FIFA Transfer Management System GM Mark Goddard revealed that the FA is in discussions with FIFA about introducing its TMS, according to Bob Williams of the London TELEGRAPH. The online system, "aimed to speed up and regulate international transfers, has been in force since 2010 to great effect." Now the English game "is in talks to introduce it but agreement is needed from the Premier League, Football League and FA to bring it into place." Goddard said, "The Dutch FA went live late last year and has been using it successfully since. We have a number of other member associations who also are extremely interested after seeing the successful implementation of TMS." England has been the highest int'l spender since the FIFA TMS system was brought in and Goddard "expects that to continue thanks to the money generated from the worldwide TV deals for the Premier League." Goddard said, "The Premier League is a popular product and continues to gain the benefits of that which is ever-increasing TV deals. And those TV deals provide a lot more revenue which go to the clubs and those clubs use a lot of resources on acquiring football players." Goddard and his team are expecting to process around 400 transfers on Sept. 1, "with the usual last-minute rush and brinkmanship on deadline day." Goddard: "We're a little bit behind in volume than we were last year at this time by a couple of percentage points and on spending we're a little bit in front" (TELEGRAPH, 8/26).
EXTRADITION DECISION: REUTERS' Stephanie Nebehay wrote a Justice Ministry spokesperson said that Swiss authorities "expect to decide in September" whether to extradite six football officials to face corruption charges in the U.S. The accused men, who are in custody and whose lawyers are opposing their extradition to N.Y., "would have 30 days to appeal decisions to the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona -- a process that could take several months." Ministry spokesperson Folco Galli said, "We have received all responses. Now we are able to examine whether conditions are fulfilled to grant extradition and take our decision." Extradition "is allowed if an alleged offense is punishable by at least a year in jail under both Swiss and U.S. law." Swiss authorities must rule on whether this "dual criminality" rule is met, rather than on whether the defendant is guilty or innocent (REUTERS, 8/25).
FOLLOW-UP SESSION: The AP reported a FIFA panel "aiming to improve Israeli-Palestinian football relations met for the first time Wednesday and agreed a follow-up session in the Middle East next month." Panel Chair Tokyo Sexwale, a South African businessman, "hosted the two football federations' leaders." Sexwale said in a statement, ''I'm feeling confident after seeing the team spirit today, as both associations have confirmed their intention to promote dialogue" (AP, 8/26).
