Dutch court blocks van Gaal appointment
By David Gold
December 12 – Louis van Gaal’s appointment as a director of Dutch champions Ajax has been suspended by a judge temporarily to give the club’s shareholders a chance to vote on the change.
Europe
Valencia strike deal for work on new stadium to restart
By David Gold
December 12 – Spanish side Valencia have struck a deal with Bankia to allow work to be restarted on their new stadium.
Indictments made in Turkish match fixing scandal
By David Gold
December 7 – Turkish prosecutors have indicted 93 suspects in the match fixing scandal which has rocked the game in the country.
Bulgarian PM wants player of year award scrapped after scooping the prize
By David Gold
December 5 – After winning the Bulgarian player of the year award ahead of Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov (pictured) has called for the abolition of the prize.
Polish Football Association dismiss secretary general as heat remains on Lato
By David Gold
November 30 – Poland’s Football Association (PZPN) has sacked secretary general Zdzislaw Krecina over a corruption scandal that could still bring down the organisation’s head, Grzegorz Lato.
Cruyff and fellow Board members ousted from Ajax
By David Gold
November 29 – Ajax Amsterdam’s members have asked club legend Johan Cruyff, and his four fellow Advisory Board members, to step down from their positions to resolve a bitter dispute between them.
Euro 2012 co-hosts hit by Lato corruption allegations
By David Gold
November 29 – The head of Poland’s Football Association (PZPN), Grzegorz Lato, has promised he will comply with an investigation, triggered by Sports Minister Joana Mucha, which is looking into allegations he was involved in corruption.
Turkey reduces prison sentences for individuals found guilty of match fixing
By David Gold
November 29 – Turkey has decided to reduce the maximum prison term individuals convicted of involvement in match fixing can serve from 12 years to three, as a match fixing scandal continues to be investigated by the country’s Football Federation.
Italian players unite to help ease debt crisis
By David Gold
November 28 – Players competing in the Italian football league are buying more than €100,000 (£86,000/ $134,000) worth of Government bonds as they hope to help alleviate the financial gloom afflicting the debt ridden country.
Combating match fixing is “top priority”, says UEFA general secretary Infantino
By David Gold
November 28 – UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino (pictured) has reiterated the organisation’s commitment to eradicating match fixing from football, calling it their “top priority”.
Wales manager Gary Speed dies
By Andrew Warshaw
November 27 – The football world was plunged into mourning today after Wales manager Gary Speed was found dead at the age of 42 from an apparent suicide.
It’s either van Gaal or Cruyff as decision time approaches for Ajax
By David Gold
November 25 – Dutch giants Ajax will choose between two of the most influential men in the club’s history, Louis van Gaal (pictured) and Johan Cruyff, at a shareholders meeting on December 12, in order to end the internal civil war between the two men’s respective supporters.
Warrant issued for arrest of Portsmouth’s Russian owners
By Andrew Warshaw
November 23 – A European arrest warrant has been issued by Lithuanian prosecutors for the Russian owner of troubled English Championship club Portsmouth.
Johan Cruyff and Edgar Davids play down race row
By David Gold
November 22 – Former Ajax legends Johan Cruyff (pictured) and Edgar Davids, now both members of the club’s Supervisory Board, have played down a race row which emerged this week, but doubts persist over the former’s future at the Dutch champions.
Sarkozy’s secret meetings to encourage Qatari investment in PSG
By David Gold
November 22 – French President Nicolas Sarkozy (pictured left) held a secret meeting with Qatar’s Crown Prince Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani (right) in which he encouraged the gulf state to invest in French football and purchase the then financially troubled Paris St Germain, it has been claimed.