DIEGO MARADONA claimed that "he may be in line" to become a VP of FIFA should Prince ALI BIN AL-HUSSEIN be elected as FIFA President SEPP BLATTER’s successor. It appears that "Maradona is keen to help out with the restructuring of football’s governing body" and has offered his services to Prince Ali shoud he win the election (London GUARDIAN, 6/8). ... Scottish Championship side Rangers "announced the passing" of former defender COLIN JACKSON, who died of cancer at the age of 68. Jackson "made over 500 appearances for the Ibrox club" between '63 and '82. He "was also on the books of Morton and Partick Thistle and won eight Scotland caps, scoring one international goal" (BBC, 6/7). ... The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) paid a tribute on Sunday to two late, former national team captains HIDERALDO LUÍS BELLINI, who captained the 1958 World Cup, and MAURO RAMOS DE OLIVEIRA, who captained the 1962 World Cup. Bellini's widow GISELDA BELLINI and Oliveira's daughter SYLVIA RAMOS DE OLIVEIRA each received a replica of the jerseys the players wore during their respective World Cups (CBF). ... Former England footballer SOL CAMPBELL "confirmed his intention to become the next Mayor of London." The ex-Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur defender said he could "bring something new to the table" as the Conservative nomination. He said that he wanted to "change London for everybody" but acknowledged he would not be a "frontrunner" (BBC, 6/8). ... Brazilian coach CUCA "could be a coach free for the Brazilian market." Cuca "negotiated his leave" of Chinese side Shandong Luneng this year and "revealed his desire to return to Brazil immediately" (LANCENET, 6/8). ... Juventus midfielder ANDREA PIRLO "has become a prime target for a possible move to the A-League next season." It "is understood several representatives from Australia were due to
meet with Pirlo’s agent in Milan" Sunday to put forward the idea of
the veteran midfielder playing in the national competition. Beaten
A-League finalist Sydney FC emerged as the favored
candidate "to snare him if he decides to come to Australia, though there
are suggestions he could be looking to play" in Major League Soccer in the U.S. (THE AUSTRALIAN, 6/8).
MORE TO DO: FA board member HEATHER RABBATTS said that the FA "could do more to promote opportunities for women in the game." Rabbatts "was responding to a question on whether there should be a Rooney Rule for women in football." She said, "In terms of working with women’s coaches there is certainly more for us to do. There’s some work we’re just trying to think about on how best to support women coaches and talking with them about how they might develop their own professional careers going forward" (PA, 6/8).
