June 24 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has refused to stop the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) holding elections in August by a high-level delegation, including the country’s Sports Minister Isa Bio and former Super Eagles captain Jay-Jay Okocha, who claim that the govering body is corrupt.
By Duncan Mackay in Lausanne
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 23 – Jacques Rogge (pictured) today welcomed the possibility of a bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics from South Africa following the success of the FIFA World Cup.
By David Owen in Johannesburg
June 23 – Ghana kept the African flag flying tonight, securing passage to a second-round clash with the United States, victors over Algeria, on a frigid night at Soccer City.
June 22 – The success of the World Cup in South Africa should encourage other African countries to bid for the tournament, Issa Hayatou, the President of the Confdederation of African Football (CAF) has claimed.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 21 – The row over whether FIFA vice-president Jack Warner should be able to combine his role with a senior Cabinet post in the Trinidad and Tobago Government continues to rumble on even though he has been cleared to continue in both positions.
By David Owen in Cape Town
June 21 – Perhaps it will be Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup after all.
June 21 – It cost the Irish Football Association (IFA) £516,000 ($760,000) to get rid of chief executive Howard Wells (pictured), newly published accounts reveal.
By Andrew Warshaw in Johannesburg
June 20 – Alas Poor Raymond…Just after the World Cup began, a headline in one of the South African supplements read, “Everybody Hates Raymond”.
June 19 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) has today been officially invited to Downing Street by Britain’s new Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
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June 19 – David Beckham has described the moment he was confronted by an irate fan who walked unchallenged into the England team’s World Cup dressing room minutes after a visit by Princes William and Harry.
By Andrew Warshaw in Johannesburg
June 19 – Spare a thought for Danny Jordaan (pictured), the public face of the World Cup who campaigned tirelessly to bring it to South Africa.
By Andrew Warshaw at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
June 18 – Eventually it had to happen, a refereeing decision so outrageous you wondered how the official responsible got the gig in the first place.
By David Owen in Durban
June 17 - No team in the 80 year history of the World Cup has lost their first match and gone on to lift the trophy.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
June 17 – Jack Warner (pictured) will discover today whether he has to give up his position as FIFA vice-president if he wants to remain a member of Trinidad and Tobago’s Government.
