By Tom Degun in London
July 20 – West Ham United’s hopes of taking over the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games today received a major boost from the owners of Westfield, who are building a new multi-million shoping centre in the shadow of the arena.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 19 – FIFA’s team of inspectors arrived in Japan today to begin evaluating the candidates for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup but were unexpectedly missing Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of South Africa 2010, who had been expected to be part of the delegation.
July 19 – Bosnia’s Football Federation (NS/FSBIH) was threatened today with exclusion from international competitions as it has failed to adopt statute changes requested by FIFA and UEFA.
July 19 – British bookmaker William Hill is currently in talks with La Liga club Malaga, following reports that the their sponsorship deal with the club is to be terminated.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 19 – Mohamed Bin Hammam, the President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), will told talks with Chinese Vice-Sports Minister Cui Dalin in Beijing tomorrow with the prospect of a bid from China for the 2026 World Cup set to be top of the agenda.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 19 – A team of FIFA inspectors will today begin its marathon global trip of assessing the nine candidates bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups when it lands in Japan.
July 19 – A delegation from the Irish Football Association (IFA) will today travel to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne to lay out their case in the ongoing eligibility case against the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and FIFA, which Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington claims is exploiting them.
July 17 – Fabio Capello found himself at the centre of a new row today after his controversial “Capello Index”, which rates the performances at players at the World Cup, was published on the internet without his permission.
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July 17 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has convened a special meeting to work out the qualifying system for the African Nations Cup to be staged in Libya in 2013.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 16 – Chelsea chairman Roman Abramovich has stepped in to pay the remaining 95 million rubles (£2 million/$3 million) salary of former Russian coach Guus Hiddink to avoid a damaging legal action which could have overshadowed the country’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
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July 15 – A new independent chairman will not be appointed by the Football Association until after the bid process for the 2018 World Cup in December is finished, the Executive Board decided today.
July 16 – Members of the Dutch Lower House are demanding to know precisely what it will mean for the country if the Netherlands and Belgium host the World Cup in 2018.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 16 – A potentially damaging new development for the four countries from Asia bidding for the 2022 World Cup has emerged after China announced today that they want to host the 2026 tournament.
July 16 – Everton’s manager David Moyes (pictured) has provided a boost for Australia’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup after backing their chances.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 15 – FIFA has imposed strict new rules on the nine countries lobbying for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup, including making the bidders explain in writing before they are allowed to talk to any of the 24 Executive Committee members who will vote on the decision.