Exclusive: Arab Spring leaves Mido feeling flat
By Mihir Bose
May 8 – Mido, the Egyptian player, has hired renowned London lawyers Mishcon de Reya to overturn a FIFA decision which effectively stops him playing for eight months.
“Give me a knighthood and I’ll vote for you” FIFA member tells England 2018
By Andrew Warshaw
May 8 – A voting member of FIFA’s Executive Committee asked for a knighthood in exchange for backing England’s bid to stage the 2018 World Cup, The Sunday Times newspaper reported today.
FIFA to step up war on illegal betting
.jpg)
By Andrew Warshaw
May 8 – Football’s world governing body is stepping up the fight against match-fixing whilst trying to find ways of improving the game as a spectacle by scheduling two major meetings at its Zurich headquarters this week.
FIFA election is “not a popularity contest” claims Warner
By Andrew Warshaw
May 8 – CONCACAF boss Jack Warner (pictured) has stressed that the Confederation will not allow personalities to dictate which candidate to back in the forthcoming FIFA Presidential election.
QPR escape points deduction to ensure promotion to Premier League
By Andrew Warshaw
May 7 – One of the most drawn-out sagas of recent months was resolved today when Queens Park Rangers escaped a points deduction despite being found guilty of breaking strict third-party ownership rules.
Makudi confident of re-election
By David Gold
May 6 – Worawi Makudi, the chief of the Thai Football Association, is confident that he will be re-elected to the post next week despite the country’s expulsion from the 2012 Olympic football qualifiers.
Impressive World Cup gives New Zealand Football record budget surplus
By David Gold
May 6 – New Zealand’s appearance in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa led to the country’s football governing body posting a record budget surplus of $7.7 million (£3.7 million) last year.
Polish clubs forced to play in front of empty stadiums after cup final violence
By David Gold
May 6 – Legia Warsaw and Lech Poznan will play their respective Polish League games against Korona Kielce and Gornik Zabrze in front of empty stadiums after rioting following the cup final between the two sides last week.
Liverpool optimistic despite revealing £20 million loss
By David Gold
May 6 – Liverpool’s managing director Ian Ayre insists that the club is “very optimistic” about its future despite losses of £20 million ($33 million) in the club’s accounts up to July 31 2010, when previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were still in charge of the Premier League side.
French 1998 World Cup winners split on quota row as Blanc’s future hangs in the balance
By David Gold
May 6 – The ethnic quota row engulfing French football has accelerated this week, with national team coach Laurent Blanc’s position in doubt, despite the suspension of the French Football Federation’s (FFF) National Technical Director Francois Blaquart.
Birmingham granted permission to play in Europe next season
By David Gold
May 6 – The FA and Premier League have given Birmingham City the green light to play in Europe next season amid concern over their financial stability.
Silva promises improvement in Brazil’s 2014 World Cup preparations
-800x510.jpg)
By David Gold
May 6 – Brazil’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup will speed up towards the end of this year, according to the country’s Sports Minister Orlando Silva, who is seeking to improve the country’s image amid sluggish preparations for the tournament.
Whyte completes Rangers takeover for £1
By David Gold
May 6 – Craig Whyte (pictured) has completed his takeover of Glasgow Rangers after paying £1 ($1.63) for Sir David Murray’s stake in the Ibrox club.
UEFA chiefs back Blatter to carry on as FIFA President
By Andrew Warshaw
May 6 – The inner sanctum of European football’s governing body has pledged its “unanimous support” to Sepp Blatter in the upcoming FIFA Presidential elections.
Royal family deny reports of Leoz wedding invitation
By Andrew Warshaw
May 5 – Claims that England’s 2018 World Cup bid team invited a prominent FIFA member to last week’s royal wedding to entice his vote have been denied.