By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 9 – The English Football Association declined comment today on an explosive report alleging that the country’s 2018 World Cup bid team hired a private security firm to monitor the behaviour of their rivals.
By David Owen
November 24 – The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has called a meeting of its Executive Committee on Saturday (November 27), amid growing expectations that moves may be made to ensure the region retains a say in where the 2018 and 2022 World Cups are played.
November 12 -Budding young Australian footballers enjoyed a “video breakfast” with their heroes – Qantas Socceroo Mark Schwarzer in London and Westfield Matilda Melissa Barbieri in Melbourne.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
October 27 – Australia appear to have won the crucial vote of Frank Beckenbauer ahead of their four rivals in the race to stage the 2022 World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
October 27 – As the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup becomes increasingly embroiled in corruption allegations and tit-for-tat spats, Australia are endeavouring to play it by the book, hoping the strategy ends up working in their favour.
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 15 – Australia came close to scrapping its 2022 World Cup bid because of a festering row over using Melbourne’s world-famous stadium. Read more …
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
October 14 – Frank Lowy believes that Australia have enough votes to win its bid to host the 2022 World Cup but admitted he cannot guarantee that everyone will keep their promise to back their campaign.
October 10 – Thousands of square metres of real grass were laid on Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge in an event designed to support Australia’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
October 8 – Football administrators in Australia have agreed to a “unified and unprecedented commitment” to work together in the best interests of the game.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
October 3 – Australia’s new Prime Minister Julia Gillard (pictured) has met FIFA President Sepp Blatter in Zurich tonight on her first overseas trip as the country’s leader.
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 20 – Australia needs to make sure it increases its international support before the final vote to decide which country will host the 2022 World Cup, bid leader Frank Lowy warned today.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 15 – Ben Buckley, the head of Football Federation Australia (FFA), has dismissed claims that not enough is being done to promote the game domestically and that too much emphasis is being placed on the country’s bid to stage the 2022 World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 13 – One of Australia’s leading football officials has issued a damning indictment of the sport’s development in the country, insisting it needs a radical shake-up to restore credibility.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 12 - Australia should be awarded the 2022 World Cup because the 2000 Sydney Olympics was such an outstanding success that showed the country is capable of staging majors events better than anyone else, Cathy Freeman has claimed.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 8 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy has hit back at claims that the country’s A-League is suffering because too much attention is being paid to their bid to host the 2022 World Cup.