Football Partnerships

FIFA on Saturday withdrew a proposal to extend half-time breaks from 15 to 20 minutes after it became clear that it would not be adopted by world football’s rules-making body, the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
The plan had been opposed by the Football Associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, who have the power to block any changes to the rules as they account for half the votes on the IFAB.

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A professional football league will experiment with using additional assistant referees behind each goal next season.

No decision has been made on which league will be picked to conduct the International Football Association Board’s experiment, but both Italy and France have volunteered to host the trial — although it would likely be done in the second division of those countries — and Major League Soccer also appears to be a contender because of its large crowds and significant television coverage.

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Stavros Papageorgiou, a Greek businessman, is reported to be in advanced talks regarding the purchase of English Portsmouth Football club.

The Greek press claims Papageorgiou is in charge of a group of investors currently negotiating a buyout with Portsmouth owner Alexandre Gaydamak.

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Pay-television broadcaster Setanta Sports will begin showing Russian Premier League football in the United States and Canada this March.

Setanta viewers in the two territories will be able to watch 60 live and delayed league matches this season, beginning on the weekend of March 13.

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Paraguay can stage their remaining home World Cup qualifiers in the country after governing body FIFA approved an alternative stadium to the Defensores del Chaco which is closed for safety reasons.

“It has been guaranteed Paraguay will play in Paraguay,” Alejandro Dominguez, vice-president of the country’s football association (APF), said in a radio interview.

Dominguez added that matches would be played in Luque, just outside Asuncion.

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