New role for Zidane at Real Madrid
November 22 – French legend Zinedine Zidane has been appointed as a special advisor by Real Madrid, one of his former clubs.
Europe
Beckenbauer standing down from FIFA Executive Committee
By Andrew Warshaw
November 11 – Franz Beckenbauer is standing down as a member of FIFA’s Executive Committee, ruling him out of standing against Sepp Blatter for the Presidency next year.
World Cup footballer training to skate at Sochi 2014
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 25 – Ilhan Mansiz, a member of the Turkish side that finished third at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, has claimed that he wants to compete in figure skating at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Bayern Munich and UEFA agree truce in match-fixing row
By Andrew Warshaw
September 18 – Peace appears to have broken following an unsavoury row over match-fixing allegations between UEFA and German giants Bayern Munich.
You wouldn’t return a hire car in the condition our footballers come back, clubs tell FIFA
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By Andrew Warshaw in Geneva
September 7 – European clubs today urged the sport’s governing bodies to start paying out insurance premiums to cover highly prized players injured on international duty.
Scrap meaningless friendlies, top clubs demand
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By Andrew Warshaw in Geneva
September 7 – European clubs, led by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, today called on FIFA to scrap worthless internationals and stop forcing clubs to release their players for meaningless fixtures.
Thomson Sport sign deal with Scottish FA
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September 6 – Thomson Sport has been appointed as an Official Travel Partner of the Scottish Football Association (Scottish FA) and an Official Travel Partner of the Scotland Supporters’ Club, it was announced today.
Exclusive: We will throw out top clubs who overspend, warns UEFA watchdog
By Andrew Warshaw in Geneva
September 6 – The man charged by European football with making sure clubs spend within their means has re-iterated they could be thrown out of European competition if they fail to balance the books.
Exclusive: Top clubs demand solution to players injured on international duty
By Andrew Warshaw in Geneva
September 6 – European clubs will hold discussions tomorrow over whether to demand insurance payments for players injured on international duty.
Boyce calls for peace in Ireland
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 6 – Jim Boyce, the former President of the Irish Football Association (IFA), who will soon be the UK’s most senior football politician, today urged an end to the in-fighting that is overshadowing the sport there.
England renew kit deal with Umbro until 2018 World Cup
September 1 - Sports kit company Umbro has signed a deal with the Football Association that will see it make the England kit for the next two World Cups.
Rummenigge raises old question of compensation for injured players
By Duncan Mackay in Munich
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 1 – Bayern Munich are set to reopen the debate about whether clubs should receive compensation from FIFA and UEFA if its players, like Arjen Robben (pictured), are injured representing their country.
Manchester City buck trend as transfer spending dramatically down
By David Owen
August 31 – Gross transfer spending by top-flight football clubs across Europe is down sharply from a year ago, as the global economic crisis takes its toll on the finances of the continent’s biggest sport.
Platini claims that new rules have avoided “total anarchy”
August 30 – UEFA President Michel Platini claims his governing body’s new rules on spending have ended the “total anarchy” that surrounded player transfers.
FA retain control of England team
August 19 – The Football Association will continue to have overall ultimate responsibility on major issues concerning the national team after confirmation of the role of Club England was discussed at a Board meeting today.