Seiko sign up USA goalkeeper as latest ambassador
By David Gold
April 9 – Hope Solo (pictured), the Olympic gold medal winning goalkeeper of the United States women’s football team, has signed a sponsorship deal with Seiko Watches.
World Football
Gold Coast United axed from A-League and replaced with new Sydney team
By David Gold
April 7 – The Australian Football Federation (FFA) has officially announced that Gold Coast United will be axed from next season’s A-League and replaced with a new team in West Sydney.
Football Dreaming initiative hopes to make recruitment of more indigenous stars a reality in Australia
By David Gold
April 6 – The Australian Football Federation (FFA) has launched an initiative designed to encourage more indigenous Australians to take up the sport.
Ginola slander suit thrown out of French court
By David Gold
April 6 – Former France winger David Ginola (pictured) has lost his defamation and slander case against former national team coach Gérard Houllier over comments made following a World Cup 1994 qualifier.
Spartak Moscow owner vows to stamp out racism at Russian games
By David Gold
April 5 – Spartak Moscow is creating a programme to help tackle racism and anti-semitism in Russian football, its owner Leonid Fedun has revealed.
Former director Paul Murray among four final bidders for Rangers
By Andrew Warshaw
April 5 – The administrators trying to save Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers received four “best and final” bids from prospective new buyers for the ailing club by the deadline yesterday.
Porto hit with €20,000 fine after Balotelli racism incident
By Andrew Warshaw
April 4 – UEFA have fined Porto €20,000 (£17,000/$26,000) after a section of fans racially abused Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli during a Europa League game in February.
Somalia’s Olympic and football bosses killed in Mogadishu suicide bomb
By Andrew Warshaw
April 4 – The heads of Somalia’s Olympic Committee and football federation were among at least seven people killed today in a suicide bomb blast in the capital Mogadishu.
FA Women’s Super League kicks off with Team GB London 2012 places up for grabs
By Andrew Warshaw
April 4 – The second English Football Association (FA) Women’s Super League (WSL) season gets under way this weekend in what is being showcased as an ideal opportunity to fight for Team GB places at London 2012.
Neymar set to be Brazil’s highest earner after signing landmark deal with Volkswagen
By David Gold
April 3 – Brazilian wonderkid Neymar (pictured centre) is to be the best paid player in the recent history of the country’s football who has not moved to Europe, after he agreed a new sponsorship deal with car giant Volkswagen.
FIFA to step up heart screening following Fabrice Muamba’s cardiac arrest
By Andrew Warshaw
April 3 – FIFA are stepping up their research into heart screening following the cardiac arrest suffered by Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba by setting up a worldwide database to help prevent similar cases.
Former FAI President Louis Kilcoyne loses battle to illness
By David Gold
April 3 – Louis Kilcoyne, the former President of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and also a previous vice-president of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), has died at the age of 69 following a short illness.
Havelange to leave intensive care after responding well to treatment
By David Gold
April 3 – Former FIFA President João Havelange (pictured) is to leave intensive care at the Samaritano Hospital in Rio de Janeiro where he has been treated for an infection.
Exclusive: Eastern European clubs buy league positions, claims FIFPro official
By Andrew Warshaw
April 3 – Clubs in Eastern Europe are deliberately rigging domestic matches in order to “buy” where they finish in the league at the end of the season, according the boss of the international players union, FIFPro.
Andrea Masiello arrested in Bari match fixing investigation
By Andrew Warshaw
April 2 – Yet another serious match fixing episode, this time in Italy, moved on apace today when Atalanta defender Andrea Masiello (pictured) was arrested in connection with last season’s scandal in Serie A.