Barcelona to help European smokers kick the habit
By Emily Goddard
September 20 – Barcelona have put their clout behind a new initiative to encourage 28 million people across Europe to quit smoking.
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Race hots up for second Moscow World Cup 2018 stadium
By David Gold
September 20 – The battle is heating up between the two Moscow stadiums competing to join the Luzhniki as a host venue of FIFA World Cup matches in 2018.
Gulati wants new US women’s coach in place by end of October
By David Gold
September 20 – United States Soccer Federation (USSF) President Sunil Gulati is aiming to have a replacement for departing women’s national team coach Pia Sundhage by the end of October.
Luisão has ban extended worldwide
By David Gold
September 20 – Brazilian defender Luisão has been handed a global ban from football for two months by FIFA following an incident in a pre-season friendly.
Platini reiterates call for multiple Euro 2020 hosts
By Andrew Warshaw
September 20 – UEFA President Michel Platini has reiterated his call for the 2020 European Championship finals to be held throughout Europe instead of in one or two countries.
Goal-line technology on schedule for introduction at Club World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
September 20 – Goal-line technology experts are putting the final preparations to what could be a landmark development in the move to introduce scientific aids for referees after years of debate.
Gan’s husband charged with AFC theft
By Andrew Warshaw
September 19 – The husband of Amelia Gan, finance director of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) at the time it was run by Mohamed Bin Hammam, has pleaded not guilty to stealing in the latest cloak-and-dagger development in the ongoing corruption probe into Bin Hammam’s conduct.
Tomsk players threaten strike action
By David Gold September
19 – Russian second tier outfit FC Tom Tomsk may be facing a boycott of a cup game with CSKA Moscow due to a dispute over unpaid wages.
Russian cities await anticipated World Cup host announcement
By Andrew Warshaw
September 19 – Five Russian cities are nervously waiting to see whether they will miss the cut in the race to be selected to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Celtic announce £7 million loss
By Andrew Warshaw
September 19 – Although not nearly as serious as the dramatic fall from grace suffered by their arch-rivals Rangers, Glasgow’s other giants Celtic have announced losses of £7 million ($11 million/€9 million) for the year to the end of June.
Racism is a “significant problem” in British football, Government dossier reveals
By Andrew Warshaw
September 19 – Racism remains a “significant problem” in British football and stewards need additional training to help weed out the culprits, according to a Government committee report.
Manchester United suffer 3.3 per cent fall in revenue
By Andrew Warshaw
September 18 – Manchester United, regarded as the most popular club in the world, saw their total revenue drop by 3.3 per cent to £320.3 million ($520.5 million/€398.8 million) for the year ending June 30 2012, the club’s annual financial results revealed today.
CONCACAF congress delayed as external audit continues
By Andrew Warshaw
September 18 – Auditors examining the books of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) under the previous regime led by former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who resigned from football in the wake of last year’s cash-for-votes scandal, have not yet completed their work, delaying the confederation’s extraordinary congress until next year.
Platini happy to change European calendar for 2022 winter World Cup in Qatar
By Andrew Warshaw
September 18 – European leagues could be halted for an entire month before the Christmas period to allow the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup to be staged in winter.
Handshake row must stop before it becomes like mafia feud, insists PFA chief
By Andrew Warshaw
September 18 – English football needs to move on from the handshake row that has marred the domestic game, according to Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) chief Gordon Taylor.