ZIFA sets up match-fixing appeals body
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has set up a special body to deal with appeals over the bans handed out in the country’s infamous match-fixing scandal.
AFC document “theft” charges suspiciously dropped
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – Senior Asian officials are privately questioning why prosecutors in Malaysia have suddenly dropped charges against a man accused of stealing documents linked to banned former powerbroker Mohamed Bin Hammam.
Confederations Cup host cities make the cut as FIFA confirms venues
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – All six venues slated to stage next year’s Confederations Cup – the dress rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup – have now been confirmed by FIFA though some will face a race against time.
Muamba pays emotional visit to White Hart Lane
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – Fabrice Muamba, the Premier League footballer who suffered a massive cardiac arrest and almost died during a cup game at Tottenham Hotspur in March, made an emotional return to the club’s White Hart Lane stadium for the first time yesterday.
FIFA President welcomes Switzerland’s crack down on match-fixing
By Andrew Warshaw
November 8 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has welcomed efforts by the Swiss Government to crack down on match-fixing and corruption by considering the introduction of fresh laws to make all international associations based in the country subject to Swiss criminal law.
Spain receives €133 million in taxes debts from ailing clubs
By Andrew Warshaw
November 8 – Spanish authorities have acquired almost €133 million (£107 million/$170 million) in back-taxes owed by debt-ridden clubs in this year alone, authorities have revealed.
Brazilian oil revenue sharing bill casts new shadow on 2014 World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
November 8 – The 2014 FIFA World Cup has come under fresh pressure because of new legislation that would seriously slash Rio de Janeiro’s revenues and therefore its ability to stage the tournament as well as the summer Olympics and Paralympics two years later.
Hulk’s sister reunited with family after kidnapping
By Andrew Warshaw
November 8 – The sister of Brazil’s Zenit St Petersburg striker Hulk has been reunited with her family after being kidnapped for 24 hours.
Tim Kee set for TTFF Presidency as Murray withdraws candidacy
By Andrew Warshaw
November 8 – Former Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) first vice-president Raymond Tim Kee looks set to be appointed the federation’s new President on Sunday (November 11) after the only other candidate Colin Murray pulled out.
Winter World Cup plans would have to be finalised within next two years, says Qatar 2022 leader
By Andrew Warshaw at the International Sports Event Management conference in London
November 7 – Any decision on whether to switch the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup from summer to winter must be taken within the next two years to make it logistically possible.
FIFA strips Futsal Arena of hosting rights over safety fears
By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – FIFA has dramatically ditched plans to use Bangkok’s showpiece $40 million (£25 million/€31 million) Futsal Arena during the current Futsal World Cup in Thailand, deeming the venue unsafe after missing several construction deadlines.
Dinamo Zagreb fans arrested ahead of PSG match in Paris
By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – European football was plunged into a fresh hooligan problem yesterday when police detained scores of Dinamo Zagreb fans in the French capital ahead of the UEFA Champions League group game against Paris Saint Germain.
Stamford Bridge to host Women’s UEFA Champions League final
By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – London is to host this season’s Women’s Champions League final with Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium selected by UEFA – two days before the final of the men’s competition at Wembley Stadium.
World’s oldest football coach Powell dies aged 96
By Mike Rowbottom
November 7 – Former Welsh international footballer Ivor Powell, whose role as the world’s oldest working football coach was recognised in 2006 by the Guinness Book of Records, has died aged 96 after a short illness.
NFL’s Kirkwood to speak at International Football Arena
By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – Given recent sensitive and unsavoury episodes in English football, Alistair Kirkwood’s address to the forthcoming International Football Arena (IFA) in Zurich on how the round-ball game can learn from American football could not have been better planned.