World Cup draw overshadowed by Teixeira-Pele dispute
By Andrew Warshaw in Rio de Janeiro
July 29 – To the eyes of the world, one man represents the iconic face of Brazilian football.
Draw marks the first test of Brazil’s World Cup preparations
By Andrew Warshaw in Rio de Janeiro
July 29 – The first major test of Brazil’s ability to organise the 2014 World Cup takes place tomorrow with a star-studded preliminary draw inside a giant makeshift auditorium at Rio de Janeiro’s swish Marina da Gloria.
Exclusive: Sao Paulo will stage opening match of Brazil 2014 World Cup officials claim
By Andrew Warshaw in Rio de Janeiro
July 29 – Sao Paulo officials today insisted the city will definitely be ready to stage the opening match of the 2014 World Cup, with a final decision to be made by FIFA’s Executive Committee in October.
Committee backs Premier League in fight against Portsmouth landlady screening live games
By David Gold at Westminster in London
July 29 – The Culture, Media and Sport Select committee have urged the Government to use its influence to prevent the European Court of Justice ruling in favour of Karen Murphy (pictured), a Portsmouth landlady, who wants to retain her right to broadcast Premier League football in her pub through a Greek satellite decoder.
Reform or we will do so for you, Committee tells football authorities
By David Gold at Westminster in London
July 29 – MPs today threatened to legislate in an attempt to force English football to make a number of reforms, including the introduction of a licensing system for professional clubs, if the Football Association (FA) was unable to do so, with MP Damian Collins telling football authorities that “doing nothing is not an option”.
Twelve New Zealand cities invited to host 2015 Under-20 World Cup
By David Gold
July 29 – Twelve cities have been invited by Frank van Hattum (pictured), the chairman of New Zealand football, to host the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2015.
Two Serie A teams face FIGC disciplinary hearing over match fixing allegations
By David Gold
July 28 – Atalanta and Chievo Verona will face an Italian Football Federation (FIGC) disciplinary hearing next week as part of the ongoing investigation into match fixing in the country.
Brazil more excited by World Cup than Rio 2016, FIFA survey claims
By Andrew Warshaw in Rio de Janeiro
July 28 – Vastly more Brazilians are looking forward to the FIFA World Cup in 2014 than the Rio Olympic Games two years later.
“I’m not a dictator” insists Blatter after Bin Hammam attack
By Andrew Warshaw in Rio de Janeiro
July 27 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter today refuted allegations by one-time colleague Mohamed Bin Hammam that he ran the organisation like a dictator but refused to get drawn any further into the explosive bribery scandal that snared the former Asian football chief at the weekend.
Brazil still deserve to host 2014 World Cup despite problems claims Blatter
By Andrew Warshaw in Rio de Janeiro
July 27 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter admitted today that preparations for the 2014 World Cup could be more advanced but said the country deserved to host the tournament and would end up proving critics wrong.
CFU associations given 48 hours to come clean
By Andrew Warshaw
July 26 – FIFA have given 25 Caribbean associations 48 hours to explain their role in the bribery scandal which led to Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam being banned for life.
Dallas agrees out of court settlement with SFA over Pope email
By David Gold
July 25 – Hugh Dallas has settled a dispute with the Scottish Football Association (SFA) out of court over an email he sent which mocked the Pope.
Exclusive: Caribbean countries to be probed as FIFA bribery saga continues
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – As many as 15 representatives of Caribbean countries could now face investigation as part of the explosive bribery scandal that brought down Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam at the weekend.
I will make your lives hell, Teixeira threatens English FA
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – Brazil’s Ricardo Teixeira, one of football’s most prominent powerbrokers, has launched a savage attack on the English Football Association, saying he will “make their lives hell” as long as he remains a member of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee.
Cockney rhyming slang chosen as name of football for London 2012
By David Gold
July 25 – Following an exhaustive search by London 2012 Official Sportswear Partner Adidas for a name for the football to be used in next year’s Olympics, it has been revealed that it will be called “The Albert”.