USA 2 Costa Rica 2 (USA win 4-3 on pens)
June 29 – You’d hate to use the word ‘sterile’ to describe a Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final, but following the drama and passion of Guatemala versus Canada, it all felt a little flat as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Costa Rica kicked off for the right to face Guatemala in St. Louis. After 90 minutes and the drama of penalty kicks,
March 1 – Beleaguered Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers will not be stripped of any of their league titles over alleged undisclosed payments to players during the club’s former guise. But the company that used to run the club have been fined £250,000 by a commission appointed by the Scottish Premier League.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 1 – The Asian Football Confederation, stung by non-stop allegations of match-fixing, says the latest episode affecting a number of Lebanese players did not involve any of that country’s World Cup fixtures.
By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent
February 28 – FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke says the organisation has not received a shred of firm proof that Qatar broke any rules in securing their shock 2022 World Cup ballot victory.
By Mark Baber
February 28 – Louis Cooper, the 15 year old Hull City supporter, has taken the next legal steps against the West Yorkshire police and their decision to restrict travel and tickets for Hull fans for the upcoming Huddersfield game March 30.
February 28 – The Russian Football Union has re-elected the country’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko as its representative on FIFA’s executive committee Wednesday.
February 28 – Baku, Azerbaijan, is to host a 16-team World Military Cup, July 2-14, 2013. The agreement to host was signed between Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry and the International Military Sports Council (CISM) for the organization of the 1st CISM World Football Trophy 2013.
By Mark Baber
February 27 – It appears Spanish giants FC Barcelona have breached FIFA regulations on the international transfer of players designed to stop child trafficking and exploitation.
“I don’t understand Twitter. I don’t know why anyone should get involved with it. We have given instructions to the players that nobody should tweet about Manchester United. We have to.”
Those were the words of Alex Ferguson in August last year, after an indiscretion by Rio Ferdinand on Twitter. He hadn’t even sent the tweet that insulted Ashley Cole, but had re-tweeted it with a laugh.
And so I am puzzled –
A revolution devours its own as history teaches us. Arsene Wenger, known as the Professor, should know that. But he seems to be oblivious to the fact that having been the greatest agent of change in English football he cannot stand still and needs to evolve if he is to move forward and not fall victim to his own revolution.
That Wenger has been the greatest revolutionary in British football cannot be doubted.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – FIFA have banned 74 more officials and players worldwide for match fixing – this time from Italy and South Korea.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – UEFA have run out of patience with Lazio and ordered the Italian club to play their next two home European games behind closed doors after their fans were found guilty of racist behaviour for the fourth time this season.
February 27 – A further 67.4 billion rubles ($2.2 billion) has been earmarked by the Russians in the new sports budget to spend on the infrastructure and preparations for hosting the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and the FIFA World Cup 2018.
By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent
February 27 – Theo Zwanziger, the influential German administrator overseeing FIFA’s reform process, has hinted there is still considerable work to be done to bring about a consensus over the way forward.
By Mark Baber
February 27 – The authorities in Uzbekistan have adopted new rules for fans behaviour in football matches which include an end to shouting and chants.
