Lead of the week
Michel Platini – telling governments to back Uefa’s clear lead on far-right stadium violence; and signing off this month’s fines: €40,000 for Trabzonspor’s fan disorder; €60,000 for Napoli fans starting fires; €70,000 for Dynamo Kyiv’s “rabid dog” fan violence; and €100,000 for Malmo for “the poor condition of the playing surface at their three group stage matches”.
• Platini’s other key themes driving last week’s unopposed re-election for a third Uefa term: a) inertia is bad - “Fifa needs new ideas, a new programme … change is important”; and b) transparency is good. “I always said I voted Qatar. I’m totally coherent with what I said four years ago, totally. I work for what I’m convinced is good for football.”
Speech of the week
Also weighing up the merits of change – Sepp, with a speech to Fifa’s voters. “Unity and solidarity, this is the theme on which we insist today, yesterday and tomorrow. Unity and solidarity everywhere … The unity and solidarity which exists at the roots of football will allow us to create unity and solidarity across the world of football – a world of extraordinary emotional force.”
Meanwhile: still not normal
Cameroon’s FA – placed under the control of a Fifa Normalisation Committee for a further six months while president Iya Mohammed stands trial on embezzlement charges. Mohammed, re-elected in 2013 with 99% of the vote despite being in prison, denies wrongdoing.
Subtle distinction of the week
The FA – charging Blackpool owner Karl Oyston for sending a text calling a fan a “massive retard”, a year after they ruled out action over Richard Scudamore’s “big-titted broad” emails. 2014’s FA statement ruled: “The FA does not as a matter of policy consider private communications sent with a legitimate expectation of privacy to amount to professional misconduct.”
Result of the week
£65.3m: Offshore-owned Spurs’ latest profit from record £180.5m revenue. £27m: Total public funds committed to make their new stadium project “viable”. Spurs warned in 2011: “The correct level of public support is critical ... We cannot be expected to do this single-handed.”
Manager news
Last week’s movers:
• Brazil, 17 Mar: Fluminense president Peter Siemsen on coach Cristóvão Borges: “When we were winning games the fans got over-euphoric and I didn’t like it. Now we’re losing they’re negative and I don’t like that. Let me say it again: we’re about the long-term here.” 24 Mar: Sacks him.
• France, 5 Mar: Toulouse club statement: “Following recent reports in the press, chairman Olivier Sadran would like to strongly deny false rumours of the arrival of a new coach at the helm of the team. The chairman repeats, he maintains confidence in Alain Casanova.” 16 Mar: Sadran sacks Casanova “with great conviction and serenity. Such hiccups forge the future of our club.”
Most respectful
Romanian club Otelul, confirming legal action against referee Marian Balaci for “sick” decisions against them. Executive Vlad Rapisca: “It was vicious, you can’t mock us like that when we’re paying your fee.” Media manager Lucian Ionescu: “This sorrowful so-called knight of the whistle judged everything against us.”
Most misunderstood
Argentina: River Plate president Rodolfo d’Onofrio, denying he meant offence by criticising coach Marcelo Gallardo’s touchline ban as “a farce … they won’t even let him enter the dressing room, as if he has Aids or something.” D’Onofrio: “I merely pointed out that my coach is being discriminated against, just like the sufferers of this disease.”
Spat of the week
59: combined match ban for Vittoria and Paternò players caught on CCTV in a “gross tunnel brawl” after their fifth-tier Sicilian derby. Both clubs plan to appeal; Paternò executive Stefania Amato: “I’m outraged by the league’s conduct. We’re the victim here.”
Best fitting in
Sol Campbell – telling Shooting Gazette about politics: “I’m helping the Conservatives on various issues”; and shooting. “I do like the attire, style is important to me … This year I shot about 30 birds … a mixture of birds. The banter was just lovely.”
Most reflective
Brazil: Audax president and former midfielder Vampeta, asked about his “defining career incidents” including posing nude in 1999 and forward-rolling off the stage at Brazil’s presidential palace during the 2002 World Cup winners’ reception. “I regret nothing. Posing nude paid enough to refit my cinema, and the roll – we’d been drinking since Japan. I just got to the palace in a state.”
Plus: breaking barriers
Brazil: Adult film actress Nicolle Bittencourt, upset after critics said her taking part in the 2015 Brasileirão football beauty pageant “lowered the tone”. “I see my work as no more nor less respectful than that of a lawyer, for example. I face prejudice everywhere, and only those who face such prejudice can ever understand. But I am passionate about football. I’m doing this, to the end.”
