By David Gold
October 25 – Canada’s national women’s football team have been drawn alongside Costa Rica, Cuba and Haiti as they look to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
And so there I was, putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) on an explanation of why Liverpool’s chief executive Ian Ayre was right to bring up the issue of the collective television bargaining agreement that exists in the Premier League, and whether top clubs should go it alone in signing rights agreements with broadcasters.
True, he has less chance of success with this battle in the Premier League boardroom than a tourist has of leaving Mexico without getting clenbuterol into their system – and for that true football fans should be thankful.
By David Gold
October 25 – Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Basdeo Panday has said that ex-FIFA vice-president Jack Warner cannot be touched, as an investigation is carried out into the former CONCACAF President’s role in the cash-for-votes scandal by the country’s Attorney General.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 25 – German legend Franz Beckenbauer is aiming to change the offside law to make it simpler for referees to interpret.
By David Gold
October 25 – The Aston Villa team which won the European Cup in 1982 is to be inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame later this month.
By Tom Degun in Guadalajara
October 25 – In the latest twist in the corruption scandal crisis revolving around Brazilian Sports Minister Orlando Silva, the country’s Supreme Federal Court confirmed that it has opened a formal investigation into the serious allegations against him.
By David Gold
October 25 – The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has requested that the South African Football Association (SAFA) meet with them as a matter of urgency as they look to find a way to help the national side qualify for the London Olympic Games next year.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 24 – German referees are at the centre of a tax evasion investigation that threatens to heap embarrassment on a nation that prides itself on footballing ethics.
By David Gold
October 24 – Continental will be an official UEFA European Championships sponsor for both the 2012 tournament, being held in Ukraine and Poland, and the 2016 event in France.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 24 – The man who replaced Franz Beckenbauer at the top table of FIFA has again questioned the decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
By David Gold
October 23 – Manchester City have launched an international membership programme, which give members access to a range of benefits, including dedicated fan zones, entry to exclusive competitions and offers on club merchandise.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 22 – Sepp Blatter’s radical new proposals for weeding out corruption have been given a cautious welcome by the Transparency International, the pressure group that has been advising FIFA.
By David Gold
October 21 – American soccer coach Caleb Porter (pictured) will be in charge of the American football team aiming to qualify for next summer’s London Olympic Games.
By David Gold
October 22 – Cameroon’s women’s football team edged out Nigeria to take their place at the London 2012 Olympic Games, after a 4-3 penalty shootout victory, with the sides unable to be separated after 210 minutes of play.
By David Gold
October 22 – FC Zurich President Ancillo Canepa (pictured) claims he can see a day when a woman will coach a men’s football team, though he does not think it will be in the next few years.