UEFA to work with Interpol to prevent match-fixing and violence
By Andrew Warshaw
January 12 – UEFA are following FIFA’s lead by linking up with Interpol to clamp down both on match fixing and stadium violence.
World Football
SAFA chief calls for CAF to align with European football calendar
By Emily Goddard
January 12 – Robin Petersen (pictured), the chief executive of the South African Football Association (SAFA), has revealed that his organisation is partnering with the Premier Soccer League (PSL) to urge the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to adhere with the European footballing calendar.
Exclusive: I’d still like to see the Olympic Stadium involve football, says BOA chair Moynihan
By Andrew Warshaw
January 13 – British Olympic Association (BOA) chairman Colin Moynihan says it is still preferable that football plays a vital part in the use of the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games to prevent it becoming a white elephant.
Former UEFA chief Johansson calls for investigation into Blatter corruption allegations
By Andrew Warshaw
January 11 – Lennart Johansson (pictured), the former UEFA chief humbled by Sepp Blatter for the Presidency of FIFA 14 years ago, has called for an independent investigation into allegations that Blatter promised to sell World Cup television rights in return for election backing.
Anguilla’s Damien Hughes revealed as CFU acting general secretary
By Andrew Warshaw
January 11 – Damien Hughes has been appointed acting general secretary of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) by the Steering Committee attempting to restore the credibility of the entire region.
Israeli soccer is clean, insists IFA boss Luzon
By Andrew Warshaw
January 11 – The boss of Israeli football Avraham Luzon (pictured) insists the country is not one of those caught up in the scourge of global match fixing.
Russia to make match-fixing a criminal offence
By Duncan Mackay
January 11 – Match-fixing will be a criminal offence under new legislation set to be put before the Russian Parliament, the country’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has revealed.
Players have been killed, admits FIFA’s head of security as war against match fixing continues
By Andrew Warshaw
January 10 – FIFA’s head of security has once again cranked up the publicity machine in the war against match fixing with fresh evidence of the scale of the problem worldwide.
French football says ‘Allo’ to the pink Puma
By David Owen
January 10 – You cannot help but admire the boldness of some of sports goods company Puma’s football initiatives.
Messi wins third straight Ballon d’Or award
By Andrew Warshaw
January 9 – Argentina and Barcelona wizard Lionel Messi as expected was crowned World Player of the Year at a glittering FIFA gala in Zurich tonight – picking up the Ballon d’Or award for the third year running.
British Parliamentary Committee to investigate racism in football
By Duncan Mackay
January 10 – A British Parliamentary Committee is investigate whether enough is being done to combat racism in football after incidents involving high-profile players, including England and Chelsea captain John Terry.
Exclusive: Webb in line to take up CONCACAF Presidency
By Andrew Warshaw
January 9 – Jeff Webb (pictured right with Sepp Blatter), the man leading the effort to put Caribbean football back on its feet after months of scandal, is also being lined up as the next President of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) to replace controversial former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.
Police investigation launched after SPL footballer suffers racist abuse on Twitter
By Tom Degun
January 9 – Police have launched an investigation after Scottish Premier League (SPL) player Grégory Tadé (pictured) suffered racist abuse on the social media site Twitter.
I’d like to see Redknapp in charge of England after Euro 2012, says Sir Clive Woodward
By Alan Hubbard
January 8 – Sir Clive Woodward (pictured) has joined the call for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Redknapp to become the England football manager after Euro 2012.
Blatter’s reform programme is self-seeking, says investigative journalist trio
By Andrew Warshaw
January 9 – Three investigative journalists who have been probing FIFA conduct over a number of years have spelled out why they have snubbed an offer to take part in Sepp Blatter’s reform programme.