A football tournament staged by the Italian separatist party, Lega Nord, was played out with the tacit permission of the Italian sporting authorities according to the organizers.

The continued embargo on Kosovo playing international sport is seriously damaging sport in the former Yugoslav republic, a trio of Kosovans told Play the Game.

Diego Maradona's infamous ”hand of God” goal in the 1986 World Cup is the most famous picture from one of football's fiercest clashes. But was Maradona's hand ball the act of a genious or a cheater? Can sportsmanship and fair play have different standards in different countries?

Six teams have entered the third Viva World Cup (VWC) to be staged in northern Italy next month for ‘national’ football sides shunned by FIFA. Padania – a team promoted by the Italian separatist political movement Lega Nord – are hosting the event, which will be staged between June 22 and June 27 in Brescia, Varese and Verona.

The Oceania Football Confederation, one of FIFA’s smallest regional confederations, could be weakened by the exit of more members as chaos surrounds the status of Commonwealth of North Mariana Islands (CNMI).

Exclusive: Play the Game has interviewed representatives from a number of national football teams who are struggling to be allowed to play. Since their country is not recognized by the UN, their teams have difficulties entering FIFA and UEFA leagues.

In 2004 North Americans a bizarre story began to unfold when police arrested NHL player Mike Danton after a play-off game on conspiracy to murder charges.

Review by Steve Menary of Hans Bonde's latest book, ‘Football With The Foe – Danish sport under the swastika’, which examines wartime sport during the Nazi occupation of Denmark.