Birmingham City’s new owners urged to consider London 2012 bid
October 17 – Birmingham City’s new owners have been urged to try to persuade London 2012 to pick them to replace Villa Park to host football matches during the Olympics.
Europe
Scotland manager backs Team GB Olympic football team
October 5 – Scotland manager Walter Smith (pictured) has reiterated his support for a British football team at the London Olympics in 2012 despite his own national association claiming they want nothing to do with it.
Taylor to hang up her boots to concentrate on boxing
September 30 – Ireland’s Katie Taylor (pictured) said today that she plans to give up playing international football at the end of this season to concentrate on her preparations for London 2012, where women’s boxing will make its debut on the Olympic programme.
FIFA to discuss solution to London 2012 football tournament age row
September 29 – FIFA officials will meet in Rio de Janeiro today to discuss possible changes on the age limit for players at the men’s Olympic football tournament at London 2012, the final of which is due to be held at Wembley.
BOA to ignore Scottish and Welsh objections over GB football team in 2012
SEPTEMBER 29 – THE British Olympic Association are to press ahead with plans to field British football teams at future Games, including in London in 2012, despite opposition from the Scottish and Welsh Football Associations.
Wenger backs Hodgson for Team GB 2012 role
September 26 – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (pictured) has today backed Roy Hodgson to be the manager of Britain’s football team that will compete in the London 2012 Olympics.
Euro hero Smith set to return to England
September 17 – Kelly Smith (pictured), England’s most successful female footballer, is set to return home to Arsenal on a David Beckham-style loan.
England humbled by Germany in Euro final
September 10 – England’s hopes of glory were shattered by ruthless Germany as they were beaten 6-2 despite a battling effort in a compelling European Championships final in the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki tonight.
New doubt cast over Euro 2012 after FA take-over
SEPTEMBER 29 – FRESH fears about the European 2012 Football Championships have emerged after the Polish Football Association was tonight replaced by an administrator in a move that has shocked UEFA.
Crisis over Euro 2012 grows and raises Scotland’s hopes
SEPTEMBER 30 – FOOTBALL’S top governing bodies FIFA and UEFA said today they do not recognise a new administrator appointed by the Polish Olympic Committee (POC) to head the country’s football federation.
Calls for English women’s professional Premier League led by Sports Minister
September 12 – Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has called on the Football Association to introduce a professional women’s Premier League in England “as quickly as possible”.
Blatter blasts Welsh decision to stop players representing Britain
September 11 – Wales’ refusal to let its footballers play for Britain at the 2012 London Olympics has been attacked as “absurd” by Sepp Blatter (pictured), the President of FIFA.
Europe’s top football clubs demand London 2012 tournament be under-21
September 8 – Europe’s top clubs are demanding the football tournament at the London 2012 Olympics be restricted to under-21 players and want FIFA to resist calls to make the event part of the international calendar which would force them to release their leading players, like Argentina’s Lionel Messi (pictured).
England to meet Germany in European Championship final
September 7 – England’s women footballers will meet Germany in the final of the European Championships in Helsinki after the defending champions beat Norway 3-1 in the semi-final.
England women reach the final of the European Championships
September 6 – England’s footballers tonight beat Holland 2-1 after extra time to reach the final of the Women’s European Championship in Tampere for the first in quarter-of-a-century.