By David Owen
November 11 – Keenly-awaited reports on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids are set to be dispatched to FIFA Executive Committee members tomorrow as the battle to host one of the world’s biggest sporting occasions heads for a dramatic denouement, insideworldfootball has learnt.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 10 – The contents of an infamous hand-written note could hold the key to Spain-Portugal and Qatar being exonerated of any World Cup bidding collusion next week.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 10 – The United States’ bid for the 2022 World Cup has received a jolt with the revelation that one of its own confederation members on FIFA”s Executive Committee may not vote for it.
November 9 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter today claimed that if Korea hosted the 2022 World Cup it had the potential to unite the divided northern and southern halves of the country.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – Former President Bill Clinton will be the United States’ chief figurehead at next month’s World Cup vote in Zurich.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 8 – While all manner of allegation and counter-allegation are going on around him, Japan’s 2022 World Cup bid executive director Yuichiro Nakajima is trying to stay cool and keep things clean.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 31 – The two World Cup bid candidates under investigation for alleged vote collusion are almost certain to avoid serious punishment.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
October 30 – Russian officials have angrily hit back at new accusations by the Sunday Times that they had offered inducements to secure Amos Adamu’s vote before the FIFA Executive Committee member was suspended.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
October 29 - FIFA President Sepp Blatter admitted for the first time today that it was the wrong decision to stage a double vote for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups - but said the organisation had no choice but to proceed on schedule despite a string of corruption allegations.
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By David Owen
October 28 – FIFA has set its face against postponing its votes on either the 2018 or the 2022 World Cup hosts, insideworldfootball has learnt.
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By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
October 28 – Russia’s 2018 World Cup bid leader today called for an end to the war of words with England and urged both nations to bury their differences.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
October 28 – World football’s governing body is locked in painstaking discussions about whether to split the dates for deciding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts - or postpone the December 2 vote altogether.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
October 27 – The verbal spat between England and Russia over their fight for the 2018 World Cup took on yet another twist tonight when England were blasted as being “absolutely primitive” for making a formal complaint to FIFA about their chief rival’s behaviour.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
October 27 – Australia appear to have won the crucial vote of Frank Beckenbauer ahead of their four rivals in the race to stage the 2022 World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
October 27 – As the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup becomes increasingly embroiled in corruption allegations and tit-for-tat spats, Australia are endeavouring to play it by the book, hoping the strategy ends up working in their favour.