Exclusive: Two Brazil 2014 World Cup stadiums in “critical situation” warn FIFA
By David Owen
March 31 – Two 2014 World Cup stadiums are struggling to meet FIFA’s construction deadline, world football’s governing body has indicated.
News
England need to rediscover “fighting spirit” claims Bierhoff
By Andrew Warshaw in Manchester
March 31 – England will never produce a winning national team unless they stop concentrating on short-term club success and adopt the German model of youth development.
Exclusive: Liverpool are one of “top three or four clubs in the world” players want to sign for
By Andrew Warshaw in Manchester
March 31 – Liverpool do not need to qualify for the Champions League in order to attract world-class players and rekindle past glories, their managing director Ian Ayre pledged today.
Newcastle aim for Europe despite financial losses
By David Gold
March 31 – Newcastle United have insisted that the club remains intent on re-establishing itself as a European contender despite recording a loss after player trading of £17.1 million ($27.4 million) for the year ending June 2010.
Brazil assures FIFA that Sao Paolo and Rio will be ready for Confederations Cup
By David Gold
March 31 – FIFA has been assured that São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro will be ready to host games at the 2013 Confederations Cup by Brazil Football Confederation President Ricardo Teixeira (pictured).
I’ll be back soon, says Toure
By Andrew Warshaw in Manchester
March 31 – Manchester City defender Kolo Toure made an unscheduled appearance at the Soccerex conference in Manchester today but refused to discuss the positive drugs test that has kept him out of action.
Loopholes in UEFA fair play rules must be “closed off” warn Liverpool
By Andrew Warshaw in Manchester
March 30 – UEFA’s new financial fair play rules will be “killed” unless sanctions are applied properly against clubs who break the rules and all loopholes are closed off, Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre warned today.
British footballers should defy politicians and play at London 2012 says Friedel
By Andrew Warshaw in Manchester
March 30 – American goalkeeper Brad Friedel today entered the debate over a unified British football team for next year’s London Olympics by saying it would be a “travesty” if players were denied the chance to compete.
UEFA admit to concerns over hooliganism and infrastructure for Euro 2012 finals
By Andrew Warshaw in Manchester
March 30 – European football’s governing body admitted today that recent outbreaks of hooliganism involving Polish fans did not augur well for the 2012 European Championship finals, and that some of the infrastructure in Ukraine may not be ready on time.
Madrid court ruling averts La Liga strike
By David Gold
March 30 – The proposed strike of La Liga games for this weekend has been averted after a Madrid court upheld a challenge by six of the league’s clubs, Sevilla, Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Espanyol and Real Zaragoza.
Tottenham launch legal challenge over Olympic Stadium decision
By David Gold
March 30 – Tottenham Hotspur have launched a legal challenge to the decision to give the 2012 Olympic stadium to Premier League rivals West Ham after the conclusion of the London Olympics.
FIFA and UEFA take on in match betting
By David Gold
March 30 – FIFA and UEFA have warned that they will clamp down on match fixing in friendly games by restricting in-game betting.
Iran and Iraq to meet in Olympic qualifier at London 2012
By David Gold
March 30 – Iraq and Iran will go head to head in the second round of the qualifiers for the London 2012 Olympic men’s football tournament after the draw was made today.
Beckenbauer calls for investment as 1860 Munich face bankruptcy
By David Gold
March 29 – Bayern Munich President Franz Beckenbauer has spoken of his hope that investment can be found to save the club’s city rivals 1860 from insolvency.
Bosnia facing international football ban
By David Gold
March 29 – Bosnia faces the prospect of being suspended from international football as they refuse to comply with FIFA and UEFA requests to cut the number of its Presidents from three to one.