By Paul Nicholson
February 26 – US broadcaster ESPN’s long awaited arrival into the UK television market was launched on the back of Premier League football rights. Its exit from the market, confirmed yesterday, comes following the loss of those same Premier League rights – such is the make-or-break power of the English league in the pay TV market.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 25 – Kosovo’s campaign to be given improved status in world football has been added to the agenda at next month’s FIFA executive committee meeting, according to leading officials of the breakaway Balkan state.
By Mark Baber
February 25 – Corinthians are appealing the penalties imposed by CONMEBOL on the club after the tragic death of 14-year-old Bolivian fan Kevin Beltran Espada, who was struck by a flare allegedly thrown by travelling Corinthians supporters.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 25 – Paul Elliott, one of European football’s most visible and vocal anti-racism campaigners, has been forced to resign after a discriminatory text message he sent to a former business colleague was made public.
February 25 – Qatar is further opening its construction doors to the world and hosting the World Stadium Congress 2013 in Doha, 2-5 June.
By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent
February 25 – FIFA’s much trumpeted reform proposals, due to be approved at its Congress in May, have received a timely boost after being backed by CONCACAF which represents football in North and Central America and the Caribbean.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 25 – A landmark fan protest over what have been described as draconian ticket and travel restrictions is being stepped up amid a legal storm and a promise by police chiefs to discuss the issue further.
By Mark Baber
February 22 – The Copa Centenario, the proposed CONCACAF/CONMEBOL celebration tournament for the 100th birthday of South America’s confederation, is awaiting FIFA’s approval, but already plans are being put in place.
February 22 – Munich has become the first city to apply to the German Football Federation (DFB) to be Germany’s host city for the 2020 European Championship.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – Barcelona are trying to organise a symbolic peace match against a joint Israeli-Palestinian team to try and heal the wounds between two sides and promote the Middle East peace process.
February 22 – German club Schalke are reported to have officially appealed against Didier Drogba’s inclusion in the Galatasaray team when the clubs drew 1-1 in the Champions League this week.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – The future of Portsmouth football club, which has been in administration for a year with debts of about £60m, looks set to be finally settled – but maybe not for another two months.
February 22 – The prospects for the return of a CIS regional league look more remote after the Ukranian FA distanced itself from the Russian club proposal.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – A two-day conference on match-fixing at which the dangers facing Asian football were starkly underlined have resulted in the Asian Football Confederation setting up a task force to try and clamp down on arguably the most serious crisis facing the game.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 21 – The battle to succeed Mohamed bin Hammam as head of Asian football has taken a surprising twist with Saudi Arabia’s Hafez Al Medlej (pictured left) almost certainly putting his name forward along with the anticipated contenders.