Ronaldinho canned by Coke after Pepsi drinking blunder
By David Gold
July 13 – Ronaldinho’s troubled 2012 took a further turn for the worse this week as Coca-Cola dropped him after he drank a can of Pepsi during a press conference.
Neymar tips his Brazil side to claim gold at London 2012
By David Gold
July 13 – Brazilian star Neymar insists they have what it takes to bring back Olympic gold for the first time in history this summer.
Blatter defends involvement in ISL bribery scandal
By Andrew Warshaw
July 12 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter today mounted a staunch defence of his alleged role in the ISL bribery affair as his position as leader of world football’s governing body came under fresh scrutiny.
FIFA’s Prince Ali calls for more unity and solidarity within the AFC
By Andrew Warshaw
July 12 – FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan has urged the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to be more unified and pull eastern and western factions together.
US goalkeeper Solo warned after testing positive for banned substance
By David Gold
July 12 – The United States women’s team goalkeeper Hope Solo has been given a warning after testing positive for a banned substance.
Former FIFA President confirmed as having received massive kickbacks from FIFA’s former marketing partner
By Andrew Warshaw
July 11 – The ISL corruption scandal that has tainted both world football’s governing body, FIFA, and its President, Sepp Blatter, for over a decade took a giant step forwards today when João Havelange, Blatter’s predecessor, and his former son-in-law, Ricardo Teixeira, were confirmed as having received millions of dollars in kickbacks from FIFA’s former marketing partner.
FIFA investigating Premier League spot-fixing following Lundekvam claims
By Andrew Warshaw
July 11 – Worrying claims that spot-fixing was rife among players in the English Premier League are to be investigated by FIFA.
Al-Hasawi family complete Nottingham Forest takeover
By Andrew Warshaw
July 11 – Yet another Middle East venture is investing in English football with the news that Nottingham Forest has been taken over by Kuwait’s Al-Hasawi family.
Wales “respects” footballers’ decision to play for Team GB at London 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
July 11 – The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has reiterated that it will not punish any of the five Welsh players selected for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.
FIFA set to name new Ethics Committee chairmen as reforms continue
By Andrew Warshaw
July 11 – The next stage in cleaning up FIFA after the most tarnished year in its history takes place next week when football’s world governing body appoints two figures who will play key roles in trying to banish corruption.
Capello, Redknapp and Guardiola shortlisted for Russia coach job
By Andrew Warshaw
July 11 – Former England manager Fabio Capello and ex-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola are among 13 candidates being touted as the new Russia national team coach as the country looks ahead to the 2018 World Cup.
Mihir Bose: Under-fire Platini finds task of effecting change cannot simply be achieved with one sublime, defence-splitting pass
Poor Michel Platini. Do you not feel sorry for him? A wonderful footballer, he exchanges his shorts for a suit and becomes an administrator. Under his Presidency, UEFA hosts a European football competition that everyone says is one of the best in recent memory, if not the best ever.
The fears that it will lead to racist violence, and that players might even walk off during a match if they are racially abused,
Scudamore defends Premier League governance, despite mounting debts
By David Gold at Westminster in London
July 10 – Richard Scudamore, the chief executive of the English Premier League, today gave a vigorous defence of the regulation of their clubs, despite the excessive debt still swirling around the English game.
Powerful Uruguay squad has Olympic gold as its goal
By David Gold
July 10 – A strong Uruguay squad for the London 2012 Olympic tournament will feature Liverpool duo Luis Suárez and Sebastián Coates as well as Edinson Cavani of Napoli.
Gazprom adds name to roster of UEFA Champions League backers
By David Gold
July 10 – Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom will be a UEFA Champions League sponsor for the next three years.