Manchester United and Manchester City face television shun
By Declan Warrington
December 9 – Manchester United and Manchester City face the possibility of being overlooked for Channel 5’s coverage of the Europa League.
FIFA vice-president reprimanded for role in ISL corruption scandal
By Duncan Mackay in Lausanne
December 8 – Issa Hayatou, the vice-president of FIFA, has been given a reprimand for his involvement in an alleged corruption affair, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge (pictured) revealed here today.
UEFA will not investigate Lyon Champions League match despite big goal swing
By David Gold
December 8 – Lyon’s stunning 7-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb in their crucial Champions League qualifying game will not be investigated for irregular betting patterns, UEFA has said.
England’s Euro 2012 chances boosted as Rooney’s match ban is softened
By Andrew Warshaw
December 8 – Wayne Rooney’s (pictured left) chances of playing a major part in England’s Euro 2012 campaign received a major boost today when a UEFA appeals panel reduced his three-match ban.
FIFA vice-president Prince Ali wades in on match fixing debacle
By Andrew Warshaw
December 8 – FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein is the latest high-profile figure to stress the need to eradicate match fixing.
Manchester United set to lose £22 million after Champions League exit
By David Gold
December 8 – Manchester United’s accountants will be counting the cost of their shock elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Basle last night, as the club could lose up to £22 million ($34 million/€26 million) in income.
Morocco book place at London 2012 with victory over Egypt
By David Gold
December 7 – Morocco beat Egypt 3-2 in the African Olympic qualifiers semi-final in Marrakech to secure a place at the London 2012 Olympic Games football tournament.
CFU general secretary Kanhai resigns due to “pressures”
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – Angenie Kanhai (pictured), general secretary of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) who is understood to have helped FIFA in its investigation of the cash-for-votes scandal, is resigning in the face of “emotional, psychological and physical” pressure.
Jordaan takes on Patel for top COSAFA role
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – Danny Jordaan (pictured), organiser of last year’s World Cup in South Africa, goes head to head with a single rival on Friday (December 9) in a bid to get back into the footballing spotlight and oversee the game in southern Africa.
Indictments made in Turkish match fixing scandal
By David Gold
December 7 – Turkish prosecutors have indicted 93 suspects in the match fixing scandal which has rocked the game in the country.
Brazil overturns alcohol ban with new World Cup law
By David Gold
December 7 – Brazil has drafted a new 2014 World Cup Law, which overturns a ban on alcohol being sold and consumed at sports venues.
Arsenal decide against 2012 Emirates Cup due to Olympics clash
By David Gold
December 7 – Arsenal have announced that they will not stage the Emirates Cup next summer due to the London Olympic Games taking place over the period when the annual tournament would usually be held.
FBI probing World Cup votes for 2018 and 2022, it is claimed
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – The corruption allegations that swirled around the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups just over a year ago have been reignited by a suggestion that the FBI is now involved.
Late winner earns Gabon place at London 2012
By David Gold
December 6 – A late, late header from Bordeaux’s Andre Biyogho Poko was enough to give Gabon a shock 1-0 win over Senegal and a place at the London 2012 Olympic Games football tournament, making them the first African nation to qualify.
Goal-line technology could be used from 2012-2013, says FIFA President
By Andrew Warshaw
December 6 – At least two goal-line technology systems have proved themselves sufficiently accurate and could be in place by the start of next season, FIFA President Sepp Blatter has revealed.