Barely 24 hours after suggesting that Russia continue competition in the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying competition under the name of the ‘Football Union of Russia (RFU)’, Fifa and Uefa have suspended Russia’s national and club teams from ‘participation in both Fifa and Uefa competitions until further notice’. The measure …
Read More »Media Monitor: Badjohn big boys beating up on Biles and Osaka is just not cricket
If Paul Pogba had had the temerity to be the first to do what Cristiano Ronaldo did during his media conference, would the UEFA response have been as muted? The question lurked darkly in my mind as I watched the TV news reporting the UEFA warning to the players to …
Read More »Why the projected European Super League affects everyone—even T&T
Uefa banked €3.25 billion (TT$26.7 billion) in commercial revenue for its showcase tournaments last year. The lion’s share of Uefa’s money, €2.55 billion (TT$21 billion), went to the clubs that viewers switch on their television to watch. The Champions League, which involves 79 teams, got €2.04 billion (TT$16.7 billion) while …
Read More »The real source of the US$2 million windfall for Pro League and TTSL; plus what clubs stand to make
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams announced a US$2 (TT$13.5) million cash injection for the local Pro League and Super League competitions on Monday morning, in what is likely to be the last major initiative of his four year term. But there is a catch. Roughly half …
Read More »Fakoory off! Rangers move from St Ann’s to La Horquetta; Stars explain case against Pro League
Another tumultuous pre-season lies ahead but interim chairman Richard Fakoory vows that the Pro League will go ahead in 2019, although he will view the competition from a considerably different vantage point. For the first time, Fakoory will be not among the club owners for the local top flight competition …
Read More »Nakhid: On politics and football; why Manning was irrelevant and Deschamps is a failure
A year or two before former Prime Minister Patrick Manning passed away, I wrote an article stating—among many other things—that Manning no longer held any relevance for politics in Trinidad and Tobago. Of course multiple queries followed from readers. I did not explain myself then as I found the statement …
Read More »Dear Editor: World Cup needs a top cop; Pele or Beckenbauer? Arsene or Sir Alex?
“The World Cup, after all, is the sport’s showpiece competition. Can football really afford for it to be devalued as it has tended to be in recent times? “Shouldn’t we at least attempt to bring back the oomph and the pizzazz and the prime quality that criminals such as physical …
Read More »Abu Bakr makes Lithuania history; gets chance to showcase talents in Europa League
Radanfah Abu Bakr is making a name for himself in Lithuania. His FK Suduva club side advanced, two weeks ago, to the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League qualifying phase, the first Lithuanian club ever to go beyond the third round of qualifying in any European club competition. And …
Read More »DJW launches CFU manifesto amidst hints of UEFA interference in Caribbean election
Suspicions that CONCACAF and UEFA have lent to their support to one of three candidates in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) election race might harden after presidential candidate David John-Williams released his manifesto, which suggested that his proposed Caribbean Professional Football League (CPFL) is an integral part of his bid …
Read More »DJW allegedly used TTFA funds for CFU bid; accused of selling out Caribbean
Just six months into his tenure as Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president, David John-Williams has already turned his gaze towards higher office. The W Connection football club owner will run for the post of Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president on 23 July 2016. The election will be held …
Read More »DJW unplugged: An illegal TTFA election, tacit FIFA support and a CFU power grab
The world governing football body, FIFA, stands accused of complicity in the rise of an allegedly illegitimately elected football president from Trinidad and Tobago with overarching ambitions. FIFA handed former vice-president, Jack Warner, a life ban for attempting to rig its 2011 presidential elections. And the disgraced ex-football official is now fighting …
Read More »Financial Fair Play on the way out? Good riddance as it was never fit for purpose
Financial Fair Play (FFP) is one of those topics that invite controversy. There are those who believe that it was written to preserve the status quo of large clubs by preventing the nouveau riche from spending money to challenge the established players. Others say it is an attempt to control …
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