September 16, 2022
The brief from today:
Chile still trying to go to the World Cup
Chile filed a complaint with FIFA in June regarding the eligibility of Ecuador’s, Byron Castillo, during the World Cup qualifying matches played between the two teams. The Chilean football federation alleged that Castillo is actually Colombian, and shouldn’t have been permitted to participate in the match. As a result of the final World Cup CONMEBOL standings placing Ecuador just ahead of Chile, the latter felt their place at the tournament was wrongly issued to the former. Today, FIFA announced that they have dismissed the case, ruling that there were no grounds to disqualify Ecuador from the competition, and that Castillo’s Ecuadorian citizenship is valid. Rather than accept the ruling, however, Chile have now decided to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hoping for a ruling in their favor. It isn’t impossible for the appeals court to overturn FIFA’s decision, and that is why this option is being explored. Ecuador are currently scheduled to play World Cup hosts, Qatar, in the opening match on November 20. This gives Chile, and CAS, just under two months to resolve the matter, but the last thing FIFA need are complications before a tournament that has already had its share of logistical challenges.
Byron Castillo (left) is still at the center of Chile’s desperate attempt to make the World Cup in Qatar
More American investment in the Premier League
Some recent comments by new Chelsea co-owner, Todd Boehly, which drew great ire in England, had quite a few people bemoaning the latest American owner in the league. Unlike the other US based owners who took over English clubs including: Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Fulham, and Crystal Palace, Boehly has been quite vocal and present in the media. His antics, coupled with the push for a European Super League last year which included some of the aforementioned clubs—Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United—have been categorized as American owners making a push to change the tradition of football in the country. Well, now Bournemouth may be joining the ranks as the latest club to be owned by Americans. Club owner, Maxim Demin, has agreed the general pricing and terms of a sale of the club to Las Vegas based, Bill Foley. A period of exclusivity between the two parties has commenced, and now both sides are performing their due diligence on each other in an effort to ratify the deal. Foley, who currently owns the Las Vegas Golden Knights—an NHL franchise—also considered making a bid for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011 before current Fulham owner, Shahid Khan, bought the franchise. Outside of hockey and American football, however, Foley has never explored European football until now. Surely his witnessing of the increased American investment in the sport, not just in England, but in Europe overall, will surely have instigated his decision. Unless any unexpected red flags are discovered, the takeover is expected to be finalized towards the end of October.
Bill Foley is close to purchasing Bournemouth and becoming the latest American owner in England