By David Gold
December 22 – It may have been with a phone call rather than a handshake, but Auxerre midfielder Kamel Chafni and French assistant referee Johann Perruaux have done as FIFA President Sepp Blatter advised, and settled a race row between themselves after a league game.
By David Gold
December 21 – Uruguay’s National Sport Director Ernesto Irureta has vehemently defended Liverpool striker Luis Suarez after the forward was hit with an eight game ban after being found guilty of using language toward Manchester United defender Patrice Evra which the Football Association (FA) said was “insulting” and made reference to the Frenchman’s colour.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 21 – After weeks of mounting interest, England and Chelsea captain John Terry learned today that he is to face a criminal charge of using racist language during a Premier League game.
By David Gold
December 21 – Manchester United has launched a soccer school in Mumbai, India, after linking up with the Western India Football Association (WIFA).
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.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 21 – The ongoing global crackdown on match-fixing has now reached Australia where Sydney FC have denied any knowledge of wrongdoing after a Chinese referee confessed in court to accepting bribes, one of them involving the club, whilst another was to fix a friendly involving Manchester United.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 20 – One of the most stringent punishments ever meted out by a national federation for racial abuse was imposed tonight on Liverpool striker Luis Suarez when he was banned for a staggering eight matches and fined £40,000 ($63,000/€48,000) by the English Football Association for comments allegedly made against Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.
By David Gold
December 20 – The Sevilla President, Jose Maria del Nido, has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of involvement in the embezzlement of public funds.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 20 – European clubs have called off a potentially ground-breaking peace deal with FIFA and UEFA that would have paved the way for easing the club-versus-country war after years of acrimony between the various parties.
By David Gold
December 20 – Japan is set to host the FIFA 2012 Women’s under-20 World Cup after Uzbekistan was stripped of the right to stage the event.
By David Gold
December 20 – A group representing West Ham United supporters, WHU’s view, have claimed to have reached an agreement with the club’s vice-chair Karren Brady to hold a thorough ballot before bidding to move into the Olympic Stadium, after the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) today re-opened the tender process for interested parties wishing to take on the tenancy of the venue after London 2012.
By David Gold
December 19 – Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are hoping to come to agreement with Scotland over their fees for the Carling Nations Cup tournament, which took place earlier this year, and avoid bringing FIFA into the dispute.
By David Gold
December 19 – Former Italy midfielder Cristiano Doni, who was banned from football for three-and-a-half years earlier in 2011, has been arrested today by police investigating another match fixing and betting scandal in the country.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 19 – Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) general secretary Tai Nicholas has been given a prominent place on one of FIFA’s four new anti-corruption platforms despite facing contempt proceedings from the Fijian Government.
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.