Ukraine came close to losing Euro 2012, admits head of FA
By Andrew Warshaw
December 3 – The head of the Ukrainian half of Euro 2012 has revealed for the first time how close the country came to being stripped of hosting rights with Poland.
Mihir Bose: As football becomes more of a business, moving jobs for money is no longer a sin
We may have reached an historic moment with modern, highly paid footballers. They may finally be ready to tell the truth when they move club. The truth is that what motivates them is not the glory of the club they are going to, nor its wonderful supporters, nor even the honours they might win, but how much money the new club will put in their bank account.
I have long believed that the refrain of modern footballers,
Nancy pulls out of hosting games during Euro 2016
By David Gold
December 2 – Nancy will not be hosting games during the 2016 European Championships after the French city was unable to find agree a deal to renovate the Marcel Picot Stadium.
Report calls for salaries to be cut in Australian football
By David Gold
December 2 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) has welcomed and accepted the recommendations of the Smith Review, following the publication of the organisation’s strategic plan earlier this week.
Euro 2012 draw pits Germany against old rivals Netherlands
By David Gold
December 2 – Old rivals Germany and the Netherlands will face each other in Group B of the 2012 European Championships, being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine, following the draw today in Kiev, where the final of next summer’s tournament will take place.
Platini would move European competitions to accommodate winter World Cup in 2022
By David Gold
December 2 – UEFA President Michel Platini has said that he would move the Champions League and Europa League to accommodate a winter World Cup being held in Qatar in 2022.
Andrew Warshaw: One year on from the World Cup ballots and the scepticism is showing no sign of slackening
Happy Anniversary? Depends where your allegiances lie. But my, how time flies.
Exactly a year ago today, December 2, we were sitting in the cavernous Messe in Zurich eagerly awaiting the results of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup ballots.
You could almost cut the tension with a knife as one after the other, the candidates gave their final presentations in a bid to get over the line after months of painstaking,
Blatter’s FIFA reforms face early setback
By Andrew Warshaw
December 1 – Twenty-four hours after FIFA unveiled their new reform chief, their plans immediately hit the buffers today when the anti-corruption watchdog that has been advising them for weeks said they wanted no part of the new operation and were cutting all links with world football’s governing body.
Valcke praises Russia’s 2018 World Cup progress
By David Gold
December 2 – A year after Russia was awarded the right to host the 2018 World Cup, FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke has praised the progress made by the country in the first year of its preparations to stage the event.
England praised for choosing Kraków base for Euro 2012
By David Gold
December 1 – England’s decision to base themselves in Kraków during the 2012 European Championships, co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine, was “a superb choice”, according to the managing director of PROSKE | sports, Lindsay Gomer.
Pressure is on for Australian football as Strategic Plan is unveiled
By David Gold
December 1 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) has set the national team the target of qualifying for and reaching the second round of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Ronaldo to be public face of Brazil 2014
By Duncan Mackay at the Sheraton San Conrado in Rio de Janeiro
December 1 – Ronaldo was officially unveiled here today as the new face of the Organising Committee of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Gibbs insists “Olympics is the biggest stage”
By David Gold
December 1 – Arsenal and England left back Kieran Gibbs has said that he wants to play in the London 2012 Olympic Games for the Team GB football team, despite his club manager Arsene Wenger being vehemently opposed to the involvement of his players in the football tournament.
Drogba receives Humanitarian in Sport award
By David Gold
December 1 – Didier Drogba has been awarded the Humanitarian in Sport award by Beyond Sport, supported by Virgin Atlantic, recognising the work the Chelsea striker has done with The Didier Drogba Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme.
Ronaldo to be confirmed today as head of Brazil 2014 World Cup
By Duncan Mackay in Rio de Janeiro
December 1 – Ronaldo, the highest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup, will be cofirmed as the the new face of the 2014 World Cup here later today, insideworldfootball can reveal.