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June 20 (Reuters) - Reuters and Action Images, in conjunction with the News Media Coalition trade association, are currently in discussions with the English football leagues and their data management company, Football DataCo (FDC) over the terms and conditions of journalist/photographer access to matches during the 2011/12 season.

Reuters remains committed to providing its subscribers with the best possible coverage, however, we believe that the agreement under which we have been asked to operate is at odds with the right of the public to access information wherever and whenever it chooses.

In addition, the current End User Licence procedure, under which all media wishing to make use of league content for online or mobile purposes need to procure a licence from FDC, is also under discussion. We are unable, at this point, to confirm whether or not this procedure will be in place for the new season.

Our views and those of the NMC have been communicated to the relevant league representatives and we are awaiting their response. We will ensure that our subscribers are kept advised of any news or developments. (Editing by Ossian Shine)

Agences de presses

Labels: advisory, ADVISORYClient, coverage, English, Regarding, Reuters, soccer

* Widespread call in Britain for Blatter to quit

* FIFA in urgent need of reform, lawmakers and FA say

* Fans say situation is a farce

By Michael Holden

LONDON, May 31 (Reuters) - British politicians, media and fans united on Tuesday in calls for Sepp Blatter to be kicked out as FIFA president, saying his credibility was shot and he could not lead essential reform of the sport’s governing body.

Blatter, 75, is set to be re-elected unopposed as president on Wednesday, having brushed off allegations of corruption which has concerned some leading sponsors of the organisation he has run since 1998. [ID:nL3E7GV0LN]

His rejection of criticism and any suggestion of a crisis has prompted widespread anger and derision in Britain, where many people are still smarting from England’s humiliating failed bid to stage the 2018 World Cup.

“Rotten does not even come close to describing FIFA — football’s governing body is mired in allegations of corruption, bribery and sleaze,” The Daily Mirror newspaper said in its editorial under the headline “Give the boot to Blatter”.

“If Blatter had an ounce of dignity he would have resigned months ago. Sadly, the beautiful game has been brought low by the ugly actions of its leaders.”

The mass-selling Sun tabloid described Blatter as “shifty, arrogant, evasive”.

“How shameful for world football that Sepp Blatter is likely to be re-elected unopposed as its head,” it said. “FIFA must be cleaned up. It cannot happen with him at its helm.”

The British media has long been hostile to FIFA and has particularly targeted the organisation since England’s campaign for the 2018 tournament attracted just two votes, despite the involvement of Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince William.

Newspaper and TV reports have since claimed a number of senior FIFA officials had taken bribes in return for votes.

Two senior figures, the head of Asian soccer Mohamed bin Hammam and CONCACAF chief Jack Warner, have now been suspended over bribery allegations which they both deny.

BRIBERY PROBE

Both the English and the Scottish Football Associations have called for the FIFA presidential election to be postponed, and with the issue dominating the news agenda, the issue has attracted increasing political attention. [ID:nLDE74U0Y5]

Britain’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport said it backed the FA, calling for a full probe of the bribery claims.

“FIFA has to undergo massive reform and become much more transparent and accountable,” a spokeswoman said.

Ivan Lewis, the spokesman on sport for the opposition Labour Party, said Blatter’s credibility had “gone”.

“Football does not belong to a small elite. It belongs to the millions of fans from remotest Africa, to the beaches of Brazil, the great cities of Madrid, Paris and London, and they deserve better leadership than this,” he told Sky News.

British parliamentarian Damian Collins, who is involved with “ChangeFifa”, a recently launched international parliamentary coalition, told Reuters that governments, football associations and FIFA sponsors needed to unite to force change.

“This is a real crisis and I don’t think Sepp Blatter addressed that at all in his remarks yesterday,” he said.

Meanwhile, ordinary fans expressed disillusionment.

“If this wasn’t so serious it would be something out of Gilbert and Sullivan. It’s a farce,” Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters Federation, told Reuters.

“I don’t think you’ll find a single football fan in this country who believes that everything at FIFA in terms of both the World Cup bid and other things is clean and above board.

“Things cannot go on. It’s self-evident I think that this organisation cannot continue in its present state.”

(Additional reporting by Avril Ormsby and Adrian Croft)

Agences de presses

Labels: Blatter, CALLS, English, Reuters, Smarting

ZURICH (AP)—The English Football Association has called on FIFA to postpone Wednesday’s presidential election in the wake of the bribery scandal that led to Sepp Blatter’s only challenger withdrawing.

The FA had already said it was abstaining before the allegations emerged that led to presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam and fellow FIFA executive committee member Jack Warner being suspended.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter ge…
Getty Images - May 31, 4:19 am EDT

Now, in a statement released Tuesday, the FA is calling for a delay to the election so a new “reforming candidate” might be found and an independent body appointed to supervise reforms of FIFA in the wake of the organization’s biggest crisis in its 107-year history.

“We call on FIFA and ask other national associations to support us with two initiatives,” FA chairman David Bernstein said in a statement. “First, to postpone the election and give credibility to this process, so any alternative reforming candidate could have the opportunity to stand for president.

“Secondly, to appoint a genuinely independent external party to make recommendations regarding improved governance and compliance procedures and structures throughout the FIFA decision-making processes for consideration by the full membership.”

The FA would need to find support from 75 percent of the 208 members of the congress to bring about a postponement of the election.

English soccer’s governing body had faced criticism for its decision to abstain in the election, but Bernstein feels vindicated given the latest crisis.

Caribbean soccer leaders are alleged to have been paid $40,000 each to back bin Hammam’s now-abandoned presidential bid during a visit to Warner’s native Trinidad.

“There were two main reasons for this decision (to abstain),” Bernstein said. “First, a concern, that a series of allegations relating to FIFA ExCo (executive committee) members made it difficult to support either candidate.

“Secondly, a concern about the lack of transparency and accountability within the organization, contributing to the current unsatisfactory situation. Events of the last few days have reinforced our views.”

Agences de presses

Labels: CALLS, election, English, postpone

LONDON, May 31 (Reuters) - The English Football Association urged FIFA on Tuesday to postpone a presidential election planned for Wednesday because of a deepening corruption scandal.

The FA urged other nations to support its calls for a delay for a vote in which FIFA President Sepp Blatter is due to stand unopposed for reelection.

Agences de presses

Labels: CALLS, delay, election, English, Reuters

March 1 (Reuters) - English Premier League fixtures (timesGMT).Playing on Tuesday Chelsea v Manchester United (1945)Playing on Saturday Birmingham City v West Bromwich Albion (1245) Arsenal v Sunderland (1500) Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa (1500) Fulham v Blackburn Rovers (1500) Newcastle United v Everton (1500) West Ham United v Stoke City (1500) Manchester City v Wigan Athletic (1730)Playing on Sunday Liverpool v Manchester United (1330) Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur (1600)Playing on Monday Blackpool v Chelsea (2000)(Compiled by Infostrada Sports; Editing by Toby Davis)


Agences de presses

Labels: English, fixtures, league, PREMIER, Reuters

LONDON (AP) -- Upcoming fixtures in English football (home teams listed first):Saturday, Feb. 26Premier League Aston Villa vs. Blackburn Everton vs. Sunderland Newcastle vs. Bolton Wigan vs. Manchester United Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. BlackpoolLeague Championship Swansea vs. Leeds Barnsley vs. Norwich Bristol City vs. Scunthorpe Crystal Palace vs. Reading Doncaster vs. Watford Hull vs. Cardiff Ipswich vs. Portsmouth Leicester vs. Coventry Middlesbrough vs. Queens Park Rangers Millwall vs. Nottingham Forest Preston vs. Burnley Sheffield United vs. DerbySunday, Feb. 27League CupFinal Arsenal vs. BirminghamPremier League West Ham vs. Liverpool Manchester City vs. FulhamMonday, Feb. 28Premier League Stoke vs. West Bromwich AlbionTuesday, March 1Premier League Chelsea vs. Manchester UnitedFA CupFifth Round Everton vs. ReadingLeague Championship Derby vs. Doncaster Middlesbrough vs. Nottingham Forest Portsmouth vs. ScunthorpeWednesday, March 2FA CupFifth Round Manchester City vs. Aston VillaFifth RoundReplay Arsenal vs. Leyton OrientSaturday, March 5Premier League Birmingham vs. West Bromwich Albion Arsenal vs. Sunderland Bolton vs. Aston Villa Fulham vs. Blackburn Newcastle vs. Everton West Ham vs. Stoke Manchester City vs. WiganLeague Championship Burnley vs. Crystal Palace Coventry vs. Bristol City Derby vs. Barnsley Leeds vs. Doncaster Norwich vs. Preston Nottingham Forest vs. Hull Portsmouth vs. Sheffield United Queens Park Rangers vs. Leicester Reading vs. Middlesbrough Scunthorpe vs. Swansea Watford vs. Millwall Cardiff vs. IpswichSunday, March 6Premier League Liverpool vs. Manchester United Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. TottenhamMonday, March 7Premier League Blackpool v ChelseaTuesday, March 8League Championship Barnsley vs. Scunthorpe Bristol City vs. Portsmouth Doncaster vs. Coventry Hull vs. Burnley Ipswich vs. Reading Leicester vs. Norwich Middlesbrough vs. Derby Millwall vs. Queens Park Rangers Preston vs. Leeds Sheffield United vs. Nottingham Forest Swansea vs. Watford Crystal Palace vs. CardiffWednesday, March 9Premier League Everton vs. Birmingham


Agences de presses

Labels: English, fixtures, Football