UEFA hopes for bumper 50,000 crowd for Women’s Champions League final
By David Gold
March 28 – UEFA has placed 50,000 tickets on sale for the Women’s Champions League final, to be held at the Olympiastadion in Munich on May 17.
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Stuart Pearce backs Olympic football to “galvanise Great Britain”
By Andrew Warshaw at Soccerex in Manchester
March 28 – Stuart Pearce, who is doubling up as Great Britain’s Olympic football coach as well as running the England senior team on an interim basis, says the tournament at this summer’s London Games will “galvanise the country” and showcase the sport at under-23 level.
Exclusive: Wales to take UEFA to CAS over Europe entry ruling
By Andrew Warshaw
March 28 – The Football Association of Wales (FAW) are considering taking UEFA to Europe’s highest sporting court, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), for barring their clubs, including Premier League Swansea City, from playing in the Welsh Cup in order to try and gain a berth in the Europa League.
Indonesian football soon to learn fate as FIFA meet to discuss sanctions
By David Gold
March 27 – FIFA is meeting this week to discuss what sanctions, if any, to take against the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) after they missed a deadline to take control of domestic football in the country.
Asian football showing signs of unity as collaborative agreement is met
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – Asian football, which has not always spoken with one voice, moved towards a closer alliance today when FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured left) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) acting President Zhang Jilong (right) signed a Collaboration Agreement between the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP) and AFC.
IFAB composition under scrutiny at FIFA Strategic Committee meeting
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – The composition of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game’s lawmaking body comprising FIFA and the four British Home Associations, was the notable topic of discussion when FIFA’s Strategic Committee met at the start of a week-long series of key sessions ahead of Thursday’s (March 29) Executive Committee meeting.
Shock at CONCACAF London 2012 playoffs at hosts US knocked out
By David Gold
March 27 – There was a major shock in Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) men’s Olympic football qualifiers as the hosts, the United States, were knocked out after a failing to beat El Salvador in their final group game.
Cayman Islands President set to be named as new CONCACAF boss
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – Jeffrey Webb, the man charged with putting Caribbean football back on its feet after last year’s cash-for-votes scandal, now looks almost certain to become one of the most influential administrators in world football as the new boss of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).
Exclusive: Controversial confederation head FIFA vice-president proposal thrown out
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – An attempt to push through a controversial motion recommending that only confederation heads can in future become FIFA vice-presidents has been shot down, insideworldfootball has learned.
New Zealand men qualify for London 2012
By David Gold
March 26 – New Zealand have qualified for the London 2012 Olympic football tournament after beating Fiji 1-0 in the final of the Oceania men’s qualifiers.
One dead as Al-Masry fans riot after suspension
By David Gold
March 26 – One person has been left dead and dozens injured as supporters angry at the suspension of Egyptian Premier League team Al-Masry battled police in Port Said.
Australian A-League reports timely hike in crowd figures
By David Gold
March 26 – Australian football has received a timely boost with the Hyundai A-League recording its largest seasonal aggregate attendance since its launch in 2005 – with just over 1.4 million fans watching matches.
US women’s football coach looking for fourth Olympic crown
By David Gold
March 26 – United States women’s football coach Pia Sundhage has her sights set firmly on winning gold at London 2012 and has described the Olympic tournament as “special”.
World Cup law will soon be passed, insists Brazilian Sports Minister
By David Gold
March 26 – Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo (pictured) has said that the 2014 World Cup law will be approved, and indicated that it would be done at some point in April.
Landslide sees Jack Warner re-elected as chair of Trinidad and Tobago UNC
By Andrew Warshaw
March 26 – Disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has been re-elected as chairman of Trinidad and Tobago’s United National Congress (UNC) as his political career shows no sign of being marred by the corruption scandal that led to him resigning last year from all footballing activities.