Blanco surprised by Spain’s early exit from Olympics
By David Gold
July 31 – The President of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco, has admitted his surprise at the men’s football team’s early exit from the London 2012 Olympics.
Olympics
Footballer is second Olympic athlete to be punished for posting racist Twitter remarks
By David Gold
July 31 – Switzerland footballer Michel Morganella has been stripped of his Olympic accreditation after posting a racist message on social networking site Twitter.
Team GB women raise home spirits by reaching Olympic quarter-finals
By Andrew Warshaw
July 28 – On a somewhat disappointing opening day of sport for the host nation, Team GB’s women’s team – playing in their first ever Olympics – bucked the trend by doing their country proud to reach the quarterfinals along with gold medal contenders Brazil, who they play for top spot in Group E on Tuesday (July 31).
Moynihan disagrees with Blatter over Bale ban
By Andrew Warshaw
July 27 – British Olympic Association (BOA) chairman Colin Moynihan has played down suggestions by FIFA President Sepp Blatter that Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale could be banned for pulling out of the Olympics if there was an official complaint that he did so under false pretences.
Late Senegal goal denies Team GB glory at their first London 2012 match
By Andrew Warshaw at Old Trafford in Manchester
July 26 – On the eve of the London 2012 Opening Ceremony and more than half a century after their last appearance at the Olympic football tournament, Britain’s men came within nine agonising minutes of pulling off an historic victory tonight but ultimately ran out of steam as party-poopers Senegal ruined Ryan Giggs’ special night.
Japan deliver first shock of London 2012 men’s football tournament with defeat over Spain
By David Gold
July 26 – Japan caused the first major shock of the men’s Olympic football tournament as they stunned world and European champions Spain with a 1-0 victory at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Cringeworthy match programme error heaps more red-faced humiliation on London 2012
By Andrew Warshaw at Old Trafford in Manchester
July 26 – It may not be have been as humiliating a gaffe as the North Korea flag incident at Hampden Park in Glasgow 24 hours earlier, but organisers of the Olympic football tournament had more red faces today when the official programme for Team GB listed Welsh midfielder Joe Allen as being English.
Bale could be banned for duration of London 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
July 26 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter says Gareth Bale (pictured) could be banned from playing any further friendly matches for his club, Tottenham Hotspur, for the duration of the Olympic Games.
France lose out to USA despite early lead
By David Gold
July 25 – The reigning Olympic champions, the United States, were given an almighty scare by France in their opening match of defending their women’s football title, but eventually came through to register a 4-2 win at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
North Korea in first diplomatic row of London 2012 after wrong flag was displayed
By David Gold
July 25 – The opening day of sport at London 2012 has sparked a row with North Korea after the South Korean flag was mistakenly displayed prior to their women’s football opener against Colombia at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Team GB women’s football squad make history with victory at Olympic debut
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – Global attention may be focussed on Friday’s Olympic Opening Ceremony but the first competitive action of London 2012 got under way today – not in the capital but at Cardiff ‘s Millennium stadium 150 miles away.
Beckham given role in London 2012 Opening Ceremony
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – David Beckham, controversially left out of the Team GB squad at London 2012, is to be given a cameo role at Friday’s Opening Ceremony – but he will not be lighting the cauldron.
Bale played for Spurs despite quitting Team GB over injury
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – The first major off-the-field controversy surrounding the make-up of the Team GB men’s football team flared up today when it emerged that Welsh star Gareth Bale – who had withdrawn citing injury – played for his club Tottenham Hotspur instead thousands of miles away in Los Angeles.
Brazil’s goalkeeper out of London 2012
By David Gold
July 25 – Rafael Cabral has been forced to withdraw from Brazil’s Olympic men’s football squad with an elbow injury.
FIFA dispute looms as three Gabon players withheld from London 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – Three clubs, two French and one Gabonese, have refused to release players to compete for Gabon at London 2012, putting them on a collision course with FIFA.