July 31 – Julio Grondona, FIFA’s senior vice-president and arguably the second most powerful man in world football, has died aged 82 after running Argentine football for the past 35 years.
July 23 – In what many are commenting is a backward step, Brazil have as expected turned to Dunga for a second spell in charge of the national team in succession to Luiz Felipe Scolari two weeks after the 7-1 hammering by Germany in the World Cup semi-finals.
By Andrew Warshaw
July 21 – Former World Cup-winning captain Dunga looks set to succeed Luiz Felipe Scolari as Brazil’s national coach following the World Cup host nation’s 7-1 semi-final humiliation against eventual winners Germany.
July 11 – Still reeling from its World Cup humiliation, Brazil now has its most iconic female player demanding greater emphasis on the women’s game in the country.
July 10 – The son of Brazilian legend Pele has begun a 33-year jail sentence for money laundering, according to Brazilian reports.
June 2 – One of Brazilian football legend Pele’s seven children has been sentenced to 33 years in prison for laundering money for drug traffickers. Edson Cholbi Nascimento, known as Edinho, denies the charges, which date from 2005, and will reportedly be allowed to remain free pending appeal.
By David Owen
June 1 – Chile is better known for its copper than its football. So it is fitting that the industry should be providing a rich seam of support for Alexis Sánchez and the rest of the country’s World Cup squad as they make final preparations for Brazil.
May 22 – Fans looking to find the authentic Brazilian football experience in Rio or Sao Paulo at the World Cup this summer should download a couple of digital guides written by Brazilian journalist Qiana Martin and writer of the of www. http://eatsoccer.wordpress.com/ blog.
May 20 – In what is surely one of football’s most bizarre transfers, a first division Bolivian professional side has signed up the country’s 54-year-old president Evo Morales (pictured) to play in midfield at a reported token salary of $213 per month.
By Andrew Warshaw in Jordan
May 14- The demonstrations and street protests that have marred Brazil’s reputation and increased safety fears in the buildup to the World Cup will be aimed more at politicians than football if they are repeated during the tournament.
That was the claim made today at Soccerex Asian Forum by Pitagoras Dytz, a legal adviser to the Brazilian Sports Ministry.
April 21- Embroiled in constant negative headlines about the World Cup, Brazilian football has now been rocked by a shambolic domestic dispute when relegated Portuguesa abandoned their opening game of the new league season after just 17 minutes after a court order ruled they had a right to remain in the top division.
April 17 – Brazilian football has elected a new president – but not until after the World Cup. Jose Maria Marin will be replaced in 2015 by current vice president and sole candidate for the job, Marco Polo Del Nero (pictured).
April 3 – Uruguayan President Jose Mujica has backtracked over his decision to withdraw policing at domestic matches, a move that led to the entire board of national football federation resigning.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 2 – Uruguayan football is in chaos just two months before the World Cup after the entire board of its national association resigned over increasing fan violence. FIFA has yet to comment on the crisis which could potentially threaten Uruguay’s World Cup participation if there is no leadership in place to take the country to Brazil.
February 19 – Sandro Rosell, who dramatically quit as Barcelona president partly over an investigation into last year’s signing of star Brazilian forward Neymar, is reportedly no longer facing unconnected allegations that he benefitted illegally from a friendly match involving the Brazilian national team.