Brazilian President gives controversial World Cup law final sign-off
By David Gold
June 6 – Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has finally signed the controversial 2014 World Cup law, bringing to an end the wrangling over its content.
Footballers risking careers with painkiller abuse, warns FIFA medical chief
By Andrew Warshaw
June 6 – Too many footballers are putting their careers at risk by taking painkillers to push them through the pain barrier, according to FIFA’s chief medical officer.
“Mixed feelings” over expansion for Euro 2016 finals, admits DFB President
By Andrew Warshaw
June 6 – German Football Association (DFB) President Wolfgang Niersbach has expressed his concern over UEFA’s decision to increase the size of the European Championship finals from 16 to 24 teams.
VGTRK makes $110 million bid to broadcast live Russian Premier League matches on terrestrial TV
By David Gold
June 6 – Russia’s public broadcaster VGTRK has reportedly made a $110 million (£71 million/€88 million) bid to show Russian Premier League football for the next three years.
UEFA President Platini backs Germany and Spain for glory at Euro 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
June 6 – UEFA President Michel Platini is backing the usual suspects, Germany and Spain, to triumph at the 2012 European Championship amid concerns that tickets are still available for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine that starts on Friday (June 8).
Leading international football journalist charged with promoting Kenya overseas
By Andrew Warshaw
June 6 – The Kenya Football Federation (KFF) has turned to one of Africa’s best-known football journalists to help promote and market them overseas.
Messi named most productive player, according to CIES
By David Gold
June 6 – Triple World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has been named the most productive player in Europe’s top five leagues by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) Football Observatory.
Mauri released from jail in Italian match-fixing probe – but remains under house arrest
By David Gold
June 5 – Lazio captain Stefano Mauri has been released from jail as the investigation into match fixing in Italy continues.
Bellamy to be one of Team GB’s three over-age players for London 2012, he claims
By Duncan Mackay
June 5 – Craig Bellamy has been selected as one of three over-age players selected by Britain for the London 2012 Olympics, he has claimed.
Komphela to replace axed South Africa coach Mosimane
By Andrew Warshaw
June 5 – South Africa’s notorious impatience with national coaches has snared yet another victim after Pitso Mosimane was fired today following the country’s disappointing start to the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign – he will be succeeded by Steve Komphela.
Culture and sport to collide at Euro 2012 Opening Ceremony
By David Gold
June 5 – The Opening Ceremony of the UEFA 2012 European Championship in Warsaw’s National Stadium on Friday (June 8) will bring culture and sport together, claims the company putting on the event, Filmmaster.
Ronaldhino sues former club Flamengo in dispute over unpaid wages
By David Gold
June 4 – Former double World Player of the Year Ronaldinho is suing Flamengo, whom he left last week after winning a court appeal to have his contract terminated.
Coach Prandelli has “no problem” with Italy being pulled from Euro 2012
By David Gold
June 4 – Italy coach Cesare Prandelli (pictured left) would have “no problem” if they were to pull out of the European Championships as a result of the match fixing scandal in the country, he claimed.
Capital One signs four-year deal as new title sponsor of English League Cup
By David Gold
June 4 – The English League Cup is to be known as the Capital One Cup from 2012-2013 after the credit card brand replaced Carling as the competition’s title sponsor.
Mortgage deeds show Jack Warner’s Centre of Excellence ownership denials to be false
By Andrew Warshaw
June 3 – Disgraced former FIFA powerbroker Jack Warner’s fierce denial that he had anything to do with secretly owning a Centre of Excellence in his native Trinidad and Tobago that was supposed to belong to entirely to CONCACAF has been exploded by the local media in Port of Spain.