David Beckham signs two-year contract extension at LA Galaxy
By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – David Beckham has finally ended speculation about him returning to Europe by signing a new two-year deal to remain at LA Galaxy in the United States.
FIFA President Blatter confirms he will step down in 2015
By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) has reaffirmed that he will definitely step down for good when his fourth and final spell in charge expires in three years’ time.
Twenty strong US women’s squad arrive for CONCACAF Olympic qualifiers
By David Gold
January 17 – United States women’s team coach Pia Sundhage has arrived in Vancouver with a 20 woman squad for the 2012 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Olympic women’s qualifying tournament, which takes place on January 19 until 29.
Sporting and political stars gather for latest Bose book launch
By Andrew Warshaw
January 17 – Guests from the world of politics, sport and journalism attended the launch of The Spirit of The Game: How Sport Made the Modern World, the latest book written by Mihir Bose, insidethegames and insideworldfootball columnist.
Rangers tax case back in the dock
By David Gold
January 17 – The ongoing case against Glasgow Rangers for £35 million (€42 million/$54 million) in allegedly unpaid taxes continues at a tribunal hearing in Edinburgh this week.
Beckham and Giggs could reunite on Team GB at London 2012
By David Gold
January 17 – David Beckham (pictured left) has confirmed his interest in representing Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games, as has his former teammate Manchester United player Ryan Giggs (right).
Valcke demands Brazilian law reforms ahead of 2014 World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
January 17 – FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke (pictured) has repeated his call for a quick resolution to Brazilian legislation in order to prevent holdups over the 2014 World Cup.
Liverpool lose adidas deal after poor performances on the pitch
By Andrew Warshaw
January 17 – Adidas, the world’s second biggest sporting goods manufacturer, decided not to renew its kit deal with Liverpool partly because the club were not being successful enough on the pitch.
Beleaguered Teixeira to appeal against release of ISL documents
By Andrew Warshaw
January 17 – Brazil’s under fire FIFA administrator Ricardo Teixeira (pictured) reportedly plans to lodge an appeal in the Swiss federal court this week to try to prevent the now-infamous ISL file being published.
CONCACAF women’s Olympic qualifiers set to get under way
By David Gold
January 16 – The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) women’s qualifying tournament for the London 2012 Games gets underway in Canada on Thursday (January 19), with eight teams vying for two places at this summer’s Olympics.
New members appointed to CFU Normalisation Committee
By Andrew Warshaw
January 16 – The steering group set up to put Caribbean football back on the map after the worst year for public relations in its history has made several fresh appointments.
Man faces charges over Twitter racism aimed at Rangers players Bartley and Edu
By David Gold
January 16 – A man has been arrested and is facing charges as the result of an investigation into racist abuse aimed at Rangers players Kyle Bartley (pictured) and Maurice Edu.
Former FIFA official Champagne issues blueprint for reform
By Andrew Warshaw
January 16 – One of FIFA’s most prominent former administrators Jérôme Champagne (pictured) has broken a two-year silence by issuing a hard-hitting assessment of why world football’s governing has become embroiled in such controversy and what steps it should now take to regain global credibility.
West Ham United refusing to commit themselves to Olympic Stadium move
By David Gold
January 16 – Championship club West Ham United insist that they have not yet decided whether to bid again to apply to move into the Olympic Stadium after London 2012, and say that they will remain at Upton Park rather than pursue a third option if they do not make the move.
David Gold: African Nations Cup is Gabon’s chance to prove it can organise a big competition
When Brazil came to town in November for a friendly at the newly constructed stadium in Libreville, Gabon, the African Nations Cup organisers were hoping it would serve as a useful preparatory exercise ahead of the start of the tournament in January.
It was just as well.
A tropical downpour prior to kick off left the pitch virtually unplayable, whilst the game was delayed by 20 minutes due to a power failure.