Thailand kicked out of Olympic football qualifiers
By David Gold
May 4 – Thailand has been expelled from qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games in London after fielding a suspended player during the first qualifying round.
World Tournaments
Canada concludes tour of candidate cities for Women’s World Cup
By David Gold
May 4 – Canada’s Soccer Association (CSA) has finished its inspection of the candidate cities for the 2014 FIFA under-20 Women’s World Cup and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which were awarded to them earlier this year.
Exclusive: FIFA letter guaranteeing independence makes no difference to Team GB opponents
By Andrew Warshaw
May 3 – The three British Football Associations refusing to take part in next year’s Olympic Games look set to continue their boycott despite a written guarantee from FIFA that a unified team will not affect their individual independence.
Polish police warn of Euro 2012 ticket fraud
By David Gold
April 29 – Football fans have been warned by Polish police to ensure that they buy tickets for the 2012 European Championships from reliable sources to avoid the risk of fraud.
Ogura seeking Blatter’s help for Japan’s Copa America squad
By David Gold
April 27 – Junji Ogura, President of the Japanese Football Federation, is seeking FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s help in putting together a Japan squad for the Copa America this summer.
Failure to field a unified UK football team would harm women’s game most, says Robertson
By Andrew Warshaw at Westminster
April 26 – Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson waded into the Olympic football row today by warning that the women’s game would lose out most if there is no unified UK team.
Political row threatens new Lyon stadium
By David Gold
April 26 – An escalating row between Lyon Mayor Gérard Collomb (pictured) and France’s Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno is threatening to derail plans for Olympique Lyonnais’ proposed new stadium, the Stade des Lumiéres, which is a probable venue for the 2016 European Championships.
Telecinco to win Euro 2012 broadcast rights
By David Gold
April 23 – Spanish commercial broadcaster Telecinco, owned by Italian media giant Mediaset, is primed to win broadcast rights for UEFA Euro 2012, being held in Ukraine and Poland, according to reports there.
Platini unveils Euro 2016 Board
By David Gold
April 22 – UEFA President Michel Platini has unveiled the Board for the European Championships in 2016, the first tournament in the competition’s history being funded entirely by the continent’s governing body, and which is being held in France.
Euro 2012 ticket lottery begins after record number of applications
By David Gold
April 19 – The draw for tickets to the Euro 2012 Championships, co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland, begins today following a record number of applications.
Japan’s Copa America plans meet opposition from German clubs
By David Gold
April 18 – Japan’s plans to take part in the Copa America are facing another threat after German clubs including Borussia Dortmund announced that they were unwilling to release their players for the tournament, taking place in Argentina this July.
Azarov wary of terrorism threat at Euro 2012
By David Gold
April 15 – Kiev and Warsaw have been told to strengthen anti-terrorism plans for the European Championships, being held jointly by Ukraine and Poland in 2012, by Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.
Ukraine confident of trouble free Euro 2012
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By David Gold
April 18 – Ukraine is confident that Euro 2012, being hosted jointly with Poland, will be free of racism and violence, in response to a report documenting a number of such crimes at football games in the two countries during the last 18 months.
J-League back Japan’s participation in Copa America
By David Gold
April 14 – Japan could be set to reverse its decision to withdraw from the Copa America after the country’s J-League backed the national team’s trip to compete in the tournament this summer.
Atlanta Olympic champions Nigeria next up on road to London for giant-killing Tanzania
By David Gold
April 14 – Giant killers Tanzania will have to repeat their stunning heroics against Cameroon in the last round of African qualifiers for the 2012 Olympic Football tournament if they are to keep their hopes alive of playing in London next year, after being drawn against Nigeria.