By Andrew Warshaw
January 16 – In another blow to the image of Brazil’s status as World Cup and Olympic hosts, the prestigious annual Laureus sports awards – dubbed the Oscars of sport and due to have taken place in March in Rio de Janeiro – have suddenly been called off.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 16 – Amidst the razzmatazz of this week’s world player of the year award, FIFA president Sepp Blatter provided small but significant new details of the time scale leading up to a decision on the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
By Alexander Krassimirov
January 16 – German company IFS has reached an agreement with the Bulgarian Football Union to build a new modern stadium in Sofia. The facility will be built on the site of Slavia stadium and will be the national stadium for home games as well as being used by Slavia FC.
By Paul Nicholson
January 16 – Fans who are being priced out of attending the Brazil World Cup because of the high rates of accommodation should take a look at a campsite option launched by two Englishmen in Recreio, in the west of Rio de Janeiro. For £35 a day per person, campers can turn up and get the full World Cup experience in one of Rio’s safer districts and in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 16 – In what might be perceived, somewhat controversially, as a sign that Lionel Messi is losing his lustre, millions of fans have bizarrely left the Barcelona and Argentine superstar out of UEFA’s team of the year.
January 16 – Leeds United, one of the biggest names in English football but struggling to rekindle past glories, have moved a step closer being taken over after Bahrain-based investment company Gulf Finance House (GFH) agreed to sell part of its stake in the iconic club.
January 16 – The prospect of a women’s Club World Cup to mirror the men’s event has reportedly moved a step following the first session of the FIFA Task Force for Women’s Football, chaired by Moya Dodd, the Australian co-opted member of FIFA’s Executive Committee.
By Paul Nicholson
January 16 – CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb was in Senegal, Africa, last night to receive a special recognition award from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
By David Owen
January 16 – Joseph Blatter, it is fair to say, has on occasion been slow to warm to new technology. When it comes to social media, however, the FIFA President is very much down with the kids.
January 15 – FIFA have extended their top-level sponsorship deal with credit card provider Visa until 2022. Visa will retain exclusive global rights in the Financial Services product category.
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 15 – Spartak Nalchik has decided to pull out of the Russian National Football League, the second tier of Russia’s professional football league, due to the club’s ongoing financial woes.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – FIFA’s main corruption-buster has warned that match-fixing criminals may try to target World Cup matches this summer. But says Ralf Mutschke, football’s world governing body will do all it can to make sure the tournament remains clean.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – The bitter dispute over the name of English Premier League club Hull City has been stepped up with owner Assem Allam, who has pumped millions of his own money into the club, threatening to quit unless the English Football Association approves his plans.
January 15 – FIFA has named an elite group to officiate in Brazil this summer. Included in the list is English referee Howard Webb, who took charge of the bad-tempered 2010 World Cup final, but has had an indifferent season in the English Premier League.
By Alexander Krassimirov
January 15 – The fan clubs of Levski Sofia have told Bulgarian authorities that they will not participate in anti-government protests in the capital. For nearly a year, Sofia the city has been disrupted by protests against the government of the country.