By Christian Radnedge

Former CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer admitted that he and other members of the FIFA executive committee accepted bribes for the hosting of the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, apoplectic court papers have revealed.

The admissions come in papers going back to a 2013 US hearing in which American Blazer pleaded guilty to 10 charges.

The release of the documents come as part of the US investigation into bribery, arthritis corruption and racketeering in world football which last week saw 14 people indicted. Four others, including Blazer, had already been charged.

The timescale of Blazer’s corrupt activities began in 1992 when he and then-CONCACAF president Jack Warner – also indicted – travelled to Morocco, which was bidding for the 1998 World Cup.

According to Blazer he was present when a bribe of $1m was offered to Warner to vote for them (Blazer, at this point, was not a member of the FIFA exco). Warner apparently accepted the offer and later instructed Blazer to follow up, and secure, payment. Blazer organised receipt of the payment but in the end France won the finals award.

When the FIFA exco was preparing to consider bids for the 2010 World Cup in 2004, Morocco reportedly offered Warner $1m again but according to the documents, Warner also knew by then that “representatives of FIFA, the South African government and the South African bid committee” were prepared to pay $10m “to support the African diaspora.”

South Africa Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula insisted to an international press conference on Wednesday that his country had never paid any bribes, adding “We waiting for the US authorities to share the evidence they have, that has negatively affected our international reputation”.

Warner, a former FIFA vice-president, came out fighting on Wednesday and said he had documents linking FIFA officials to the 2010 election in Trinidad and Tobago.

“I will no longer keep secrets for them who actively seek to destroy the country,” he said in a paid political broadcast.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who this week announced he will step down, is not named in the court documents but many media outlets have been reporting that he is now being included in the FBI’s investigation.

It was also revealed this week that the investigation would extend to scrutinising the award of the hosting rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.

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National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise the Orlando Magic have partnered with Chase and E15 Group to to integrate Apple Pay into their Amway Center arena.

The Magic will become the first NBA team to offer fans access to Apple Pay.

Full story HERE.

 

Queens Park Rangers have announced plans to build a new 40,000-seater stadium in the Old Oak area of north-west London.

The Championship club has been looking for alternative plans to their 18,000 capacity Loftus Road stadium in Shepherds Bush and aim to move into the new ground in 2018.

They now look set to move to Old Oak as a part of the regeneration of the area which will be complete with commercial buildings and 24,000 new homes.

The regeneration will cost £10bn on the 100-acre site and is being described as the new Canary Wharf.

QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes, said: “Loftus Road is – and always will be – a special place for the club and our supporters, but we need more than an 18,000 capacity.

“With no option of expanding here, we have to look elsewhere and we welcome the Mayor’s and Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s commitment to regenerate the area, which includes an option to develop a new stadium at Old Oak as a key catalyst to bring forward redevelopment, cementing our future in this part of West London.

“Not only will this give us a top quality stadium to cater for QPR’s needs as the club progresses and grows over the years ahead, but we are very excited about being the driving force behind creating one of the best new urban places in the world.”

QPR’s CEO Philip Beard also said that the club would be consulting with fans on the proposed move.

Beard commented: “We look forward to working with the Mayor and local authorities and we will, of course, be consulting our loyal and passionate supporters, as well as the local community, on our exciting plans early next year. We will look to build a stadium QPR fans and local residents can be proud of.

“Loftus Road is renowned for its atmosphere and with the help of our supporters, replicating that at our new stadium will be one of our top priorities.”

By Jay Stuart

The German Grand Prix in Formula 1 yesterday was the top-rated programme on Italian television. RAI 2’s delayed as-live transmission pulled 3.277 million viewers and a share of 16.01%. The race was also number one in Spain as Antena 3 averaged 4.214 million and a 38.5% share.

Sebastian Vettel’s victory, capsule the first on his German home soil, cialis was in second place in the Germany ratings for the day (excluding news) for RTL with 5.36 million viewers and a share of 40.9%.

Location: Leeds & Loughborough, abortion UK

Closing date: 4th November 2016

Overview:

British Triathlon is the National Governing Body for Triathlon, unhealthy Duathlon and Aquathlon in Great Britain, herbal responsible for raising the profile and delivering medal-winning performances and helping everyone discover, enjoy and achieve in triathlon.

British Triathlon is looking to contract an Event Director for the 2017 World Triathlon Series taking place in Leeds over the weekend of 10 and 11 June 2017. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and appropriately skilled individual to deliver a major sporting event.

The ITU World Triathlon Series is a series of races throughout the World that contribute to the crowning of the triathlon world champions.  Great Britain has hosted a stage of the Series in the UK since 2009.  In 2016 the event moved from London to Leeds.

Delivery of successful World Triathlon Series event (elite and mass participation races) is extremely complicated and the 2017 Leeds World Triathlon race will be no exception.

British Triathlon is seeking to contract an experienced Event Director who is passionate about delivering exceptional high level events or projects. The successful tender will be responsible for the overall delivery of the World Triathlon Series Leeds in association with the International Triathlon Federation and all key partner organisations and will be required to report into the Stakeholder Board. They will have demonstrable experience of leading high profile major events, have a proven track record of delivering complex projects to tight deadlines and budgets, whilst leading and developing strong working relationships with public and private bodies across the country. A proven leader and team worker.   Tenders must be available to commence work on the project from 1st December 2016

The successful tender will be required to attend regular meetings in Leeds and Loughborough.

For further information and informal enquiries please contact Helen Wyeth, email:  helenwyeth@britishtriathlon.org

To submit your tender:

Please send your CV and covering letter to hr@britishtriathlon.org quoting the role title.
Should you require assistance with the tender process, please contact us and we will make every effort to meet your specific requirements.

The EFL have confirmed that the inclusion of Premier League B Teams, bronchi clubs from non-English leagues or those outside the English football pyramid will not form part of any ongoing discussions for the ‘Whole Game Solution’. 

EFL clubs have been collectively discussing the fundamental issue of reforming the structure of English league football for the first time since agreeing to assess ideas put forward by the EFL Board at last summer’s Annual General Meeting. 

Those suggestions, order which aim to improve the format of EFL competitions and the revenues received by clubs, viagra sale posed a number of critical questions and these have been the subject of a consultation process with clubs during this past six weeks. 

EFL Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said: “At the very outset of this process it was made clear that any decisions in respect of the future direction of the Whole Game Solution would be taken by clubs themselves and our announcement today comes as a result of their valued input. I am extremely grateful for their candour and support during the first part of this consultation that will ultimately help shape a final proposal for voting on in June next year. 

“The logical place for many was to source the additional teams for League Three from the National League but we felt it important that the debate was introduced at an early stage and an opportunity was provided for all Club owners’ and executives’ to voice any opinions and, where applicable, table concerns. We will now continue our consultation with the National League with a little more certainty as to what any change could mean for them. These conversations will include the FA in their capacity as the Governing Body not a competition organiser. 

“In addition, our dialogue will continue with the Premier League as we focus on ensuring we achieve our specific and primary objective of improving distributable revenue to our clubs and reaching a format that benefits the EFL, its competitions and the wider professional game. 

“The next round of consultation will also see us undertake some work with fan groups and other stakeholders to ensure that those people who are invested in the future our game are given an opportunity to register their views.” 

The National Football League has decided against live streaming its three London games next season, erectile choosing instead to focus on streaming its Thursday night games on Twitter, a spokesman told Reuters.

The league has been experimenting with live streaming games as more consumers are watching shows online and cancelling their cable subscriptions.

Last year, the NFL partnered with Yahoo Inc to live stream a London game as part of an effort to gain more international viewers.

Read more HERE.