Fifa Members Took Bribes for Qatar World Cup Votes: US Prosecutors; Serie A Paycut and More (Football Round-up)
As per the indictment by the US Department of Justice, three South American FIFA members accepted bribes to vote for Qatar 2022 (Pic: Footy Accumulators. Twitter).
The United States Department of Justice published an indictment stating that FIFA executive committee members were paid bribes to vote for the World Cup 2018 in Russia and the 2022 edition Qatar. The 69-page indictment, which was revealed back in 2010, was unsealed on Monday in Brooklyn.
The indictment states that Jack Warner, former CONCACAF president and FIFA vice president received over $5 million in bribes from Russia to vote for hosting duties in 2018. Former member of the FIFA executive committee, Rafael Salguero of Guatemala, was also paid to vote for Russia, the US DOJ alleges Three South American FIFA members, including former president of CONMEBOL, Nicolas Leoz and Ricardo Teixeira, former president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, accepted bribes to vote for Qatar, as per the indictment.
Serie A Clubs to Cut Players Wages
Pic: Serie A twitter.
Serie A clubs collectively agreed to cut salaries of first team players by one-third due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that has struck Italy very hard. The deal states if football resumes and the 2019-20 campaign is completed then the players from 19 of the 20 Series clubs will give up one-sixth of their wages. But if the season is cancelled altogether, one-third of the wages will be cut.
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Juventus was the only team that did not agree to the deal as they have already finalised a wage cut deal with their players and said that they have reached an understanding with the players and coaches who will not be paid for the next four months. Meanwhile in England, after facing backlash, Liverpool reversed their decision to furlough their non-playing staff members so as to enable them to claim part of their wages from the British Government.
Former Barcelona Coach Antic Dies
Radomir Antic (Pic: Twitter-Goal)
Radomir Antic, the man who coached Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona died at the age of 71. Considered as one of the most high-profile La Liga figures of the 1990s, the Serbian manager passed away in a clinic in Madrid after suffering from pancreatitis for several years.
Premier League Clubs Expected to Start Individual Negotiations Over Pay Cut; Collective Talks Fail
Antic spent four years with Luton, famously scoring the goal that kept the Hatters in the top flight at the expense of Manchester City in 1983. His biggest successes in management came at Atletico, with whom he won La Liga and the Copa del Rey in 1996.
"We are devastated to learn of the passing of Town legend Radomir Antic," Luton posted on social media. "A true Hatters hero, for promotion and preventing relegation."
Sunderland Puts Players on Furlough Leave
Sunderland announced they have put their players on furlough leave. The first-team players along with backroom staff and academy players have been furloughed, and a small number of staff, and manager Phil Parkinson continue to work from home.
While on furlough, the employees are going to receive 80 percent of their pay up to £2,500 per month. Sunderland's statement said: "At this moment in time, SAFC has no intention to ask any players or staff to take a wage reduction or deferral on their salary, and the club remains fully committed to ensuring all employees are paid in full."
Club's many non-playing staff were furloughed weeks ago, and the club is paying an extra 20 per cent to ensure their staff gets their full pay.
Mohun Bagan, East Bengal in UN-WHO Campaign
India's leading football clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are going to join a global campaign by the United Nations and World Health Organisation, encouraging people to remain "active" as millions across the world stay home due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Indian football clubs are among several from across the world that will join the '#BeActive' campaign launched on the UN International Day of Sport for Development and Peace to "encourage people to be #HealthyAtHome as the world comes together in the fight against COVID-19, today and every day."
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