Exclusive: England demands apology over Sorokin comments
By David Owen in Zurich
October 26 – England 2018 has made a formal complaint to FIFA about its arch-rival, the Russian bid.
World Cup
Exclusive: Zen-Ruffinen admits meeting undercover reporters “a lot of times”
By David Owen in Zurich
October 25 – Michel Zen-Ruffinen (pictured right), the former FIFA general secretary who has emerged as the latest source of explosive allegations in the World Cup bidding race, met the Sunday Times’ undercover reporters “quite a lot of times” over two-and-a-half months, he has told insideworldfootball.
Former FIFA secretary general caught up in corruption scandal
By Andrew Warshaw
October 23 – The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has spiralled out of control tonight after further dramatic revelations in the Sunday Times that named Spain/Portugal and Qatar as allegedly agreeing to trade block votes and quoted a former FIFA boss as saying he knew the names of officials who were willing to take bribes.
World Cup bidders warned to stay away from disgraced pair
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 22 – Football’s world governing body has ordered the nine contenders bidding to stage the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 not to make contact with the two suspended Executive Committee members while they are under investigation for alleged bribery.
“I’ve done nothing wrong,” insists Adamu
By Andrew Warshaw
October 22 – Amos Adamu (pictured), the Nigerian official provisionally suspended by FIFA over bribery allegations, broke his silence today by insisting he had done nothing wrong.
World Cup bid teams impose news blackout over corruption scandal
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 21 – The bid teams of Spain/Portugal and Qatar imposed a total news blackout today as reports named them as the countries being investigated by FIFA as part of the explosive 2018 and 2022 World Cup corruption scandal.
FIFA suspend Executive Committee members in vote for cash scandal
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 20 – The two high-ranking FIFA officials at the heart of the World Cup cash-for-votes scandal were sensationally suspended today following allegations of corruption within football’s world governing body.
Remarks about London “wrongly interpreted” says Sorokin
By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – The head of Russia’s 2018 World Cup bid has sought to distance himself from western press reports quoting him as denigrating aspects of society in England – Russia’s main rivals for 2018 – insisting he was misinterpreted.
Russian World Cup bid chief Sorokin blasts London’s “high crime and alcohol consumption”
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – Russia could be the latest country to face accusations of breaking FIFA’s strict code of ethics in the latest row to undermine bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
World Cup corruption scandal grows with bidding countries now under investigation
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 18 – At least two of the nine bidding candidates for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup were sensationally placed under formal examination for alleged collusion today as the cash-for-votes probe intensified.
Exclusive: Disgraced FIFA Executive Committee members facing sack
By Andrew Warshaw
October 17 – Football’s world governing body is coming under mounting pressure to sack the two senior executives at the heart of the votes-for-cash World Cup scandal.
Corruption claims against World Cup voters
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
October 16 – Two members of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee have allegedly offered to sell their votes to the United States in the battle to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, it was reported tonight.
USA withdraws from race to stage 2018 World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
October 15 – The United States has finally withdrawn from the race to stage the 2018 World Cup and will exclusively focus on the 2022 campaign along with Australia, Qatar, Japan and South Korea.
Australia “almost scrapped World Cup bid” after row over stadium
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 15 – Australia came close to scrapping its 2022 World Cup bid because of a festering row over using Melbourne’s world-famous stadium. Read more …
Russia World Cup has “very big” chance predicts Putin
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
October 14 – Russia has a “very big” chance of beating England to win its bid to host the 2018 World Cup, the country’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin predicted today.