Government may jump into football funding row

by
Government may jump into football funding row

football funding row

Pressure is beginning to mount on the government and the Premier League to intervene in a funding row that has threatened an organization behind the structuring of a number of co-operatively owned clubs. Supporters Direct (SD) lost £1.2 million of funding from the Premier League last week when CEO Dave Boyle comments were considered insulting last month on Twitter following AFC Wimbledon’s promotion to the Football league.

On Friday Boyle resigned because of his comments about two figures that were pivotal in Wimbledon FC securing approval to be relocated in 2002 some 60 miles from its traditional Milton Keynes fan base.

The Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), which is funded in its entirety by the Premier League, issued a statement saying that after consultation and due consideration the FSIF Board were unanimous that the Supporters Direct CEO’s behaviour was well below the acceptable standards for a person in that position.

Furthermore they said the response by the board of the Supporters Direct when told of the matter was not acceptable either, especially by an organization that is receiving funding from the FSIF. Fans’ groups, politicians, academics as well as leading figures in the co-operative movement have requested that the FSIF reconsider their decision.

All point to the excellent track record of SD that has led to over 180 supporters’ trusts across the UK being created with over 270,000 members represented since its initiation over 11 years ago. A Facebook group was created over the weekend and already has attracted over 2,000 members in only 24 hours. Dave Boyle erred and lost his job for it but that is where the punishment should stop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIFA says England should ‘get over it’

by

FIFA says England should ‘get over it’ Jim Boyce, new FIFA vice president has urged football executives in England to move on from missing out and the disappointment of not hosting the 2018 World Cup. Englishman Geoff Thompson was officially replaced by Boyce from Northern Ireland on the FIFA Executive Committee at the FIFA Congress earlier this month where Sepp Blatter was re elected for President of the organization as he ran unopposed.

The England Football Association led a late try to postpone the coronation of Blatter but they gained little support and came under criticism by supporters of the chief. There are some that think there is a touch of arrogance amongst the footballing family of England Boyce said. He like many was disappointed when England did not get the bid for hosting but it is time to get over it.

He said he is willing to help in any way he can going forward but they need to get over the disappointment. He also commented that there seems to be an attitude of English football being owed something since the last Cup hosting in 1966.

McLeish may not walk away from Birmingham so easily

by

McLeish may not walk away from Birmingham so easily Peter Pannu the acting chairman of Birmingham City has been critical of Alex McLeish for turning his back on the club and vowed the Scotsman would receive a fight before being allowed to move on. McLeish resigned as manager Sunday via an email he sent to Pannu who was negotiating the signing from PSV Einhoven of Danny Koevermans.

Pannu said that the Club did not grant MeLeish any right to speak to anyone outside since he still is contracted staff of Birmingham. Pannu is to meet with his legal team and he said there needs to be discipline instilled in our game and he is not someone you can push around. There are two years left on McLeish’s contract at Birmingham and the club wants compensation for his leaving should it be he has another job lined up elsewhere.

The chairman said he just purchased three players that McLeish asked for and then secured a fourth, Koevermans, then he received McLeish’s email. They spent over £40m that was supported by McLeish and then end up with regulation and a snub from the manager. Birmingham won the Carling Cup last season but lost form and was relegated on the last day of the season when they lost to Tottenham.

Scottish Football set for big changes

by

Scottish Football set for big changes A unanimous vote was taken in favor of a complete restructuring of the Scottish Football Association (SFA). The SFA president George Peat had commissioned the report and is stepping down from his position. Stewart Regan, SFA chief executive said that it was an historic day for the SFA and he is delighted that the members also share the vision for the future.

The entire 93 members of the SFA clubs at the meeting in Hampden voted to implement the entire package of recommendations in an attempt to modernize the way the game gets governed in Scotland.

The main changes are the SFA board get reduced from 11 to seven and will include an independent member. The SFA says the board will act more strategic than representative. Two additional boards will be created to work under the main board with one for the professional game and one for the non-professional.

The maligned disciplinary procedures will be entirely rewritten with a compliance officer deciding if cases will be heard by the new semi autonomous judicial panel. The different SFA committees will be disbanded immediately and an audit committee will be formed in order to ensure an efficient organization is operated.

Placido Domingo may join FIFA to restore confidence

by

Placido Domingo may join FIFA to restore confidence Placido Domingo the opera star will wait before he decides whether or not to accept a new FIFA committee role. The Spaniard is waiting on more information from recently re-elected president Sepp Blatter before committing to the council of wisdom.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter made a formal invitation to the Spanish opera great Placido Domingo who is considering it to help try and solve problems at the world’s football governing body.

Blatter won re-election unopposed for another four years last week and promised to clean up FIFA and the corruption scandal. The role of council of wisdom has been offered Domingo as well as Henry Kissinger the former U.S. Secretary of State and Johan Cruyff the former Dutch football legend.

However the opera star is still considering the appointment and is non committal until Blatter supplies him with more information. He said last week that with the exception of 1978, since 1970 he had been at every World Cup final. Blatter said the new committee will have the powers to investigate problems at FIFA and to solve the bribery scandal.