Castrol to back Euro 2012
February 4 – Castrol, who already back the World Cup and sponsor Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured), is set to extend its football portfolio by backing the 2012 European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine.
World Tournaments
Adebayor calls for Hayatou to step down after Togo ban
By Duncan Mackay
January 31 – Egypt’s 1-0 victory over Ghana in Luanda to win the African Cup of Nations for a third consecutive time today has been overshadowed by the anger of Togo at the decision to ban them from the next two editions of the tournament following their withdrawal after the terrorist attack on them before the event starts.
Turkish Euro 2016 bid gets major investment boost
By David Owen
January 29 – The Turkish Government has announced plans for a colossal €27 billion (£23 billion) infrastructure upgrade, as the country vies for the right to stage the Euro 2016 football tournament.
Top players could be excused African Nations Cup duty under Blatter plan
.jpg)
By Duncan Mackay
January 24 – Europe’s leading clubs will be forced to release their top stars, like Didier Drogba (pictured), to play in the African Cup of Nations once every four years under plans proposed by FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
German firm appointed to build Euro 2012 stadium in Wroclaw
By Duncan Mackay
January 21 – German firm Max Boegl has been given a 655 million zloty (£144 million) contact to complete the stadium being built for the European 2012 Championships in Wroclaw after the previous company were sacked.
Mali protest over “fixed” match in Angola
January 19 – The Mali Football Federation (FMF) has made an official protest to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the controversial Angola versus Algeria game.
African Nations Cup opens in spectacular fashion as Togo fly home
By Duncan Mackay
January 10 – Togo’s team flew home from the African Cup of Nations tonight after the deadly ambush of their team bus but the country’s Sports Minister said they hoped to return to Angola, where the tournament got off to a spectacular start as Mali came from 4-0 with 11 minutes remaining against the hosts to draw 4-4.
Togo Government order players home from Angola after they claim they want to stay
.jpg)
By Duncan Mackay
January 10 – Togo’s players will not play in the Africa Cup of Nation in Angola after the country’s Government ordered them home following a deadly attack on the team bus, although players had claimed they wanted to stay and play.
Togo goalkeeper airlifted to South Africa for emergency surgery
By Duncan Mackay
January 9 – Togo’s reserve goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale was tonight set to undergo emergency surgery on his injuries suffered in the terrorist attack on the team’s bus in Angola yesterday.
Togo pull out of African Nations Cup after gun attack
January 9 – Togo have today withdrawn from the African Nations Cup in Angola following the machine gun attack on their team bus yesterday, with the death toll now understood to have risen to three and team coach Hubert Velud criticising the organisers reaction to the horrific incident.
Premier League clubs worried about multi-million pound stars in Angola
January 8 – English Premier League clubs have demanded assurances from FIFA about the safety of their players in Angola, including Nigeria’s Nwankwo Kanu (pictured), following the attack today by gunmen on a bus carrying the Togo squad into Angola to finalise their preparations for the tournament.
Deaths as Togo team bus machine-gunned in Angola
By Duncan Mackay
January 8 – A bus carrying the Togo national team, including Manchester City’s £25 million striker Emmanuel Adebayor (pictured), has come under attack from gunfire in Angola, where they were preparing for the African Cup of Nations, which is due to open there on Sunday.
Angola is ready for African Nations Cup says Government
January 7 – Angola is ready to host the African Cup of Nations, which open on Sunday, the country’s Government has declared.
Italy must modernise stadiums, says FICG vice-president
January 4 – Demetrio Albertini (pictured), the vice-president of the Italian Football Associaiton (FICG), has warned that the country must modernise its stadiums if its bid to host the 2016 European Championships is to be successful.
Stadium contractor for Euro 2012 fired in Poland
December 30 – Wroclaw, one of four Polish cities due to host the 2012 European Championships, today scrapped a stadium construction deal with Mostostal Warszawa, Mayor Rafal Dutkiewicz said.