Iraqi clubs banned from Asian Cup
January 7 – Iraqi clubs have been banned from this year’s Asian Cup, it was announced today.
Asia
Worawi sets Robson series of targets for 2010
By Duncan Mackay
January 3 – Worawi Makudi, whose position as President of the Football Association of Thailand (TAF) has been under threat, has signalled his intention to stay in his role by setting out a series of targets for coach, former England captain Bryan Robson (pictured with Worawi), during 2010.
Iranian football official forced to resign over New Year greeting to Israel
January 3 – Mohammad-Manour Azimzadeh (pictured), a senior official in the Iranian Football Federation (FFI), has been forced to resign after a New Year’s greeting email was apparently sent on his behalf to his counterparts in Israel.
Former Hearts and Scottish rugby chief executive headhunted by Man City owner
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December 31 - Phil Anderton (pictured), the former chief executive of the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and Heart of Midlothian, has been headhunted by Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to be the head of Al-Jazira, his Abu Dhabi football club.
FIFA Executive Committee member offers to step down in Thailand
By Duncan Mackay
December 23 - Worawi Makudi (pictured), the President of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) and a member of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee, has threatened to step down from his post after the country’s disastrous campaign in the 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEA) tournament.
New Zealand club facing axe in Australian row with AFC
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December 18 – New Zealand’s Wellington Phoenix could be facing extinction in 2012 after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) demanded they be axed from the A-League.
UAE hoping to impress with FIFA Club World Cup
By Duncan Mackay
December 8 – Abu Dhabi organisers have been praised for their preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup, which opens tomorrow and which could be the launchpad for a bid for the 2026 World Cup.
India hope to use Commonwealth Games to bid for World Cup
November 28 – India plans to use next year’s Commonwealth Games as the launchpad for a bid to host the FIFA World Cup, they announced today.
Billion dollar deal for Asian football
November 24 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has today officially signed $100 billion (£604 million) deal with World Sport Group (WSG), extending a partnership that stretches back to 1993 and emphasises the sport’s growing value in the area, the world’s largest and most populous continent.
Brazilian President wants world champions to help in peace process
November 23 – Five-time world champions Brazil would be prepared to play an exhibition match against a joint Palestine-Israel team to help the peace process in the Middle East, the South American country’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said today.
Iraq vows to fight FIFA suspension
November 21 – Iraqi officials has promised that they will appeal against a decision by FIFA to suspend the country’s football association because of state interference.
Israeli Government warn Palestine new stadium could be demolished
November 20 – Work on a football stadium being built in the West Bank, and financed by FIFA, has been stopped, after Israel claimed that it wanted to use some of the land for its own use.
Southeast Asia could launch joint World Cup bid
November 18 – A coordinated bid from Southeast Asia, involving a number of countries including Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, could one day make a bid to host the World Cup, it has been claimed.
Iraq FA disbanded over allegations of financial problems
November 16 – The Iraqi Football Association (IFA) has been disbanded by the country’s Olympic Committee because of alleged financial and administrative irregularities and the repeated delaying of internal elections.
FIFA suspends Brunei from competition
September 30 – The Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (BAFA) has been suspended by FIFA for Government interference in its affairs, it has been announced.