Blatter sends good luck message to Prince William
April 27 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has sent a personal message to Prince William and Kate Middleton ahead of the Royal Wedding on Friday (April 29).
Silva suggests São Paulo may miss out on hosting 2014 games
By David Gold
April 27 – Orland Silva, Brazil’s Sports Minister, has cast fresh doubt on whether São Paulo will be able to host games during the 2014 World Cup, with construction still yet to begin on the city’s Itaquera Stadium, which is intended to host the tournament’s opening match.
Mutko and Sorokin rewarded with top positions at Russia 2018
By Andrew Warshaw
April 27 – Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has been appointed chairman of the organising committee for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
FA is “worst run” in Europe claims top UEFA official
By Andrew Warshaw at Westminster
April 26 – UEFA President Michel Platini’s top adviser says the English Football Association is arguably the worst run in Europe – mainly because of the power of the Premier League.
Swiss club set for takeover by Chechen businessman
By David Gold
April 26 – The purchase of debt ridden Swiss Super League club Neuchâtel Xamax by Chechen businessman Bulat Chagaev will go through on May 12.
Failure to field a unified UK football team would harm women’s game most, says Robertson
By Andrew Warshaw at Westminster
April 26 – Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson waded into the Olympic football row today by warning that the women’s game would lose out most if there is no unified UK team.
Political row threatens new Lyon stadium
By David Gold
April 26 – An escalating row between Lyon Mayor Gérard Collomb (pictured) and France’s Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno is threatening to derail plans for Olympique Lyonnais’ proposed new stadium, the Stade des Lumiéres, which is a probable venue for the 2016 European Championships.
David Owen: Bin Hammam can win FIFA election but will he make any difference?
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The race for the FIFA Presidency is turning out to be as dull as those for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were fascinating.
The incumbent, Joseph Blatter, is thus far adopting the wholly predictable strategy of emphasising the value of continuity in an unstable world while detailing the torrents of cash that have rained down on planet football over his 13-year tenure – and critically, he says, will continue to do so.
Sectarian and personal abuse prompts Gibson’s speedy Twitter departure
By David Gold
April 26 – Darron Gibson left Twitter just hours after setting up his account following a variety of abuse aimed in his direction, including some highly personal sectarian comments.
Blatter has stolen my ideas claims Bin Hammam
By Andrew Warhsaw
April 25 – Mohamed Bin Hammam, the challenger to Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, has criticised Blatter’s election manifesto as the battle for the biggest job in world sport intensifies.
Ogura pleads for assistance from FIFA Goal Programme
By David Gold
April 26 – Junji Ogura, President of the Japanese Football Association, is looking for FIFA assistance through the Goal Programme to help cover reconstruction of football facilities in the country after March’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Manchester United named world’s most valuable club
By David Gold
April 23 – Manchester United are the world’s most valuable football club, according to Forbes’ latest magazine.
Delaney hoping to bring more world-class football to Ireland after Europa final
By David Gold
April 23 – Irish FA chief executive John Delaney has set his sights on bringing the European Super Cup to Dublin after next month’s Europa League final, being held at the city’s Aviva stadium on May 18.
Telecinco to win Euro 2012 broadcast rights
By David Gold
April 23 – Spanish commercial broadcaster Telecinco, owned by Italian media giant Mediaset, is primed to win broadcast rights for UEFA Euro 2012, being held in Ukraine and Poland, according to reports there.
Halid banned from Indonesian Football Association elections
By David Gold
April 22 – FIFA has ruled that Nurdin Halid, the current head of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), is ineligible for the Executive Committee elections next month.