New Aussie A-League outfit Western Sydney Wanderers unveiled
By David Gold
June 26 – New Australian A-League team Western Sydney Wanderers has been officially launched at a media event at the Parramatta Stadium.
World Football
CAS undermines FFP as it lifts Bursaspor’s UEFA ban
By Andrew Warshaw
June 25 – UEFA’s hopes of imposing Financial Fair Play (FFP) sanctions against clubs who fail to balance the books have suffered a potentially damaging blow after Turkish club Bursaspor won a shock appeal against being banned from playing in Europe for failing to pay transfer fees.
Warner appointed Minister of National Security in Trinidad and Tobago
By Andrew Warshaw
June 25 – The cash-for-votes scandal that led to former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner resigning in disgrace from all footballing activities is clearly having no effect on his political career after he was appointed Minister of National Security in his native Trinidad and Tobago.
FFA to improve elite footballer development after review
By Tom Degun
June 22 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) has revealed its plan to help develop and improve elite male football players in the country after releasing the outcomes of their National Competition Review (NCR).
Mascot named for 2012 Under-17 Women’s World Cup
By Tom Degun
June 22 – The mascot for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan later this year has been officially named the “Top Top Girl” following a nationwide competition to decide what she would be called.
Exclusive: UEFA “hopping mad” at FIFA’s decision to allow Kosovo partial informal status
By Andrew Warshaw
June 22 – FIFA and UEFA are on a collision course over whether to allow Kosovo the right to play international matches, with European officials furious at what they see as a clear attempt by the world governing body to undermine their regulations.
Rangers deny Bury takeover
By Andrew Warshaw
June 21 – Debt-ridden Scottish giants Rangers have denied a report that they plan to re-emerge as an English club by taking over third-tier team Bury.
Drogba heads to Shanghai
By David Owen
June 21 – Didier Drogba, the Ivorian striker who starred in Chelsea’s recent European Champions League victory, has confirmed his long-expected move to Shanghai Shenhua of China.
Socceroos’ first captain honoured with retrospective awarding of cap number one
By Stuart Newman
June 21 – The first ever captain of Australia’s national football team, the late Alex Gibb, has been honoured in a special ceremony during the recent FIFA 2014 World Cup Asian qualifying match between the hosts and Japan in Brisbane, which ended 1-1.
Detained Palestinian player ends hunger strike in exchange for release
By Andrew Warshaw
June 21 – Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak, who has been on hunger strike in protest at being held in an Israeli jail without charge, has agreed to resume eating in exchange for early release, according to his lawyer.
Goal-line technology is no longer an alternative but a necessity, insists Blatter
By Andrew Warshaw
June 20 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has renewed his call for the introduction of goal-line technology following Ukraine’s disallowed goal in the 1-0 defeat by England that saw the joint hosts tumbling out of the 2012 European Championship.
Italy hands out point deductions and five-year bans to match-fixers
By Andrew Warshaw
June 20 – Italy may have progressed to the last eight of the 2012 European Championship but off the field the image of the game has taken another damaging blow after the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced it had upheld newly promoted Pescara’s two-point deduction and banned four players for five years over the country’s match-fixing scandal.
Official Draw Ceremony date set for 2012 under-17 Women’s World Cup
By Tom Degun
June 20 – Azerbaijan 2012 has revealed that the Official Draw Ceremony for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup will take place on July 6 at the International Mugam Centre (pictured) in Baku.
FIFA extends worldwide match-fixing sanctions
By Andrew Warshaw
June 19 – FIFA today extended worldwide a series of sanctions meted out to 13 individuals from South Korea and Croatia related to match-fixing.
SPL clubs to decide fate of new Rangers
By Andrew Warshaw
June 19 – Scottish Premier League (SPL) clubs will vote on Wednesday, July 4 on whether to admit Glasgow giants Rangers into the top flight of domestic football under their new guise.