Beckham to quit LA Galaxy for “one last challenge”
By Andrew Warshaw
November 20 – Former England captain David Beckham is quitting LA Galaxy in the United States after six years for one last hurrah before his retirement from the game.
St Petersburg chosen to host final of 2017 Confederations Cup
By Duncan Mackay
November 20 – St Petersburg will host the opening match and final of the 2017 Confederations Cup, the warm-up tournament for the following year’s World Cup in Russia, it has been announced.
Namibia women’s footballers to represent Africa at 2014 Youth Olympics
By Duncan Mackay
November 20 – Namibia’s women’s football team have been put forward to represent Africa at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.
FIFA Disciplinary Committee to review whether Park should receive London 2012 bronze medal
By Duncan Mackay
November 20 – FIFA will today revisit the long running case of South Korea’s Park Jong-woo and whether he should receive his Olympic bronze medal following his political protest which sparked a diplomatic row with Japan at London 2012.
Maracanã will be ready by February despite quarter of work still to be done, promises Rio
By Duncan Macaky at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro
November 19 – The Maracanã, the iconic stadium due to host the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Rio 2016 Olympics, will be ready in late February next year although a quarter of the work remains to be done, the chairman of the company building it promised today.
FFA sign four-year broadcasting deal with Fox Sports, Foxtel and SBS
By Andrew Warshaw
November 19 – Buoyed by the hiring of Italian icon Alessandro Del Piero, the Australian Football Federation (FFA) have announced a new broadcast deal providing unprecedented coverage of both the national team and the Hyundai A-League.
FIFA call for ban on third-party ownership of players
By Andrew Warshaw
November 19 – FIFA’s Football Committee, the body comprising some of the most influential figures in the game and charged with tackling the game’s major issues of controversy, has called for third-party ownership of players to be banned.
Critical book by former DFB boss causes outrage
By Andrew Warshaw
November 19 – A critical book by ex-German Football Association (DFB) President Theo Zwanziger is causing outrage among his peers especially since he has only recently become an important member of FIFA’s top brass.
Madrid Government gives Bernabéu redevelopment the green light
By Tom Degun
November 19 – Madrid’s local Government has approved the proposed redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, which is the home of La Liga champions Real Madrid.
Russian authorities promise to eradicate hooliganism in 2018 World Cup build-up
By Andrew Warshaw
November 19 – Russian authorities have promised to clamp down on hooliganism and beef up security after the latest alarming outbreak of fan violence that has shocked the country and cast a dark shadow over its credibility as hosts of the 2018 World Cup.
Manchester United announce four-year sponsorship deal with Turkish bank Denizbank
By Tom Degun
November 19 – Premier League giant Manchester United have announced a new four-year sponsorship agreement with prominent Turkish bank Denizbank.
“We’re on the waiting list for the Olympics” says Blatter after futsal World Cup
By Duncan Mackay
November 19 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter will continue to try to get futsal or beach football on to the Olympic programme, he has promised.
Barcelona shirts to be sponsored by Qatar Airways
By Andrew Warshaw
November 19 – Qatar Airways will take over as the shirt sponsor for Barcelona from the 2013-2014 season as part of the Catalan giants’ agreement with Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), replacing the Qatar Foundation.
Qataris hit back at ‘malicious and reckless’ allegations
By Andrew Warshaw
November 19 – The bidding process for the 2022 World Cup burst into fresh controversy today after allegations by the Sunday Times newspaper that Qatar officials considered offering $1 million (£630,000/€785) to the son of Amos Adamu, a member of the FIFA executive committee that handed the tournament to the tiny Gulf state.
Bayern Munich posts record €332.2 million turnover
By Andrew Warshaw
November 16 – Despite not winning a trophy, Bayern Munich, Germany’s biggest club, posted a record €332.2 million (£266.6 million/$422.9 million) turnover in 2011-2012, another indication of the growth of the Bundesliga, which stays clear of the benefactor model enjoyed in the English Premier league.