April 22 – Brazil’s iconic Maracanã took a step closer to readiness this weekend with a sound and lighting test. The stadium is now 97% ready with just some seating to be installed.
19 April – Security fears surrounding next year’s World Cup have increased after two fans were shot dead near one of the new stadia being used for the tournament.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 12 – Brazil’s iconic Maracana stadium, plagued by setbacks since the start of reconstruction work, will stage its first test game on April 27 between teams representing two of Brazil’s greatest players – Ronaldo and Bebeto – and featuring some of the workers who helped rebuild the famous venue.
By Mark Baber
April 5 – The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday finally lifted sanctions on Colombian professional team America de Cali, saying it has severed links to leaders of the Cali drug cartel.
By Mark Baber
April 4 – Congressman Romario has been stepping up his attacks on Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Jose Maria Marin (pictured) over his alleged links to the country’s former military dictatorship.
By Mark Baber
March 25 – An unusual 8-day, 3-match deal between Chinese automaker Chery and Brazilian club Santos concluded yesterday after the Palmeiras-Santos game.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 13 – Just as his club were staging one of their greatest comebacks to take their customary place in the Champions League quarterfinals, Barcelona president Sandro Rosell (pictured) found himself at the centre of possible fraud charges in Brazil.
By Mark Baber
February 25 – Corinthians are appealing the penalties imposed by CONMEBOL on the club after the tragic death of 14-year-old Bolivian fan Kevin Beltran Espada, who was struck by a flare allegedly thrown by travelling Corinthians supporters.
January 30 – Julio Grondona, president of the Argentinean Football Federation (AFA) has said he will step down from the AFA presidency in 2015, at the end of his current term.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 11 – Nicolás Leoz, the 84-year-old President of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), is recovering in hospital in São Paulo following heart surgery.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 8 – The sister of Brazil’s Zenit St Petersburg striker Hulk has been reunited with her family after being kidnapped for 24 hours.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 1 – Brazil’s former FIFA President João Havelange has launched a scathing attack on national team coach Mano Menezes and has called on Felipe Scolari to return to the helm.
By David Gold
September 20 – Brazilian defender Luisão has been handed a global ban from football for two months by FIFA following an incident in a pre-season friendly.
By David Gold
September 15 – Uruguayan forward Sebastián Abreu has served the one-match suspension handed to him by a Brazilian sports tribunal after provoking Flamengo supporters during a Brazilian league game.
By David Gold
September 13 – Legendary Brazilian forward Romário, now a Congressman in Brazil’s Parliament, has accused the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and national team coach Mano Menezes of using international matches to promote players for their own benefit.