Beckenbauer calls for increase in handshaking
By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – German football legend Franz Beckenbauer says players should do more handshaking in order to improve sportsmanship.
Archive
Fenerbahçe chair Yıldırım protests innocence in court over match fixing allegations
By David Gold
February 22 – Fenerbahçe chairman Aziz Yıldırım (pictured) has been in court defending himself against allegations of involvement in the match fixing scandal which has thrown football in Turkey into disarray.
Porto face UEFA hearing over Manchester City chanting
By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Porto for “improper conduct” of their fans during the recent Europa League match against Manchester City.
South Korea promises crack down on match fixing criminals
By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – South Korea is pledging to crack down even more forcefully on match fixing, including harsh prison terms, as a reaction to a number of incidents that have plunged the country’s football league into crisis.
Polish national stadium given approval after safety doubts
By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – Poland’s new National Stadium, due to stage the opening match of the 2012 European Championships, has finally been cleared as safe to play its showpiece inaugural fixture against Portugal on February 29.
Rosneft and Gazprom investment gives Tom Tomsk spending money
By David Gold
February 21 – Ailing Russian Premier League side Tom Tomsk have been given 50 million rubles (£1.06 million/$1.7 million/€1.2 million) to invest in new players after being saved by state energy giants Rosneft and Gazprom last week.
Peru holds crisis talks with FIFA over players’ strike
By David Gold
February 21 – Peruvian Football Federation (FPF) President Manuel Burga (pictured) is in Zurich to discuss with FIFA a players’ strike which has left the country’s first division in chaos.
Date set for Bin Hammam CAS hearing
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
February 20 – Former Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam’s eagerly-awaited appeal against his lifetime ban for alleged bribery will be heard on April 18 and 19 at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.
Former Chelsea manager angry after Iranians cancel friendly because he is Israeli
By David Gold
February 20 – Partizan Belgrade coach Avram Grant (pictured right) has claimed that Iranian team Sepahan Ishafan have cancelled a friendly with his team because he is Israeli.
Real Madrid to open four soccer schools in Kurdistan
By David Gold
February 20 – Spanish giants Real Madrid have signed an agreement with the Iraqi Sports Ministry to create four football academies in the Kurdistan province.
Egyptian football chief admits Premier League is unlikely to resume
By David Gold
February 20 – The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) interim chairman Anwar Saleh has revealed that the country’s Premier League, suspended following the Port Said tragedy which left dozens dead, will probably not resume.
Former Brazil striker Bebeto joins 2014 World Cup Organising Committee
By David Gold
February 20 – Bebeto has joined fellow former Brazilian goalscoring great Ronaldo and embattled football chief Ricardo Teixeira on the 2014 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee.
Australian football chief blasts Gold Coast United chair Clive Palmer
By David Gold
February 20 – Clive Palmer, the chairman of Australian team Gold Coast United, has been condemned for an outspoken tirade in which he admitted not liking football and refused to guarantee the future of his “insignificant” club.
CH2M HILL named as Qatar 2022 World Cup strategic partner
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
February 18 – Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 World Cup took a significant step forward when organisers announced leading global management firm CH2M HILL as a key strategic partner.
Qatar appoint Brazilian as new coach
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
February 19 – Qatar’s determination to be taken seriously as a football nation has resulted in the appointment of a fourth national coach in just over a year as 55-year-old Brazilian Paulo Autuori became the latest figure to try and take the tiny Gulf state to its first ever World Cup.