Blatter wants professional referees at Brazil 2014
By Andrew Warshaw
January 5 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter wants professional referees to be an established part of the game by the time of the next World Cup in Brazil.
Spurs sign up Mike Lee to run Olympic Stadium campaign
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
January 5 – Tottenham Hotspur have appointed former London 2012 communications director and West Ham United director Mike Lee to spearhead their campaign to take over the Olympic Stadium.
Jordan’s Prince Ali challenging Chung for FIFA Executive Committee spot
By David Owen
January 4 – The first of many prospective personnel changes on FIFA’s ruling 24-member Executive Committee is set to come this week with elections due in Asia.
Mike Rowbottom: Plain talking from the City player with the title influence
So we’ve got Rodney – Marsh, of course, who else? – in the nightclub – Tramps, of course, where else? – with George – Best, of course, who else? – and Michael – Caine, of course, who else?
And Caine’s conversation gets around to all the great things Best – now playing with Marsh at Fulham – did at Old Trafford.
The problem arrives when Caine leans across the table and,
Players’ union adds voice to campaign for winter World Cup 2022
By Andrew Warshaw
December 21 – The union representing professional players worldwide, FIFPro, today added its voice to the growing campaign for the Qatar 2022 World Cup to be held during the winter.
FIFA urged not to rush decision on winter switch for 2022 World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
January 4 – The head of Asian football insists Qatar can still stage the 2022 World Cup in the heat of mid-summer and has urged FIFA not to make a decision about switching it to the winter until 2018 at the earliest.
Rio opens emergency response centre to help keep 2014 World Cup safe
January 3 – Rio de Janeiro has hired IBM and other major international firms to help bolster its emergency response operations in the build-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics.
Coe wants British Dream Team at London 2012
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
January 2 – Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard (pictured) would play alongside David Beckham for Britain at next year’s London Olympics if Sebastian Coe’s wish is granted.
Coe backs West Ham United plan to take over Olympic Stadium after London 2012
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
January 2 – Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of taking over the Olympic Stadium following London 2012 suffered a setback today when Sebastian Coe came out and publicly backed the proposal presented by Premier League rivals West Ham United.
Blatter: “I’ll take personal responsibility for weeding out corruption”
By Andrew Warshaw
January 2 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has revealed he wants to set up an anti-corruption unit to weed out football’s worst practices.
Gauntlet thrown down over FIFA presidency
By Andrew Warshaw
December 30 – Sepp Blatter has laid down the gauntlet to any potential challengers by clearly indicating he aims to continue as FIFA President and be re-elected halfway through 2011 for what would be an unprecedented fourth term.
Mihir Bose: FA will learn nothing if they do not confront England 2018 defeat
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It did not take long for the board of the Football Association to choose David Bernstein as the new chairman. The whole thing, I am told, took a bare five minutes. He was nominated, all hands went up and on to the next business.
However, sometime after this decision, there was a report by Andy Anson on England’s disastrous World Cup bid for 2018. Here something rather curious happened.
Before the meeting there had been much anticipation of what Anson,
Northern Ireland players will be allowed to take part in London 2012
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
December 24 – Any Northern Ireland players, like Manchester United’s Corry Evans (pictured), that want to play for Britain in the London 2012 Olympics will not be prevented from doing so, the Irish Football Association’s new President Jim Shaw has promised.
West Ham vice-chairman blasts Tottenham “smash and grab” raid on Olympic Stadium
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
December 24 – West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady has launched a bitter attack on Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur’s controversial campaign to take over the Olympic Stadium following London 2012, claiming they are not welcome in the area.
Platini set to continue as UEFA President for four more years
By Andrew Warshaw
December 23 – Michel Platini is to stay in charge of UEFA for another four years after no other candidate came forward to challenge him by last night’s deadline.