May 11 – FIFA took the decision to inject $100 million (£67 million) into the budget of this year’s World Cup in South Africa without being asked for it, officials there claimed today.
May 11 – Wallace and Gromit, created by Bristol-based Aardman Animations, are recreating Diego Maradona’s “hand of God” goal in an advert designed to back England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
May 11 – Potential bidders from Europe, North America, China, the Middle East and Africa have expressed an interest in purchasing a 16 per cent stake in Premier League Arsenal put up for sale by one of the club’s biggest shareholders.
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By Andrew Warshaw at Wembley Stadium
May 10 – England’s 2018 World Cup campaign will undergo a major charm offensive by inviting FIFA President Sepp Blatter to the country after this summer’s tournament in South Africa.
By Andrew Warshaw
May 10 – Germany or Hungary could be invited to stage some 2012 European Championship games if Ukraine fails to meet targets for stadium redevelopment, UEFA President Michel Platini (pictured) has warned.
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May 10 – Russia’s bid book to stage the 2018 World Cup will consist of a massive three volumes with a total of 1,100 pages.
May 10 – Clubs relegated from the Premier League will receive £48 million ($71 million) in parachute payments over four years after Football League chairmen voted in favour of the proposal.
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By Andrew Warshaw
May 10 – Australian World Cup officials left for FIFA headquarters today confident that they have solved a long-running dispute should the country win the right to stage the 2018 or 2022 event.
By Andrew Warshaw in London
May 9 – Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore (pictured) insists his organisation is fully behind England’s 2018 World Cup bid as the next crucial stage in the process approaches.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
May 9 – West Ham United have received encouragement that they will be able to take over the £537 million ($795 million) Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games from Ed Warner, the chairman of UK Athletics, who has claimed that their proposal is “very credible”.
By Andrew Warshaw
May 8 – Liverpool’s new chairman Martin Broughton insists the club will not be forced into selling Fernando Torres (pictured) or captain Steven Gerrard in order to cut the club’s debts.
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May 7 – Mexico has thrown its support behind the United States bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup and urged the rest of the region to back it.
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
May 7 – Togo have had their ban from the next two editions of the African Cup of Nations lifted after a mediation hearing today chaired by FIFA President Sepp Blatter, it has been announced.
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
May 6 – Billionaire Alisher Usmanov (pictured), the second biggest shareholder at Premier League Arsenal, is to financially help Russia’s bid to host the 2018 of 2022 World Cup, it was announced today.
May 6 – Manchester United are to play a high-profile exhibition match to inaugurate Kansas City’s 77,000-capacity New Arrowhead Stadium, which could be a host venue if the United States is chosen to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, it has been announced.