Ferdinand fined for Twitter “choc ice” comments
By David Gold
August 20 – Rio Ferdinand has been fined £45,000 ($70,000/€57,000) by the English Football Association (FA) for comments on the social networking site Twitter.
Gold Cup 2025
USA clinch last four slot with penalty win over Costa Rica
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,
Warner palms away accusations after being linked with mystery Qatar cheque
By Andrew Warshaw
August 19 – Scandal-tarnished former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has claimed he has no case to answer after being linked in his homeland with a £250,000 ($392,000/€318,000) cheque he allegedly received from Qatar while involved with world football’s governing body.
Bin Hammam foiled further in attempts to prove innocence as suspension is extended
By Andrew Warshaw
August 19 – Mohamed Bin Hammam’s efforts to clear his name hit the buffers once again today when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) extended a provisional suspension of its former President by another 20 days while it continues to investigate allegations of financial wrongdoing when he was in charge.
David Owen: Cardiff City will always be big men with silky touches playing in blue shirts to me
Now that I’ve seen the pictures, I am ready to believe it: Cardiff City are playing this season in red shirts (Heiðar Helguson, pictured below left, in the new shirt).
It feels wrong – like archery at Lord’s or Usain Bolt doing the polevault.
My personal image of Cardiff will always be caught up with Jimmy Scoular’s team that so nearly made it into the top tier of “English” football in 1970-71.
Joeys head to Bolivia for altitude training
By David Gold
August 19 – Australia’s youngsters are travelling to Bolivia to get used to playing at altitude before they start their World Cup qualifying campaign next month.
World Cup star Beckenbauer to help Kaliningrad bid for Russia 2018 host city status
By David Gold
August 18 – Franz Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup with Germany as both a player and manager, is to help Kaliningrad’s bid to host matches at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Jahović hit with 10-match ban after threatening to kill referee
By David Gold
August 17 – Macedonian forward Adis Jahović has been given a 10-match ban by the Swiss Football League after telling a referee “if I see you after, I will kill you”.
Israel team faced “severe threat” of attack following Hungary friendly
By David Gold
August 17 – Israel’s national team were forced to use a decoy bus when leaving the Ferenc Puskás Stadium in Budapest after facing Hungary in a friendly this week.
Muamba announces retirement
By David Gold
August 17 – Fabrice Muamba has announced his retirement from football, months after miraculously surviving a heart attack during an English FA Cup tie.
Pitch International signs ten-year deal for Brazil’s friendlies
By David Gold
August 17 – Pitch International has agreed an exclusive deal with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to organise and promote the national team’s friendly games for the next decade.
Park Jong-Woo to be exempt from military service despite FIFA probe
By David Gold
August 16 – The South Korean player who unfurled a controversial sign supporting the country’s claim to sovereignty over the disputed Dokdo islands will continue to be exempt from military service despite being barred from collecting his Olympic bronze medal.
Råsunda stadium plays host to emotional last match
By David Gold
August 16 – Brazil has bid farewell to the famous stadium where they announced their arrival as a world football force at the World Cup in 1958.
Ribéry and Benzema to face judge over teen prostitution allegations
By David Gold
August 16 – French stars Franck Ribéry and Karim Benzema are to be called before a judge to answer allegations that they paid a 16-year-old for sex.
Pelé set to be the global face of Brazil 2014 and Rio 2016
By Duncan Mackay
August 16 – Pelé’s profile, already skyhigh thanks to his position as the world’s best-ever footballer, is set to rocket even higher after he signed a deal that will see him become the face of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Prosecutor launches appeal against Pepe and Bonucci acquittals
By David Gold
August 16 – The prosecutor in the Italian match-fixing scandal has appealed against the decision to acquit Juventus players Simone Pepe and Leonardo Bonucci.