England women’s coach full of hope for new super league
By David Gold
April 12 – The new semi-professional eight team English FA Women’s Super League will get underway tomorrow night live on ESPN as Arsenal take on Chelsea.
Brazil 2014 World Cup draw to be held in Rio de Janeiro
By Andrew Warshaw
April 11 – Rio de Janeiro will definitely stage the qualifying draw for the 2014 World Cup on July 30, FIFA announced today, ending speculation that Sao Paolo or Brasilia may get the nod.
Arsenal under US control after Kroenke launches takeover
By Andrew Warshaw
April 11 – Arsenal, one of the great institutions of English football, are poised to become the latest Premier League club to fall into foreign hands after American businessman Stan Kroenke took a controlling stake in the North London club.
CONCACAF will vote as block in FIFA election says Warner
Sobaclieu.com
By Andrew Warshaw
April 11 – The race for the FIFA Presidency has taken a significant early step with the revelation that the all-important CONCACAF confederation will vote as a block on June 1.
Warner asked England 2018 to fund education centre in Trinidad officials claim
By Andrew Warshaw
April 11 – Jack Warner, FIFA’s longest serving vice-president, was embroiled in yet more corruption allegations today when it was claimed he asked officials of England’s World Cup 2018 bid team to consider funding an education centre in his native Trinidad and Tobago.
London 2012 Team GB set to contain non-English players as Home Nations admit they are powerless
By Duncan Mackay
April 10 – Welsh stars Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey (pictured) will not be banned from international football if they play for Britain at London 2012, they have been assured, as the Home Nations begin to soften their stance on letting their players take part in the Olympic football tournament.
Record ticket applications for Euro 2012
By David Gold
April 9 – UEFA has announced that it has received in excess of 12 million ticket applications for the 2012 European Championships, to be held in Ukraine and Poland.
Blatter turns to ex-British tabloid journalist to help win FIFA election
By Andrew Warshaw
April 8 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has appointed a former British tabloid journalist to help him win a fourth term of office by beating Asia’s Mohamed Bin Hammam at the presidential election on June 1.
Clubs will be squeezed to breaking point, warns Harris
By Andrew Warshaw at SportAccord in London
April 8 – Keith Harris, the guru of football takeovers, has warned the gap between rich and poor clubs will become even wider as a result of the current economic crisis.
Exclusive: In wake of Rooney row, Peter Kenyon warns of ‘risk’ involved in sponsoring individuals
By Mike Rowbottom at SportAccord in London
April 7 – Peter Kenyon, the former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive, believes the kind of bad publicity generated by Wayne Rooney’s latest public swearing outburst will inevitably cause major sponsors to reassess their options with regard to investing in individual sporting performers.
Robertson wants non-English stars to play in Team GB
By Tom Degun at SportAccord in London
April 6 – Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson has stated that he wants to see non-English footballers, such as Gareth Bale (pictured) and Aaron Ramsey of Wales, permitted to represent Great Britain at the London 2012 Games so as to not be denied the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in a home Olympics.
Anson tight lipped on BOA role
By Andrew Warshaw
April 5 – Andy Anson, the public face ofEngland’s failed 2018 World Cup campaign, declined to comment today on reports that he is close to being appointed a non-executive director of the British Olympic Association (BOA).
Scudamore says winter break is impossible
By Andrew Warshaw in London
April 6 – English football can never embrace a winter break unless FIFA and UEFA do something about fixture congestion, the Premier League claimed today.
Mihir Bose: English football faces moment of truth this autumn
This autumn could see English football face its moment of truth
That moment being when the Government appoints a regulator to run the national game. Remember, this is a Tory-led collation wedded to free enterprise and firmly believing that sports bodies should run their own sports and the Government should be a facilitator not a regulator.
Now, talk of a regulator running the game is not new. Almost exactly a year ago,
West Ham probe racism claims
By David Gold
April 4 – West Ham have pledged to take seriously and investigate claims that the families of forwards Victor Obinna and Frederic Piquionne were racially abused during the 4-2 defeat to Manchester United last weekend.