Beckenbauer calls for increase in handshaking
By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – German football legend Franz Beckenbauer says players should do more handshaking in order to improve sportsmanship.
Premier League
Olympic architect unmasked as man who scuppered West Ham United Stadium deal
By Andrew Warshaw
February 16 – Steve Lawrence (pictured), the architect who who wrote the original masterplan for the London Olympics and Paralympics, has identified himself as the mystery figure behind the anonymous complaint to the European Union Commission which scuppered West Ham United’s hopes of moving to the Olympic Stadium after the Games.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp cleared of tax evasion charges
By Andrew Warshaw
February 8 – Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp (pictured), who has spent the last two weeks in the glare of publicity for alleged tax evasion, was today cleared of all charges.
Manchester United strikes three year sponsorship deal with Globul
By Andrew Warshaw
February 8 – Manchester United have signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with Bulgarian telecommunications company Globul, offering the club’s fans in the eastern European country mobile phone access to exclusive news and interviews.
Liverpool extend travel partnership with Thomas Cook Sport
By David Gold
February 7 – Liverpool have extended a partnership with their official travel partner Thomas Cook Sport until 2015, as the club look to attract more overseas fans to Anfield.
It’s like someone gave us the keys and changed the locks, says West Ham’s Brady over Olympic Stadium debacle
By David Gold
February 6 – West Ham vice chair Karren Brady (pictured) has said the club is still committed to a move to the Olympic Stadium.
Former London 2012 marketing executive forced out at Tottenham Hotspur
By Andrew Warshaw
February 2 – Tottenham Hotspur executive director Charlie Wijeratna, hired little more than a year ago from London 2012 with a brief to bring in fresh sponsorship, has left the club.
Chelsea achieve record turnover and reduce losses
By David Gold
February 1 – Chelsea have reduced their annual losses to £67.7 million (€80 million/$106 million) for the year ending June 30, 2011, largely thanks to record turnover of £222 million (€266 million/$357 million).
London Mayor Boris Johnson urges Tottenham to move on with new ground development
By Andrew Warshaw
February 1 – Tottenham Hotspur, whose battle to move into the Olympic Stadium was abandoned last year following a bitter wrangle, have been urged by London Mayor Boris Johnson (pictured) to press ahead with a new ground in their own back yard after the parties struck a fresh £27 million ($43 million/€33 million) funding agreement.
West Ham among 16 interested in London 2012 Olympic Stadium as deadline passes
By David Gold
January 31 – There have been 16 expressions of interest from parties interested in moving to the Olympic Stadium after London 2012, including one from West Ham United, insideworldfootball understands.
QPR and Chelsea put racism claims behind them for FA Cup fourth round tie
By David Gold
January 25 – Queens Park Rangers chairman Tony Fernandes (pictured) and his Chelsea counterpart Bruce Buck have issued a joint statement calling on supporters to make their FA Cup fourth round tie on Saturday (January 28) “a celebration of football”, following the racism allegations made against John Terry when the teams last met.
Harry Redknapp in the dock over tax evasion allegations
By Andrew Warshaw
January 23 – Harry Redknapp (pictured), the most successful English club manager of recent years and the man favoured to succeed Fabio Capello as England boss after Euro 2012, appeared in court today to face accusations of tax evasion.
Liverpool deny pricing themselves out of adidas sponsorship deal
By Andrew Warshaw
January 20 – Liverpool have responded to a claim from the adidas chief executive, Herbert Hainer, that the club priced themselves out of a new kit deal by saying they could soon be worth £300 million ($464 million/€359 million).
Liverpool lose adidas deal after poor performances on the pitch
By Andrew Warshaw
January 17 – Adidas, the world’s second biggest sporting goods manufacturer, decided not to renew its kit deal with Liverpool partly because the club were not being successful enough on the pitch.
West Ham United refusing to commit themselves to Olympic Stadium move
By David Gold
January 16 – Championship club West Ham United insist that they have not yet decided whether to bid again to apply to move into the Olympic Stadium after London 2012, and say that they will remain at Upton Park rather than pursue a third option if they do not make the move.