July 24 – Japan’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup is set to be thrown into crisis with Motoaki Inukai, who is heading the campaign, set to be forced out after a row over “forceful” style of management.
July 23 – The recriminations over the sacking of Howard Wells (pictured) as chief executive of the Irish Football Association (IFA) are set to continue after he threatened new legal action against them and Raymond Kennedy, whose handling of the affair has led to him having to step down as President.
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The South African World Cup has proved supremely ironic. We went to South Africa wondering if the country could host the event. We have come away knowing South African can, but we are now not sure if FIFA can manage a World Cup in the modern era of technology.
Our FIFA doubts have to do with its failure to appreciate that it cannot continue to rely on the naked eye to judge all on field events.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 22 – Australian officials behind the country’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup, including Frank Lowy (pictured), have been cleared by FIFA of breaking the rules by giving unauthorised gifts to voters, it was announced today.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 22 – Lord Triesman has claimed that England’s World Cup bid has been better received abroad than at home.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 22 – Bristol’s future as a potential host city for the 2018 World Cup if England are awarded the tournament is in severe doubt after local councillors rejected plans to build a Sainsbury’s superstore at Ashton Gate.
July 22 – A FIFA delegation has arrived in South Korea on the second leg of its tour to inspect bidders to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
July 22 – Brazil’s biggest city Sao Paulo is facing the prospect of missing out of hosting matches during the 2014 World Cup after officials failed to come up with a solution to finding a suitable stadium.
July 22 – FIFA’s team of inspectors today praised Japan’s 2022 World Cup bid for its balance between old and new, environmental awareness and a high-tech approach, including a plan for 3-D match telecasts.
By Mike Rowbottom
July 21 – A report from a leading sports economist warning that bidding for another World Cup would be a costly mistake for the United States has generated fierce debate.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 21 – Danny Jordaan will join up with the FIFA team of inspectors evaluating the bidders for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup in Australia, he has revealed today.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 21 – Spain’s World Cup victory has given a massive lift to the country’s joint bid with Portugal to host the 2018 tournament, Sports Minister Jaime Lissavetzky has claimed.
July 21 – Durban officials have claimed that they are working on plans to ensure that the Moses Mabhida Stadium has a sustainable future now that the World Cup is over.
July 21 -FIFA has approved the use of two additional assistant referees for the next two seasons of UEFA Champions League football.
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On the face of it, Asian bidders for the 2022 World Cup were hit last week by some very bad news.
This took the form of an announcement by a top official at the Chinese Football Association that his powerhouse of a nation wants to host the 2026 World Cup.
“The CFA,” said Wei Di, its general secretary, “is preparing to ask the General Administration of Sport to bid for the 2026 World Cup”.