FIFA kicks off on YouTube
By David Gold
March 23 – FIFA has made its debut on YouTube seeking to make its online content more accessible to football fans across the globe.
West Ham United among four formal bidders for London 2012 Olympic Stadium
By David Gold
March 23 – Championship outfit West Ham United have confirmed that they are one of four parties submitting formal bids to move into the Olympic Stadium after London 2012.
Marco Polo Del Nero takes Teixeira’s FIFA Executive Committee seat
By David Gold
March 23 – Brazilian Marco Polo Del Nero (pictured) is to take Ricardo Teixeira’s seat on the FIFA Executive Committee, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) have confirmed.
CONCACAF Olympic qualifiers get underway in US
By David Gold
March 23 – The Confederation of North, Central and Caribbean Football (CONCACAF) men’s Olympic football qualifiers have begun in the United States, with all eight teams hoping to make it to London.
Russia responds to latest “banana incident” with anti-racism football taskforce launch
By David Gold
March 23 – The Russian Football Union (RFU) has launched a taskforce to tackle racism in football, just days after Christopher Samba (pictured far right) had a banana thrown at him during a league game.
FC Platinum banned from using home ground for Champions League match
By David Gold
March 23 – Zimbabwean team FC Platinum (pictured) have been ordered by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to play a Champions League game against Sudanese side El Merreikh in the country’s capital Harare, rather than their home town of Zvishavane.
British FIFA vice-presidency is anachronistic, admits FA general secretary
By Andrew Warshaw in Istanbul
March 22 – British domestic associations concede the time has come to consider giving up their unique privilege of an automatic vice-presidency at FIFA that has stood for 66 years.
UEFA yet to receive Sir Dave Richards’ apology after Doha gaffe
By Andrew Warshaw in Istanbul
March 22 – UEFA President Michel Platini today revealed he has still not received any official apology from Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards (pictured) following his outrageous claim that that FIFA and UEFA “stole” football from England.
Choose between the Olympics or Euro 2020 UEFA President warns Turkey
By Andrew Warshaw in Istanbul
March 22 – UEFA President Michel Platini (pictured) promised today to vote for Turkey if the country goes ahead with a bid for the 2020 European Championships – but not if Istanbul pursues its drive to stage the Olympics and Paralympics in the same year.
Clubs to receive €100 million compensation for fielding players at Euro 2012
By Andrew Warshaw in Istanbul
March 22 – Europe’s leading clubs today gained a valuable concession in their battle with the game’s governing bodies when UEFA agreed to hand them massive payouts for players released for the European Championships in June.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter condemns Turkish football’s match fixing debacle
By Andrew Warshaw in Istanbul
March 22 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has stepped into the match fixing scandal that has plagued Turkish football in recent months here today at the UEFA Congress.
Muamba’s recovery is a miracle, insists FIFA President Blatter
By Andrew Warshaw in Istanbul
March 22 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) today described the remarkable recovery of stricken Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba as “a miracle” saying it rekindled memories of the tragic death of Cameroon’s Marc-Vivien Foe nine years ago.
Messi overtakes Beckham as football’s top earner
By David Gold
March 22 – Lionel Messi (pictured) has overtaken David Beckham as the world’s best paid footballer, after a study revealed he made €33 million (£27.5 million/$52 million) during 2011.
Bolton resume play as Muamba makes remarkable recovery
By David Gold
March 22 – Bolton Wanderers will play their weekend Premier League clash with Blackburn Rovers and the abandoned FA Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur next week after stricken midfielder Fabrice Muamba’s family encouraged the club to do so.
Turkish Prime Minister hints at Euro 2020 bid
By Andrew Warshaw in Istanbul
March 22 – The Turkish Government today gave the broadest public hint yet that the country would like to stage the European Championships in 2020.