January 3 – A senior delegation from Qatar’s 2022 World Cup Bid Committee flew to Saudi Arabia for the testimonial match of Nawaf al-Temyat between Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal Club and Italian champions Inter Milan, who are managed by Jose Mourinho, at the King Fahd international stadium.
By Duncan Mackay
January 3 – Worawi Makudi, whose position as President of the Football Association of Thailand (TAF) has been under threat, has signalled his intention to stay in his role by setting out a series of targets for coach, former England captain Bryan Robson (pictured with Worawi), during 2010.
January 3 – Calls are growing for Raymond Kennedy (pictured) to stand down as President of the Irish Football Association (IFA) following the six-figure payout to former chief executive Howard Wells.
January 3 - FIFA has appointed General Seyi Memene (pictured), a veteran Togolese football administrator, as interim head of the Togo Football Federation (TFF).
January 3 – Jack Warner (pictured), the FIFA vice-president, has warned that unless football receives more support in Trinidad & Tobago than the country’s national teams could soon be facing a major crisis.
By Duncan Mackay
January 3 – David Beckham (pictured) has warned that England must not be arrogant and believe that they are more deserving of hosting the 2018 World Cup than any of its rivals because of its tradition and the worldwide appeal of the Premier League.
January 3 – Mohammad-Manour Azimzadeh (pictured), a senior official in the Iranian Football Federation (FFI), has been forced to resign after a New Year’s greeting email was apparently sent on his behalf to his counterparts in Israel.
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By Duncan Mackay
January 2 – Construction on a new multi-million pound 60,000-capacity stadium to replace Anfield is expected to begin in April, the Leader of Liverpool City Council has claimed.
By Duncan Mackay
January 2 – Bristol City have dropped plans to build a housing estate in the shadow of their new £92 million 44,000-capacity stadium at Ashton Vale in the hope that the scheme will get the go-ahead so that they can host matches if England’s bid to stage the 2018 World Cup is successful.
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January 2 – Thierry Henry’s notorious handball offence against Ireland has done little to diminish his popularity among French sports fans.
January 2 – A Manchester MP has claimed that taxpayers should not have to pay anything towards the city hosting World Cup matches if England’s bid to stage the tournament in 2018 is successful.
By Duncan Mackay
January 2 – AFC Wimbledon fans have started an on-line petition on the Downing Street website to protest about Milton Keynes’ inclusion as a venue for the 2018 World Cup if England’s bid is successful.
January 1 – Portsmouth officials will meet with Nick Cusack, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), on Monday after the players’ wages went unpaid for a third time this season.
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December 31 - Phil Anderton (pictured), the former chief executive of the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and Heart of Midlothian, has been headhunted by Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to be the head of Al-Jazira, his Abu Dhabi football club.
December 30 – The Board of directors for the US Soccer Federation (USSF) has voted unanimously not to sanction the United Soccer League (USL) or the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 2010.