Russia 2018 host cities to be announced by FIFA in September
By David Gold
March 20 – FIFA will make a decision on which cities will host matches at the Russia 2018 World Cup this September, it was confirmed today.
Turf cut for first time at new Welsh National Football Centre
By David Gold
March 20 – The turf for the new Welsh National Football Centre has been cut for the first time at the Newport International Sports Village.
CONMEBOL to decide who takes Teixeira’s FIFA Executive Committee seat
By Andrew Warshaw
March 20 – FIFA reiterated today that it will be up to the game’s South American Confederation, CONMEBOL, to replace Brazil’s Ricardo Teixeira (pictured) on the world football governing body’s Executive Committee.
Oceania London 2012 qualifiers host New Zealand yet to clinch semis spot
By David Gold
March 20 – Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Vanuatu are all through to the semi-finals of the Oceania men’s football qualifiers for London 2012, but hosts New Zealand are yet to seal their last four spot.
Russia 2018 officials play down racism issue despite another banana throwing incident
By Andrew Warshaw
March 20 – Russia 2018 were forced into revisiting the issue of racism today but continued to deny it was a serious problem despite yet another widely reported incident.
Barcelona give Sergio Busquets go ahead to compete at London 2012
By David Gold
March 20 – Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets (pictured) will be able to compete at the London 2012 football tournament for Spain after their Olympic coach, Luis Milla, reached an agreement with the Catalan club.
FIFA’s Jérôme Valcke resumes Brazil 2014 role after Bagshot blunder
By Andrew Warshaw
March 20 – FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke (pictured) has been given a crucial lifeline after being cleared to carry on running the organisation’s 2014 World Cup programme.
Former England 2018 marketing director joins the Co-op
By Duncan Mackay
March 20 – David Magliano, the marketing director of England’s disastrous bid to host the 2018 World Cup, has joined the Co-operative Group as its new brand director, it has been announced.
Havelange “seriously ill” in Rio de Janeiro hospital
By Duncan Mackay
March 20 – Former FIFA President João Havelange is seriously ill while undergoing treatment for an infection, a Brazilian hospital has announced.
Teixeira quits as member of FIFA Executive Committee
By Duncan Mackay
March 20 – Ricardo Teixeira has resigned as a member of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee, a week after he quit as the President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and Brazil 2014.
D-Day looms for Indonesian football with no resolution in place
By David Gold
March 19 – D-day for Indonesia’s embattled Football Association (PSSI) is looming with no sign in sight of a resolution to its conflict with the breakaway domestic league.
Andrew Warshaw: Incidents like Saturday’s remind us that football is not more important than life or death
It was one of those dramatic “I was there” occasions – but for tragic reasons. The day when football took a back seat and the fragility of human life took over.
Anyone who was at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane stadium on Saturday cannot fail to have been emotionally moved by the harrowing scenes of Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsing with heart failure.
Never in all my years of covering the game have I seen so much collective shock and distress among players,
Brazil 2014 won’t be the greatest and we’ll be embarrassed, says Romário
By Andrew Warshaw
March 19 – Romário (pictured), the former Brazilian striker turned Congressman, has once again criticised 2014 World Cup preparations, suggesting his country will be “embarrassed” by poor organisation.
UEFA President and Turkish Prime Minister meet for match fixing talks
By Andrew Warshaw
March 18 – UEFA President Michel Platini is set to meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (pictured)tomorrow for an update on the match fixing scandal that has rocked Turkish football.
Fabrice Muamba fights for life after collapse at Tottenham v Bolton game
By David Gold
March 17 – Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba (pictured) is in a North London hospital tonight after collapsing during an FA Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.