Whistle-blower Farina named as Aston Villa coach
By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – Simone Farina, the Italian footballer turned match-fixing whistle-blower, has at last found a job after being recruited as a community coach at Aston Villa.
Terry apologises for racist comments
By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – Former England captain John Terry has chosen not to appeal against the four-match ban and £220,000 ($353,000/€271,000) fine imposed on him for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand of Queens Park Rangers a year ago – and has apologised for his comments.
Brazilian authorities take over notorious Rio slum ahead of 2014 World Cup
By Tom Degun
October 19 – Brazilian marines and paramilitary police have stormed one of Rio’s most notorious and dangerous slums in a bid to clean up the area before the city hosts the FIFA 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Manchester United chief Gill named FA vice-chairman
By Tom Degun
October 19 – Manchester United’s chief executive David Gill has been appointed as a vice-chairman of the English Football Association (FA).
Bernstein to step down as FA chairman in 2013
By Andrew Warshaw
October 18 – English Football Association (FA) chairman David Bernstein will be forced to resign from the post in May next year after the FA Council refused to change its statutes that would have allowed him to remain in charge beyond his 70th birthday.
Senegal thrown out of 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
By Andrew Warshaw
October 18 – Senegal have been disqualified from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations following the riot that forced last weekend’s home qualifier against Ivory Coast to be abandoned.
Canada’s Sinclair has no regrets over behaviour at London 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
October 18 – Canadian women’s skipper Christine Sinclair says she has no regrets over comments that led to her receiving a four-game suspension from FIFA for displaying “unsporting behaviour towards match officials” after the London 2012 Olympic semi-final.
Robertson calls for “tough sanctions” on Serbia for alleged racism
By Andrew Warshaw
October 18 – British Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has written to UEFA President Michel Platini demanding “tough sanctions” against Serbia following allegations of provocation and racial abuse meted out to England players and officials during Tuesday’s (October 16) ill-tempered under-21 international.
Rio’s doping control lab for 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics reinstated by WADA
By Mike Rowbottom
October 17 – Rio’s doping control laboratory, expected to play a major part in Brazil’s hosting of the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals and the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, has been reinstated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) following its partial suspension on January 18.
Britain’s Attorney General applies to have Hillsborough verdicts quashed
By Andrew Warshaw
October 17 – Dominic Grieve, Britain’s Attorney General, is applying to have the verdicts of “accidental death” for the 96 fans killed in the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster quashed.
Valcke raises fresh concerns over Brazil’s preparations for 2013 Confederations Cup
By Tom Degun
October 17 – FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke has expressed his concern that Brazil’s six stadiums for the 2013 Confederations Cup will not be ready on time due to the slow pace of preparations.
Serbia reported to UEFA after England tie ends in racism-fuelled scuffle
By Andrew Warshaw
October 17 – The English Football Association (FA) has reported its Serbian counterparts to UEFA after worrying scenes marred the 2013 Under-21 European Championship playoff fixture between the sides last night.
Rain sees Poland v England World Cup qualifier postponed
By Andrew Warshaw
October 16 – The World Cup qualifier between Poland and England was dramatically called off tonight and rescheduled for 5pm local time tomorrow following unrelenting rain that made the £400 million ($646 million/€493 million) national stadium in Warsaw unplayable.
Egyptian football season postponed indefinitely over security fears
By Andrew Warshaw
October 16 – Egypt’s football association has delayed the rest of the domestic season indefinitely, saying it has not been given sufficient security guarantees by the Government in the wake of the Port Said tragedy.
SingTel to supply live Premier League coverage in Singapore
By Mike Rowbottom
October 16 – Singapore will be getting live coverage of Barclays Premier League matches for the next three seasons, starting in August 2013, following a deal in which telecommunications company SingTel has acquired broadcast rights.