Exclusive: England demands apology over Sorokin comments
By David Owen in Zurich
October 26 – England 2018 has made a formal complaint to FIFA about its arch-rival, the Russian bid.
Women's Euro 2025
Welsh passion not enough to quell a rampant France
France 1 Wales 1
July 9 – A rampant France booked their ticket to the quarter-finals with a commanding 4-1 win over Wales in St. Gallen on Wednesday night. Despite heavy rotation, the French side pulled no punches against the Euro debutants, delivering a dominant performance that sends a clear message to whoever awaits them next week.
Mihir Bose: No word in modern football is more misused than “ambition”
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The Wayne Rooney drama illustrates two things. One, that much of what has happened to Rooney is a replay of his past, the other that the modern world of football is a curious kind of business where players, managers, administrators and even owners have all developed their own distinctive agendas. Their demands for money are always clothed in a spurious sense of higher morality.
The only ones who have not written a new script for themselves are the fans.
UEFA calls for “tangible proof” over corruption allegations
By Andrew Warshaw
October 25 – European football’s governing body has called for firm evidence in response to allegations of corruption in the bidding race for Euro 2012.
Platini claims goal-line technology will lead to “PlayStation football”
By Andrew Warshaw
October 25 – UEFA President Michel Platini (pictured) has said introducing goal-line technology will lead to “PlayStation football”.
Exclusive: Zen-Ruffinen admits meeting undercover reporters “a lot of times”
By David Owen in Zurich
October 25 – Michel Zen-Ruffinen (pictured right), the former FIFA general secretary who has emerged as the latest source of explosive allegations in the World Cup bidding race, met the Sunday Times’ undercover reporters “quite a lot of times” over two-and-a-half months, he has told insideworldfootball.
Agents face three per cent fee cap
By David Owen in Zurich
October 25 – Agents’ fees could be capped at three per cent under new rules being drawn up by FIFA, world football’s governing body.
UEFA members accepted millions to vote for Poland and Ukraine to host Euro 2012, it is claimed
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
October 24 – A new corruption scandal erupted today when it was claimed that UEFA officials accepted €11 million (£10 million/$15 million) worth of bribes to help Poland and Ukraine win its controversial bid to host the European Championships in 2012.
Former FIFA secretary general caught up in corruption scandal
By Andrew Warshaw
October 23 – The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has spiralled out of control tonight after further dramatic revelations in the Sunday Times that named Spain/Portugal and Qatar as allegedly agreeing to trade block votes and quoted a former FIFA boss as saying he knew the names of officials who were willing to take bribes.
World Cup bidders warned to stay away from disgraced pair
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 22 – Football’s world governing body has ordered the nine contenders bidding to stage the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 not to make contact with the two suspended Executive Committee members while they are under investigation for alleged bribery.
David Owen: Why Blatter may yet be the real winner in FIFA’s vote for cash scandal
Another weekend approaches. All eyes in this turbulent 2018-22 World Cup bidding war will soon be turning again towards the Sunday Times.
After Wednesday’s dramatic media conference, complete with an appearance by the FIFA President himself, it seems to me this could now go one of three ways.
Scenario Number One: the well-resourced London newspaper unleashes its second volley; more FIFA Executive Committee members are embarrassed/forced to try and defend themselves;
“I’ve done nothing wrong,” insists Adamu
By Andrew Warshaw
October 22 – Amos Adamu (pictured), the Nigerian official provisionally suspended by FIFA over bribery allegations, broke his silence today by insisting he had done nothing wrong.
World Cup bid teams impose news blackout over corruption scandal
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 21 – The bid teams of Spain/Portugal and Qatar imposed a total news blackout today as reports named them as the countries being investigated by FIFA as part of the explosive 2018 and 2022 World Cup corruption scandal.
FIFA suspend Executive Committee members in vote for cash scandal
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 20 – The two high-ranking FIFA officials at the heart of the World Cup cash-for-votes scandal were sensationally suspended today following allegations of corruption within football’s world governing body.
Goal-line technology “must give decision within one second”
By Andrew Warshaw
October 20 - After decades of fierce debate, goal-line technology moved a vital step forward today when football’s lawmakers finally gave the green light to re-consider the issue.
David Owen: End this rule-change voting system which unfairly favours Brits
I can still see the look of bemusement on the Brazilian journalist’s face.
It was in London a few years ago – in one of those expensive hotels along Park Lane.
Joseph Blatter, the FIFA President, had just explained the process by which the laws of football can be changed.
“So you mean to say,” the Brazilian journalist asked, still struggling evidently to grasp the enormity of what had been imparted,