Barcelona’s Sandro Rossell asks UEFA for agents’ fee reforms
By David Gold
December 28 – Barcelona President Sandro Rosell wants UEFA to reform agents’ fees and says that players should themselves cover such costs.
World Football
Football League announces Prostate Cancer Charity partnership
By David Gold
December27 – The Football League has announced The Prostate Cancer Charity as its official charity partner for 2012-2013.
No celebrations as Australia’s Football Federation reaches 100 years
By David Gold
December 26 – Australia’s football pioneers have been acclaimed at the 100th anniversary of the formation of the country’s national governing body.
Wambach becomes first footballer to claim AP Athlete of the Year prize
By David Gold
December 25 – American star Abby Wambach has become the first footballer to win the Associated Press Athlete of the Year prize after her performances at the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany.
Russian billionaire buys controlling stake in troubled AS Monaco
By David Gold
December 23 – AS Monaco were given a timely boost when Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev acquired a controlling stake in the struggling Principality club.
Horace Burrell to be appointed at CFU despite cash-for-votes scandal
By Andrew Warshaw
December 23 – Horace Burrell, the most high-profile Caribbean official sanctioned over the cash-for-votes scandal that led to the downfall of Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner, is to take up a prominent position in a revamped Caribbean Football Union (CFU).
Guinness agrees two-year extension of Nigeria sponsorship
By David Gold
December 22 – Guinness has signed a two-year extension to its sponsorship of Nigerian football and hopes that its support can help restore the fortunes of the national team.
Phone call settles French race row
By David Gold
December 22 – It may have been with a phone call rather than a handshake, but Auxerre midfielder Kamel Chafni and French assistant referee Johann Perruaux have done as FIFA President Sepp Blatter advised, and settled a race row between themselves after a league game.
Manchester United launches Mumbai Soccer School
By David Gold
December 21 – Manchester United has launched a soccer school in Mumbai, India, after linking up with the Western India Football Association (WIFA).
Sydney FC deny knowledge of match fixing as Chinese referee admits accepting bribes
By Andrew Warshaw
December 21 – The ongoing global crackdown on match-fixing has now reached Australia where Sydney FC have denied any knowledge of wrongdoing after a Chinese referee confessed in court to accepting bribes, one of them involving the club, whilst another was to fix a friendly involving Manchester United.
Sevilla President Del Nido given seven year prison sentence
By David Gold
December 20 – The Sevilla President, Jose Maria del Nido, has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of involvement in the embezzlement of public funds.
Exclusive: European clubs abort club versus country row peace talks
By Andrew Warshaw
December 20 – European clubs have called off a potentially ground-breaking peace deal with FIFA and UEFA that would have paved the way for easing the club-versus-country war after years of acrimony between the various parties.
Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales look to Scotland to reduce Carling Nations Cup fees
By David Gold
December 19 – Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are hoping to come to agreement with Scotland over their fees for the Carling Nations Cup tournament, which took place earlier this year, and avoid bringing FIFA into the dispute.
Doni arrested again in latest Italian match fixing probe
By David Gold
December 19 – Former Italy midfielder Cristiano Doni, who was banned from football for three-and-a-half years earlier in 2011, has been arrested today by police investigating another match fixing and betting scandal in the country.
Under investigation Nicholas takes up FIFA anti-corruption role
By Andrew Warshaw
December 19 – Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) general secretary Tai Nicholas has been given a prominent place on one of FIFA’s four new anti-corruption platforms despite facing contempt proceedings from the Fijian Government.