South Australian independent Senator Nick Xenophon, who has called for detailed inquiries into Australia’s World Cup bid, has criticized the "cosy club" appearance of the election of new directors to run Football Federation Australia. Xenophon, who as Senator for SA has sought an inquiry to bolster laws against bribery and corruption, asked what FFA "had to fear" after the governing body put forward only four candidates for four open positions on its board, and expressly sought to avoid an election (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 10/1). ... Singapore's FA "vowed to amend its constitution next year after FIFA demanded an end to political interference in the appointment of the national body's council members." Singapore's decision to comply "comes about 5 months since FIFA suspended Indonesia, after the Jakarta government sought to oust the country's football association" (AFP, 10/1). ... Paris Foot Gay, an association started to “fight against homophobia in football” has decided to “hang up its boots.” In an announcement on Facebook the group said, “Facing notable indifference, institutional fear of real engagement and the shame some associate with the subject, we must face the obvious: we can no longer further our fight against homophobia" (LE MONDE, 10/1). ... Troubled int’l football bodies FIFA and UEFA, “both with leaders involved with a Swiss criminal investigation,” have canceled the annual staff match. The friendly game had been scheduled to take place in Nyon, “home to UEFA and its President Michel Platini (REUTERS, 9/30). ... Football players face the “potentially disruptive prospect” of being woken up in the night for random drug tests at Euro 2016 next summer as a section of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s new code is “set to be enshrined in French law.” The latest that an athlete could be tested under the previous WADA code was 9pm but, under the proposed change, “those hours will be extended significantly.” Doping controls would be allowed from 6am to 11pm, with the possibility of night checks until 6am under “strictly supervised conditions,” according to French Sport Secretary Thierry Braillard (LONDON TIMES, 10/1). ... Just two rounds into this season’s Champions League, UEFA’s anti-technology stance has been “called into question yet again” following a series of controversial decisions in games involving Chelsea, Man City and Real Madrid. Instead of video technology, UEFA “chose to introduce the additional assistant referee system” in the ’09-10 Europa League. All FIFA member associations are able to apply the system, “although it is not used in any domestic league” (London DAILY MAIL, 10/1).
