Celtic quartet approached about Team GB football team for London 2012
By David Gold
January 3 – A quartet of Celtic’s women’s team have been approached to play for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games next year.
World Tournaments
Ukraine to reveal cultural events programme for Euro 2012
By David Gold
December29 – Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, Borys Kolesnikov (pictured), has said that the cultural events and programme which will be held during the European Championships next summer will likely be revealed in March.
Olympique Lyonnais want Stade des Lumières to host Euro 2016 opener
By David Gold
December 27 – Olympique Lyonnais President, Jean-Michel Aulas, wants the club’s new stadium to host the opening game of the 2016 European Championships in France.
Gabon completes 2012 African Cup of Nations stadia
By David Gold
December 27 – Gabon has completed construction of two new stadiums in Libreville and Franceville for the 2012 African Cup of Nations, which gets underway on January 21, a Gabonese member of the Organising Committee told insideworldfootball.
African Nations Cup preparations disrupted for Senegal and Equatorial Guinea
By David Gold
December 26 – Ahead of next month’s African Nations Cup, Group A rivals Senegal and Equatorial Guinea, who co-host the tournament with Gabon, are in turmoil due to political disputes over their national coaches.
Neil Lennon won’t prevent London 2012 Olympic call-ups
By David Gold
December 23 – Celtic manager Neil Lennon has revealed that Scott Brown, James Forrest and Adam Matthews have been lined up to play for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games and says he will not stand in their way if they are selected and want to go.
Japan release stamps to mark Women’s World Cup victory
By David Gold
December 21 – Japan is releasing a set of stamps to commemorate the country’s victory in the Women’s World Cup during the summer.
Moynihan backs Pearce’s London 2012 selection policy
By Andrew Warshaw
December 19 – British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan has given his backing to the decision that no players selected for England’s squad for the European Championship finals next summer will double up for Team GB at London 2012.
Wenger won’t stop players competing at London 2012
By David Gold
December 18 – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has indicated that he will not prevent his players from competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games next year, despite having previously stated his opposition to their participation.
Rooney set to miss out on Olympics after Pearce rules out Euro 2012 squad
By Duncan Mackay
December 16 – Wayne Rooney seems set to miss out on the opportunity of playing in next year’s Olympics after Stuart Pearce confirmed he will not select any player for Team GB at London 2012 if they have been part of the England squad for the European Championships.
Rangers and Celtic managers disagree over Team GB football involvement
By David Gold
December 15 – With a host of Celtic and Rangers players expressing their desire to play in the Great Britain football team at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the managers of the two teams, respectively Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist, are in disagreement over their involvement next summer.
Staging Women’s World Cup would help Japan recover from disaster claims Blatter
By Duncan Mackay in Tokyo
December 15 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has encouraged Japan to bid for the 2019 Women’s World Cup to help aid the country’s recovery from the devastating earthquake and tsuanmi which devastated it earlier this year.
Team GB begins recruiting footballers for London 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
December 14 – Hundreds of professional footballers from across Britain are being invited to state in writing whether or not they would be prepared to take part in Team GB at the London Olympics next year.
Cricket Australia executive chosen to lead preparations for 2015 Asian Cup
By Duncan Mackay
December 14 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) has recruited Michael Brown from cricket to be the new chief executive of the 2015 Asian Cup, which they are hosting, they announced today.
Egypt secure Olympic qualification with victory over Senegal
By David Gold
December 10 – Egypt beat Senegal 2-0 in the third-place play-off of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) under-23 tournament in Marrakech to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games.