US puts Olympic women’s title defence in hands of rookies
By David Gold
May 28 – Reigning Olympic champions the United States has named its women’s team for London 2012, with a relatively inexperienced selection from coach Pia Sundhage.
Women's Euro 2025
Norway look for perfect group stage record against Iceland
July 10 – Norway take on Iceland in their final Group A match, looking to clinch a 100% record at EURO 2025 so far.
FIFA’s Jérôme Valcke makes first trip to Brazil since “Bagshot blunder”
By Andrew Warshaw
May 28 – For the first time since his infamous “kick up the backside” comments, FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke is flying to Brazil today to resume his duties as the organisation’s main negotiator for the 2014 World Cup.
Exclusive: Attempt to exile whistleblower Blazer scuppered by lack of support
By Andrew Warshaw
May 28 – A bid to throw last year’s cash-for-votes whistleblower Chuck Blazer out of FIFA’s inner sanctum failed when not enough nations supported the move.
High-profile names quizzed over Italian match-fixing
By Andrew Warshaw
May 28 – Antonio Conte (pictured below), who has just coached Juventus to the Serie A league title in his first season in charge, is reported to be among a number of high-profile names being questioned in the latest development in the Italian match-fixing probe.
BBC racism and violence exposé casts dark shadow on Euro 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
May 28 – Shocking new evidence of entrenched racism and violence in Ukrainian and Polish football has cast a dark shadow over the 2012 European Championship which starts on June 8.
Three killed during skirmishes following Indonesia Super League match
By David Gold
May 27 – Three people have reportedly been killed with five others badly injured in violent clashes following a heated match in the rebel Indonesia Super League.
Britain considering Ministerial boycott of Euro 2012
By Alan Hubbard
May 27 – The British Government are considering whether to join a political boycott of the upcoming European football championship in protest at Ukraine’s human rights record.
FIFA Prince concerned that hijab ban overturn won’t happen before key fixtures after medical objections
By Andrew Warshaw in Budapest
May 26 – FIFA’s Asian vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan (pictured), the modernist who has led a tireless campaign to overturn the ban on Muslim women footballers wearing the hijab, says he is “shocked and disturbed” by suggestions there are still medical objections.
Epiphany at Congress as FIFA demonstrates clean up commitment
By Andrew Warshaw in Budapest
May 26 – English FA chairman David Bernstein (pictured), strongly opposed a year ago to Sepp Blatter running uncontested for FIFA President, now believes the organisation has finally “seen the light”.
Have guts, do the right thing and back reforms, Pieth urges FIFA Congress
By Andrew Warshaw in Budapest
May 25 – The first wave of reforms to clean up FIFA were ratified as expected today with the man who drew them up pleading with world football’s governing body not to return to the ills of the past.
FIFA insurance to pay out $9.7 million per player injured during international duty
By Andrew Warshaw in Budapest
May 25 – After years of club-versus-country debate over who should pay for players injured on international duty, FIFA today laid out the terms of the groundbreaking insurance policy by revealing that a maximum $9.7 million (£6.2 million/€7.7 million) per player would be paid out covering a period of just over two years.
Britain set to lose automatic FIFA vice-presidency
By Andrew Warshaw in Budapest
May 25 – The automatic British vice-presidency of FIFA, which has been in place since 1947, looks almost certain to be scrapped as part of the drive to make football’s world governing body more forward-looking and less anachronistic.
We have Government guarantees from Istanbul, Euro 2020 does not, says Rogge
By Tom Degun at the Sport Accord Convention in Québec City
May 25 – International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge has dismissed the threat posed to a successful Istanbul 2020 Olympics and Paralympics bid by the European Championship finals bid from Turkey insisting that only the bid for the Games has the support of the Turkish Government.
Brazil 2014 report reveals “most projects will be completed in 2013”
By David Gold
May 25 – Brazil’s Ministry of Sport has revealed its latest assessment of preparations for the 2014 World Cup, with Minister Aldo Rebelo claiming that “most projects will be completed in 2013”.
FIFA President opens Annual Congress calling for unity in football’s inner sanctum
By Andrew Warshaw in Budapest
May 25 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter opened the main business of the 62nd FIFA Congress today with a speech that called for unity after a year of unprecedented scandal and damaging splits.