By Andrew Warshaw
January 31 – Britain’s automatic FIFA Presidency is no longer under threat despite last year’s opposition to Sepp Blatter’s unchallenged re-election as FIFA President, according to the newest member of the organisation’s hierarchy, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured).
By Andrew Warshaw
January 31 – Just days after qualifying for the London Olympics, women’s soccer in the United States has suffered a massive blow with the announcement that the entire 2012 season is being scrapped.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – Former Welsh manager Gary Speed texted his wife, Louise Speed (pictured), four days before his tragic death and “talked in terms of taking his life”, an inquest was told today.
By David Gold
January 30 – Ukrainian international goalkeeper Oleksandr Rybka (pictured) has been banned by UEFA for two years after testing positive for a banned substance last year.
By David Gold
January 30 – Tom Tomsk are set to be saved after Gazprom and Rosneft stepped in to help the ailing Russian Premier League side, following pressure from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – Just over a year after becoming the youngest member of FIFA’s inner sanctum, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured) of Jordan believes there is still too much politics and a lack of openness within world football’s governing body and that those who wish to speak out should not be silenced.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 29 – The acting head of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), China’s Zhang Jilong (pictured), has lent his support to the campaign for the wearing of the Islamic headscarf hijab by female footballers during matches.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 27 – Two-time Swiss champions Neuchâtel Xamax, the club where FIFA President Sepp Blatter used to be a director, have lost their appeal against being thrown out of the Swiss league for financial irregularities.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 27 – Sepp Blatter’s (pictured) promise that a woman will join FIFA’s Executive Committee to help get the organisation back on its feet cannot be approved for at least another four months.
By David Gold
January 27 – The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has failed in its attempts to amend Article 58 of its disciplinary code, which would relegate any teams found guilty of match fixing, after the clubs rejected the proposed change.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 27 – The increasingly powerful Middle East broadcaster Al Jazeera has signed a new four year agreement with the French Football League (LFP), cementing the region’s involvement with French football.
By David Gold
January 26 – Mark Pieth (pictured), the Swiss professor and chairman of the independent Governance Committee charged with reforming FIFA, has claimed he would be surprised if there are no more scandals to come after one of the most difficult periods in the organisations history.
By David Gold
January 26 – The Bundesliga made a profit of €52.5 million (£44 million/$69 million) in 2010-2011, translating to an increase of €130 million (£109 million/$171 million) from the previous year’s figures.
By Andrew Warshaw in Nyon
January 26 – UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino (pictured) today urged the Turkish football authorities to move faster over eradicating match fixing, hinting that sanctions could otherwise follow.
By Andrew Warshaw in Nyon
January 26 – UEFA’s director of legal affairs, Alasdair Bell, insists financial fair play rules will be maintained and that, crucially, they have the backing of the European authorities against any attempts by clubs to overturn sanctions.