Arsenal launch Barcelona-style membership scheme
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August 17 – Arsenal are to launch a new Barcelona-style membership scheme for thousands of fans, they have announced.
Blatter urged to postpone Nigerian elections
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 17 – Pressure to get the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to postpone its elections due on Saturday (August 21) is continuing to build with Segun Odegbami , one of the country’s former top players, joining in the calls by petitioning FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
Thomas Lyte sign-up as England 2018 official supporter
August 17 – The England 2018 World Cup Bid has announced the signing of Thomas Lyte as an Official Supporter.
Mutko confident of Russian success as FIFA inspectors arrive
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 16 – Russia will do everything possible to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022, the country’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko vowed as FIFA’s inspection team arrived in St Petersburg to begin its four-day visit.
David Cameron to miss FIFA World Cup inspection visit
By David Owen
August 16 - David Cameron (pictured right), the British Prime Minister, is to miss next week’s visit by FIFA inspectors assessing England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup.
Iran coach happy to talk about football rather than clothing
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By Tom Degun in Singapore
August 15 – Shahrzad Mozafar, the coach of the Iranian girl’s team at the Summer Youth Olympic Games, told insidethegames that she was happy to talk about something other than the team’s clothing after her side claimed a 1-0 win over Papa New Guinea in their second match in Group A courtesy of an early second half strike by Fatemeh Ardestani.
Exclusive: Coe delighted with West Ham pledge to keep track
By Duncan Mackay in Singapore
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 15 – Sebastian Coe has publicly backed West Ham United’s bid to take over the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games in London following their pledge to keep a permanent athletics track.
Indonesian naturalisation plan backed
August 13 – A controversial plan by the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) to recruit players from overseas to play for the national team has been backed by the Government.
Cruyff absence cannot dent Holland-Belgium confidence after World Cup inspection visit
By Andrew Warshaw
August 13 – Dutch and Belgian bid officials believe their so-called “World Coaches legacy programme” will be the key factor that could persuade FIFA to grant them the 2018 World Cup.
Coventry hope Olympics will help win train station approval for Ricoh Arena
August 13 – Coventry is hoping that being added to the list of venues to host football matches for the 2012 Olympics will help them win approval to build a new train station at the Ricoh Arena.
Mihir Bose: Fans should treat new owners with extreme caution
It is part of the change that has come over football that, as the new season starts, the fans must not only look out for the new players who have walked into the clubs’ changing rooms but the new owners who may now own their clubs’ boardrooms.
In the last few weeks, the football news has been as dominated by the transfers of club ownership as much as player transfers. Or more accurately stories of possible sales of clubs with Liverpool,
Nottingham World Cup stadium set to be moved
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 13 – Nottingham’s proposed controversial new stadium to host World Cup matches if England’s bid to host 2018 is successful is set to be moved from its original location, it has been reported.
Moscow included in FIFA inspection visit itinerary
By Andrew Warshaw
August 12 – Russia’s 2018 World Cup bid team has delivered the broadest hint yet that the FIFA inspection team about to visit the country will be able to include Moscow in their itinerary.
Exclusive: World Cup windfall for Liverpool
By David Owen
August 13 – Liverpool are set to enjoy an unexpected financial windfall from the World Cup in South Africa, thanks to the presence at the tournament of players like Fernando Torres (pictured), an insidetworldfootball survey can exclusively reveal.
David Owen: Liverpool win the World Cup – sort of
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These are tense times to be a supporter of Liverpool Football Club.
But into every life a little sunshine must pour and, after spending two days number-crunching, I think I am in a position to announce a small piece of good news for Anfield-watchers.
The Reds look set to get a bumper share of the $40 million that FIFA has for the first time earmarked for payment to the clubs whose players took part in the recent World Cup in South Africa.