By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
April 19 – Vladimir Putin (pictured left) has personally signed all the Governmental guarantees demanded by FIFA as part of Russia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, it was revealed today.
April 19 – Real Madrid have revealed that shirt sales featuring the name and number of world record signing Cristiano Ronaldo have already helped surpass the initial £80 million ($122 million) it took to sign him from Manchester United last summer.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
April 19 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has been accused by Lennart Johansson of tricking him into standing for re-election for President of UEFA only to then support his rival, Michel Platini.
April 19 – A-League clubs will be allowed to sign one additional high-profile Australian player, such as Brett Emerton (pictured), outside of the salary cap in a bid to boost the domestic game, it has been announced.
April 18 – New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen (pictured) has today called for the country to follow neighbours Australia and leave Oceania to join the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to give it a better chance of qualifying for the World Cup. and help raise standards.
April 17 – Religious leaders in Israel have criticised plans for the country’s national team, including Liverpool’s Yossi Benayoun (pictured), to play some of its Euro 2012 qualifying matches on a Friday, which is considered in the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
April 16 – Leeds United chairman Ken Bates (pictured) has rejected suggestions of a takeover bid by Australian Frank Lowy.
April 16 – Parachute payments for relegated clubs would total £48 million over four years if new Premier League proposals are agreed, it has been revealed today.
April 16 – Italy is facing the prospect of losing a place in the Champions League to Germany and falling behind France in the order of Europe’s top leagues, AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani (pictured) has warned.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – Liverpool’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have given in to mounting pressure by agreeing to sell up, ending a long-running dispute over their suitability to run one of the world’s most iconic clubs.
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April 16 – Japan have signed-up another three sponsors as its campaign to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup steps up a gear.
April 16 – The Premier League has confirmed its intention to launch a legal challenge against Ofcom’s price cut for Sky’s premium sport channels.
April 15 – Danny Jordaan (pictured), the chief executive of South Africa 2010, admitted that the number of fans currently planning to attend the World Cup stands at between 100,000 and 200,000 – less than half of the original forecast of 450,000.
April 15 – Essex County Cricket Club have announced ambitious plans to share the London 2012 Olympic Stadium with Premier League West Ham United and Newham Council.
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By David Owen
April 15 - Guus Hiddink (pictured), the internationally renowned Dutch football manager, is to go to Korea at the end of this month as part of his efforts to help the Dutch/Belgian World Cup bid.