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Football Governance

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Mixed reaction to new FA chair

Submitted by WG on Thu, 23/12/2010 - 20:16

There has been a  mixed reaction to the appointment of David Bernstein as new FA chairman, ahead of the apparent favourite David Dein (who seems to have trod on a few toes).  The most forthright reaction came in a tweet from Alan Sugar: 'Perfect for the F.A. he never offends anyone and allegedly never makes a decision.'

Former league clubs find it hard in Conference

Submitted by WG on Wed, 22/12/2010 - 13:50

Former Football League clubs are finding it increasingly hard to make ends meet in the Conference and a campaign is gaining momentum to have three up from the Blue Square Bet Premier with two automatic promotion places.  I don't see it getting anywhere because League 2 clubs would not want to increase their chances of relegation to the non-league system.

How Barca is changing

Submitted by WG on Mon, 20/12/2010 - 19:31

Barcelona (both the city and the football club) has a very favourable image among those on the left of the political spectrum in Northern Europe.   For them the Spanish civil war defines their attitude to Spain and they invariably will not follow Real Madrid.   It was, of course, all a long time ago: the small but significant group of Spanish civil war refugees we had in the town in which I live has literally died out and all my current local Spanish friends (one who lives opposite me) are economic migrants.

SPL meeting is latest weather casualty

Submitted by WG on Mon, 20/12/2010 - 11:17

A key meeting to discuss proposals to reconstruct the Scottish Premier League (SPL) that was due to be held today has been called off because of the bad weather.   It is now hoped that it can be held on 4 January.

The organised supporter

Submitted by WG on Fri, 17/12/2010 - 18:37

The latest in the three part Financial Times series on 'football in crisis' focuses on the supporter, but in particular on 'the organised supporter'.   What is an organised supporter?   No definition is offered, but presumably it means someone whose involvement goes beyond attending games and then moaning on message boards and football phone ins about the manager or their favourite scapegoat player.

Scottish football due for shake up

Submitted by WG on Wed, 15/12/2010 - 17:39

The second stage of the McLeish revew of Scottish football will be published tomorrow.   Although it is separate from the proposals of the Scottish Premier League's Working Group to be discussed next Monday, the former first minister's report will inevitably overlap with their recommendations to some extent.   The world of Scottish football is not that large, even if it spawns three distinct governing bodies, and he has spoken to th

Scottish football faces some big decisions

Submitted by WG on Tue, 14/12/2010 - 17:07

Scottish football faces some big decisions about its future between now and Christmas.   The Scottish Premier League are trying to get their plan for, as they see it, the rescue of the country's football in place for the 2012-13 season.  A summit of top clubs was held at Gleneagles on Sunday.  Next Monday SPL's Strategic Working Group will put forward its proposals.

Conference clubs face financial charges

Submitted by WG on Tue, 14/12/2010 - 15:35

The Football Conference has been trying to keep a tighter rein on the way which its member clubs run their finances through their Financial Reporting Initiative which should give early warning of any problems.  Welling United lost five points in September for failing to accurately inform the league of their finances.

Supermarket chain could sue Fifa

Submitted by WG on Tue, 14/12/2010 - 07:21

Supermarket chain Morrisons is considering sueing Fifa over England's failed to bid to host the 2018 World Cup.   They were official grocers for the England bid so they do have 'locus standi' and they have asked lawyers in Switzerland to advise them.   They allege that Fifa did not act in good faith in its decision-making processes to handle the bid.   If the action was brought and was successful, the compensation would take the form of a £1m payment to football charities.

Power shifts and the World Cup

Submitted by WG on Mon, 13/12/2010 - 17:19

This article offers an interesting and relatively original interpretation of the decisions taken on the location of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.  It argues that they may reflect changing geopolitical realities in the world.