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,
By Andrew Warshaw
June 12 – Exactly two years before the start of the Brazil 2014 World Cup, FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke, back in his role as the tournament’s chief trouble-shooter, has spoken of the “rising anticipation” through South America.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 12 – UEFA is to investigate yet more alleged instances of racist behaviour at the 2012 European Championship, this time during the group match between Spain and Italy.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 12 – The French sports marketing rights company Sportfive has signed a 28 million rand (£2.1 million/$3.3 million/€2.7 million) three-deal deal with South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to screen South Africa’s competitive away qualifiers until 2015.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 12 – The full extent of why Europe’s clubs are so anxious about their players getting injured at the 2012 European Championship can be explained by figures just released by the European Club Association (ECA).
By Andrew Warshaw
June 12 – Nigerian police have freed Italy-based international Christian Obodo unhurt a day after gunmen kidnapped the midfielder and demanded a ransom.
By Duncan Mackay
June 11 – Hyundai have announced a major partnership with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) becoming the sport’s biggest sponsor in the country.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 11 – Polish football officials admit tomorrow’s Euro 2012 encounter between the joint hosts and Russia could potentially erupt into nationalist fervour.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 11 – Jordanian Football Association President Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, the forward-thinking new vice-president of FIFA, has taken the unusual step of criticising the standard of refereeing after his country were controversially trounced 6-0 by Japan in a World Cup qualifier.
Racist chanting, fans clashing with police, Governments threatening a boycott over Ukraine’s human rights record – and all manner of other negative publicity on an almost daily basis. Nobody can say European football’s governing body weren’t warned.
Later this week, I am travelling to the 2012 European Championship to try to see for myself just how risky UEFA’s decision was in granting the tournament to Poland and Ukraine.
In all likelihood,
By Andrew Warshaw
June 11 – UEFA have sanctioned two more countries for falling foul of the rules at Euro 2012 – this time nothing to do with racism.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 10 – UEFA are considering taking action against Russia – hosts of the 2018 World Cup – following yet more alarming reports of racism at Euro 2012.
By Duncan Mackay
June 9 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy (pictured) has announced the Board for the 2015 Asian Cup.
By David Gold
June 9 – Paris St Germain will be staying at the Parc des Princes for “the long term”, Paris City Council have said.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 9 – Danny Jordaan, the man in charge of organising the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, is boycotting the European Championship finals in Poland and Ukraine in protest at the racism reports that plagued the build-up to the tournament which began last night.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 8 – UEFA today confirmed there were “isolated incidents of racist chanting” aimed at Netherlands players during a pre-European Championship open training session in Kraków yesterday and reiterated its stance against all forms of discrimination.