Nigeria’s Christian Obodo released unhurt by kidnappers
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.
Gold Cup 2025
Pochettino happy with USA’s new-found ‘fight’ but wary of the Guatemala challenge
July 2 – Having looked like a team that were struggling to find any cohesion or common purpose after four straight losses, including a miserable performance in March at the Concacaf Nations League final, suddenly the USA look as though, if not the real deal, they are certainly worth a reappraisal.
China signs multi-million yuan deal with Hyundai to boost Russia 2018 World Cup campaign
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.
Fears as political fervour threatens to disrupt Poland-Russia Euro 2012 encounter
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.
FIFA’s Prince Ali “expresses concerns” over Asia World Cup qualifiers refereeing
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.
Andrew Warshaw: One can only hope that Euro 2012 doesn’t end in tears
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,
Germany and Portugal charged with misconduct at Euro 2012
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.
UEFA to launch investigation after Russian fans accused of 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.
Lowy announces Board for 2015 Asian Cup
By Duncan Mackay
June 9 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy (pictured) has announced the Board for the 2015 Asian Cup.
Paris St Germain to stay at Parc de Princes
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.
World Cup organiser boycotts Euro 2012 over racism fears
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.
UEFA confirms racist chanting at Dutch training session in Poland
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.
Exclusive: World Cup preparations are “going well”, insists Brazil’s Sports Minister
By David Gold
June 8 – Aldo Rebelo, Brazil’s Sports Minister, has told insideworldfootball that the infrastructure development and construction projects taking place for the hosting of the 2014 FIFA World Cup are “going well”, despite suffering a raft of bad press and setbacks in recent months.
Netherlands decides not to make racism complaint to UEFA
By Andrew Warshaw
June 8 – The Dutch Football Association has reportedly decided to make no official complaint to UEFA after skipper Mark van Bommel was subject to racist abuse at an open training session two days before the start of the 2012 European Championship.
UK Government boycott Euro 2012 over Ukraine’s human rights record
By Andrew Warshaw
June 8 – The British Government has joined the Europe-wide condemnation of Ukraine’s human rights record by announcing it will snub the group phase of the 2012 European Championship because of the “selective justice” meted out to jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
Chelsea’s Battersea Power Station bid scuppered by Malaysian developers
By David Gold
June 7 – Chelsea’s hopes of moving into a new stadium in Battersea have been scuppered by two Malaysian property companies.