Exclusive: Tuvalu determined to secure FIFA membership
By David Gold
October 2 – The tiny pacific nation of Tuvalu is determined to win membership to FIFA next year at its annual congress, despite having never played a home match.
Dynamo Moscow to reduce stadium size after World Cup snub
By David Gold
October 2 – Dynamo Moscow’s new stadium may be reduced in size after it was not selected to stage FIFA World Cup matches in 2018.
Egypt risks FIFA suspension as conflict continues
By Andrew Warshaw
October 2 – Egypt, African football’s most successful nation, is in danger of being suspended by FIFA amid continuing unrest following February’s deadly riots in Port Said.
Ottawa out of running to host Under-20 World Cup matches
By David Gold
October 2 – Ottawa will not host the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in 2014 as its new Lansdowne Park stadium may not be ready in time.
Gibraltar provisionally accepted in UEFA’s inner circle
By Andrew Warshaw
October 1 – UEFA opened a political can of worms today by deciding to admit Gibraltar as a provisional member in a move that is bound to incur the wrath of Spain.
Platini insists he has not given Turkey an ultimatum
By Andrew Warshaw
October 1 – UEFA President Michel Platini reiterated today he has not given Turkey an ultimatum with regard to the 2020 European Championship finals but that “it was not logical” for the country to maintain their interest if Istanbul stages the summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in the same year.
Blatter and Platini in more disagreement over goal-line technology
By Andrew Warshaw
October 1 – The difference of opinion between FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his UEFA opposite number Michel Platini over whether to use goal-line technology or extra referees’ assistants has been stoked up once again.
David Gold: There’s still much to do to prepare Russia for the 2018 World Cup
It may still be six years away, but the first major milestone of the Russia 2018 World Cup was reached this weekend as FIFA announced the 11 cities and 12 stadiums that will host matches at the tournament. The world knew that Moscow, St Petersburg, Sochi, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg and Saransk would be staging games. The news of note was that they would be joined by Kaliningrad, Samara, Rostov-on-Don and Volgograd. Yaroslavl missed out,
Hi-tech new England training base opens to public
By David Gold
September 30 – The new Perform centre at St George’s Park, which will be used by the England national team as its training base, has opened to the public.
FIFA rejects claims that 2014 World Cup kick-off times will harm players’ health
By Andrew Warshaw
September 30 – Accusations that it put commercial considerations, in particular television coverage in Europe, before the health of players when deciding on kick off times for the 2014 World Cup were totally rejected today by FIFA.
Budget for Russia 2018 World Cup doubles to nearly $20 billion
By Duncan Mackay
September 30 – Russia will spend a projected $19.2 million (£11.9 billion/€14.9 billion) on getting ready to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018, the country’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko revealed today.
Kaliningrad and Yekaterinburg to host matches in 2018 FIFA World Cup finals
By David Gold
September 29 – Fans attending the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup could spend whole days or more travelling after the confirmation tonight that Kaliningrad and Yekaterinburg are among the 11 cities chosen to host matches.
Debt-ridden CSKA Sofia faces expulsion from Bulgarian league
By David Gold
September 28 – CSKA Sofia are set to be thrown out of the Bulgarian championship, if UEFA carries through on its threat to ban the club from European competition for three seasons.
Arsenal reveal increased pre-tax profits of £37 million
By David Gold
September 28 – Arsenal have revealed profit before tax of £36.6 million ($59 million/€46 million) for the last financial year ending May 31, 2012, a substantial increase on the previous figures.
FIFPro slams Lokomotiv Plovdiv’s lie detector tests
By Andrew Warshaw
September 28 – The international players’ union FIFPro has criticised a Bulgarian club for requesting its players and coaches to take lie detector tests following a surprise defeat.