April 26 – Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber has said the league is hoping to announce a second franchise in New York in the next four to six weeks. That team will not be the New York Cosmos.
By Mark Baber
April 25 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has been urged by two human rights organisations to step in and prevent Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa of Bahrain (pictured) from running next week for President of the Asian Football Confederation and a position on FIFA’s all-powerful executive committee.
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
April 26 – The three West Asian contenders fighting to become the next head of Asian football have failed to reach a consensus on putting forward one sole candidate for next week’s presidential election but are set to hold further private talks in the build-up to the vote.
After watching this pint-sized Uruguayan, on a bitterly cold winter’s night, at Johannesburg’s Soccer City, blatantly cheat his way to the 2010 World Cup semi-final, in front of nearly 90,000 witnesses, as well as have the temerity to subsequently gloat about his act of theft, I have found it very hard to have any regard for Luis Suarez.
And so do many people around the African continent, especially folks that come from Ghana.
By Tom Parsons
April 25 – Cardiff City are looking to expand their 26,828 all-seated stadium to a 35,000 all-seater – and it could be ready in time for the 2014/15 season.
April 25 – FIFA is launching a museum in its home city of Zurich designed to be a meeting place for the entire football family including fans, clubs and sponsors.
By John Duerden
April 25 – Worawi Makudi, one of four candidates in the running to become the president of the Asian Football Confederation in next Thursday’s election, has told Inside World Football that he has enough support to win.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 25 – FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, never afraid to speak his mind when it comes to the problems involved with next year’s World Cup, has talked openly about the challenges of working with local hosts.
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
April 25 – A week ahead of the eagerly awaited election to choose a new leader to clean up Asian football, Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa is again having to fend off serious allegations of human rights abuses in his country.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 25 – Uruguay’s Eugenio Figueredo (pictured) has taken over the running of South American football following the resignation of CONMEBOL president Nicolas Leoz.
By Mark Baber
April 25 – Italian football federation vice-president Demetrio Albertini has suggested cutting Italy’s Serie A to 18 or even 16 teams.
April 25 – As World Cup 2014 nears, hype, rumour, misinformation and emotions is rising -are starting to raise a level – and nowhere more so than in Brazil itself.
By Andrew Warshaw and Mark Baber
April 25 – Liverpool have expressed their “shock and disappointment” after striker Luis Suarez was banned for 10 games for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic towards the end of Sunday’s 2-2 draw.
As Manchester United celebrate yet another Premiership, and a record haul of 20 of the most sought after prize in English football, spare a thought for Dave Whelan. Had things turned out differently the Wigan owner would today not be fearful that his team may not survive in the Premiership. Instead he would be lording it over Old Trafford and joining the celebrations of the fans as the owner of greatest club in the land.
By Paul Nicholson
April 24 – German Chancellor Andrea Merkel has been dragged into the tax evasion scandal surrounding Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness.