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.
World Football
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.
IOC have “disrespected” Africa over Hayatou reprimand, claim CAF
By David Gold
December 10 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed its disappointment at the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to reprimand its President Issa Hayatou for allegedly accepting payments from FIFA’s former marketing partner ISL.
Jordaan withdraws from race to take over as head of COSAFA
By Andrew Warshaw
December 9 – South Africa’s World Cup organiser Danny Jordaan dramatically pulled out of the race to lead the sport in Southern Africa leaving Suketu Patel of the Seychelles to be re-elected for a second term.
FIFA vice-president Prince Ali wades in on match fixing debacle
By Andrew Warshaw
December 8 – FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein is the latest high-profile figure to stress the need to eradicate match fixing.
CFU general secretary Kanhai resigns due to “pressures”
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – Angenie Kanhai (pictured), general secretary of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) who is understood to have helped FIFA in its investigation of the cash-for-votes scandal, is resigning in the face of “emotional, psychological and physical” pressure.
Jordaan takes on Patel for top COSAFA role
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – Danny Jordaan (pictured), organiser of last year’s World Cup in South Africa, goes head to head with a single rival on Friday (December 9) in a bid to get back into the footballing spotlight and oversee the game in southern Africa.
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.
Goal-line technology could be used from 2012-2013, says FIFA President
By Andrew Warshaw
December 6 – At least two goal-line technology systems have proved themselves sufficiently accurate and could be in place by the start of next season, FIFA President Sepp Blatter has revealed.
FIFA’s publication of ISL file delayed
By David Owen
December 6 – Sepp Blatter (pictured) has suffered a new setback in his drive to reform world football’s governing body.
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.
Senegal, Gabon, Egypt and Morocco remain in battle for London 2012 spots
By David Gold
December 5 – Four African teams remain in the hunt for a place at the London 2012 Olympic Games football tournament, with Senegal facing Gabon and Egypt taking on hosts Morocco in the crucial semi-finals.
Messi tipped for third successive Ballon D’Or
By David Gold
December 5 – Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (pictured right) is in line for his third successive FIFA Ballon D’Or award after being confirmed on the final three-man shortlist alongside Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) and team mate Xavi (left).
Court of Arbitration for Sport set date for Bin Hammam hearing
By Andrew Warshaw
December 5 – Beleaguered former Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam will have the first of his two appeal hearings on January 23 at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Brazil’s 1982 World Cup captain Sócrates dies
By David Gold
December 4 – Sócrates, one of the world’s greatest midfielders and Brazil’s captain at the 1982 World Cup, has died in a São Paulo hospital at the age of 57, casting a shadow over the final weekend of the Brazilian Championship.