (and, FYI Fifa, it beat Qatar and Russia) December 3, 2014 Good news for those Britons who don’t include bribery among our hobbies. The UK is getting less corrupt. That’s according to the annual Transparency Index, which was published today. In 2014, the UK was ranked 14th with a corruption score of 78. Last year it got 76 and the year before it was 74. The [...]
Sony to end $277m Fifa sponsorship November 25, 2014 Fifa’s $35m annual income from Sony’s sponsorship could be about to come to an end, as the Japanese tech giant opts not to renew its contract with football’s governing body. According to leading Japanese business paper Nikkei Asian Review, Sony will shift sponsorship funds towards completing structural reforms after deciding not to extend its [...]
Fifa faces FBI call after triggering criminal probe November 18, 2014 FOOTBALL’S world governing body Fifa was last night urged to pass its files to the Serious Fraud Office and the FBI after lodging a criminal complaint with Swiss authorities over World Cup bidding. Fifa president Sepp Blatter yesterday asked the Swiss attorney general to investigate “possible misconduct” in relation to the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, [...]
Fifa lodges criminal complaint over suspicious activity during World Cup bidding process November 18, 2014 The unfurling drama surrounding the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup has taken yet another twist after Fifa revealed it has suspicions of unlawful activity. Fifa has lodged a criminal complaint with the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland over the possible misconduct of unnamed individuals in connection with Switzerland [...]