Women’s 2015 World Cup set for Canada after Zimbabwe withdrawal
March 1 – Zimbabwe has withdrawn its bid to host the women’s World Cup in 2015 leaving Canada as the only candidate, FIFA announced today.
Blatter under pressure over World Cup slots
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Sepp Blatter faces one of the most politically sensitive weeks of his FIFA Presidency when he tries to keep all his members happy over the controversial issue of 2014 World Cup berths.
Coventry celebrating being chosen as test event venue by London 2012 for football
February 26 – Coventry’s Ricoh Arena is celebrating after being chosen to play host to qualifying match for the men’s Olympic football tournament in April 2012, an event that will be used by London 2012 as a major test event.
Hearn looks for West Ham and Premier League help in building new Leyton Orient stadium at Eton Manor
By Tom Degun
February 25 – Barry Hearn (pictured), the chairman of Leyton Orient, has revealed he will be requesting the assistance of West Ham United and the Premier League to help his club build a new 15,000-seater stadium at nearby Eton Manor on the Olympic Park, in return for not disrupting the handover of the London 2012 Stadium with legal challenges.
Platini threatens Serbia with ban over its hooligans
February 24 – UEFA chief Michel Platini has warned Belgrade its national squad and teams could be banned from international competitions if Serbia does not root out violence among football supporters.
Cameron believes Qatar World Cup can change attitudes towards homosexuality
February 23 – British Prime Minister David Cameron has said that hosting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar could help to improve attitudes towards homosexuality in the Middle East during an official visit to the Gulf state.
Kiev announces 13 new tourist routes for Euro 2012
February 23 – 13 tourist routes specifically for football fans in Kiev will be opened by the start of UEFA Euro 2012, according to the head of Kiev’s Tourism Agency, Mykola Hrytsyk.
Jordaan fails in bid to join FIFA’s Executive Committee
By Andrew Warshaw
February 23 – Danny Jordaan, the man who did more than anyone to bring the World Cup to South Africa, today failed in his great ambition to win a seat on to the top table at FIFA.
American journalist challenges Blatter
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By Andrew Warshaw
February 23 – Grant Wahl (pictured), an American journalist, is planning to stand as “the people’s candidate” against Fifa president Sepp Blatter in FIFA’s Presidential election later this year.
La Liga merchandise sales outstrip Premier League
By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – The leading Spanish clubs generated more revenue from the sale of merchandising than their English counterparts in 2009-10 despite the Premier League’s global appeal, according to a report published by Sport+Markt and PR Marketing.
Multi-million pound ticket windfall for Champions League finalists
By David Owen
February 19 – This season’s European Champions’ League finalists are set to earn around £4 million ($6.5 million) from ticket sales alone.
Exclusive: FIFA denies Warner “investigation”
By Andrew Warshaw
February 17 – World football’s governing body today denied reports that its controversial vice-president Jack Warner had been investigated by its Ehics Committee over the alleged sale of World Cup black market tickets.
David Owen: Of Juve, Manchester United and Maradona – or why a luxury watchmaker sponsors football
Hublot, the Swiss watchmaker, has some singular ideas about sports sponsorship.
You might expect a luxury brand whose products have an average retail price of SFr23,000 to take an interest in, say, polo. Or top-end sailing, or maybe Formula One.
And, indeed, Hublot is involved with some of these.
But football? Well, let’s just say it would not be at the top of my list.
Mihir Bose: The FA has never got to grips with English football
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The problem with English football is not the Premier League. Nor that its chairman, Sir David Richards, uses industrial language.
MPs may have been shocked when Lord Triesman, former chairman of the FA, told the House of Commons Select Committee on football how Richards goes about his business and the language he uses.
But that is not the real issue.
“Consideration” must be given to Orient pleads Hearn over Olympic Stadium decision
By Mike Rowbottom
February 17 – Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn has announced that the club is taking legal advice over the possibility of a judicial review into the decision to award West Ham United use of the Olympic Stadium, which is less than a mile from Brisbane Road.