Attorney General makes new bid for Hillsborough inquests
By Tom Degun
December 11 – Attorney General Dominic Grieve has made an application to quash the original Hillsborough inquest verdicts.
News
Qatar 2022 updates FIFA on World Cup plans
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
December 11 – Senior officials from the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee (Q22) – organisers of the World Cup in 10 years’ time – have met with FIFA to update football’s world governing body on strategy and infrastructure plans.
Goal-line technology money could be better spent, insists Platini
By Andrew Warshaw
December 11 – UEFA President Michel Platini is sticking to his firm stance against goal-line technology – exactly at the time it is currently being used for the first time in official competition.
UEFA launches Youth League competition linked to Champions League
By Tom Degun
December 10 – UEFA has announced the launch of a new under-19 club competition for the 2013-2014 season which will have close ties to the Champions League.
Arena Grêmio opens despite being snubbed for 2014 World Cup
By Tom Degun
December 10 – The magnificent new 60,000 capacity Arena Grêmio has opened in Porto Alegre in Brazil despite the fact that it was controversially overlooked for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Manchester United to take on A-League All Stars in pre-season match
By Emily Goddard
December 10 – Manchester United will travel to Sydney to play a friendly match against the Australian A-League All Stars as part of its 2013 preseason tour, it was confirmed today.
We’re taking matches to the fans with pan-continent Euro 2020, says Platini
By Andrew Warshaw
December 10 – UEFA President Michel Platini says the pan-continental 2020 European Championship finals will be a help rather than hindrance for thousands of fans criss-crossing borders.
Bin Hammam to attend Council of Europe FIFA meeting
By Andrew Warshaw
December 9 – Mohamed Bin Hammam, still suspended from world football pending possible fresh sanctions after FIFA-appointed prosecutors completed their inquiry into alleged malpractice by the former head of Asian football, is set to make a rare public appearance in Europe.
Chelsea’s Mikel banned over Clattenburg threats
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – John Mikel Obi, the Chelsea midfielder at the centre of the recent case concerning referee Mark Clattenburg who was cleared of racism, has himself been handed a three-match ban and fined £60,000 ($96,000/€74,000) by the English Football Association (FA) for threatening Clattenburg.
IOC open investigation into South Korean footballer after political protest
By Duncan Mackay at the Palace Hotel in Lausanne
December 7 – A Disciplinary Commission has been set-up by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which could see South Korean footballer Park Jong-woo denied the bronze medal he won at London 2012 for his political protest.
TEAM marketing deal breaks new ground with UEFA
December 7 – UEFA has announced an extension of its long-term marketing partnership with TEAM Marketing.
Bin Hammam ban extended while Garcia report reviewed
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – Twenty four hours before it was due to expire, the latest 45-day suspension of former FIFA vice-president Mohamed Bin Hammam, who has been out of football for 18 months, was again extended today but left open-ended after FIFA-appointed prosecutors completed their investigation into alleged malpractice by the once most powerful figure in Asian football.
Platini’s revolutionary plan for Euro 2020 given go-ahead
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – UEFA President Michel Platini’s revolutionary plan to stage the 2020 European Championship finals in at least 12 cities across the entire Continent was officially approved by his Executive Committee today – though with few additional details.
FIFA gives Indonesia deadline to resolve rifts or face sanctions
By Andrew Warshaw
December 6 – FIFA has given rival Indonesian football factions until Monday (December 10) to end their in-fighting or face suspension from the world game, according to local reports.
FIFA welcomes introduction of goal-line technology
By Andrew Warshaw
December 6 – FIFA has welcomed the introduction of goal-line technology, being rolled out for the first time in official competition at the Club World Cup in Japan starting today.