By Andrew Warshaw
March 19 – Romário (pictured), the former Brazilian striker turned Congressman, has once again criticised 2014 World Cup preparations, suggesting his country will be “embarrassed” by poor organisation.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 16 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured left) emerged from his 2014 World Cup summit meeting with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff (right) today pledging to work more closely together to keep preparations for the tournament on track.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 14 – In a clever diplomatic move, Pelé (pictured), Brazil’s greatest ever footballing icon, will attend Friday’s clear-the-air talks between FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff following the recent row over the 2014 World Cup preparations.
By Tom Degun at the International Sport Security Conference in Doha
March 14 – Alcohol must be made widely available to fans during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar or they will end up boycotting the event, English Premier League chairman Sir David Richards has warned here today.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 14 – Sepp Blatter (pictured left) will meet Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff (right) on Friday (March 16) for clear-the-air talks following the recent spat over 2014 World Cup preparations.
By David Gold
March 14 – A delegation of British businesses with specialist knowledge of planning major sporting events have met with Russia 2018 in Moscow to learn about the commercial opportunities of the World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 13 – Ricardo Teixeira’s (pictured) decision to throw in the towel as head of Brazil 2014 may have come as little surprise but it nevertheless heaps even more negative publicity on a tournament that continues to lurch from one crisis to another.
By David Gold
March 12 – Ricardo Teixeira has resigned as head of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the Organising Committee of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, bringing to an end a controversial 23-year reign.
March 12 – The mascot for the 2014 World Cup will be a three-banded armadillo, according to reports in Brazil.
By Duncan Mackay
March 10 – FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke (pictured) has postponed his trip to Brazil next week following the criticism he received from the Government there after he criticised the preprations for the 2014 World Cup, claiming that they needed a “kick up the backside”.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 9 – After months of rumour and counter-rumour about his state of health, Ricardo Teixeira (pictured), controversial President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and head of Brazil 2014, has taken an indefinite medical leave of absence.
By David Gold
March 9 – Former Brazil striker Ronaldo, a member of Brazil 2014, has said that FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke’s criticisms of their preparations for the World Cup were correct.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 8 – The World Cup beer battle between Brazil and FIFA has taken a vital step forward with officials finally recommending lifting the strict ban on the sale of alcohol at stadiums.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 7 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured right) has heaped even more embarrassment on his number two, Jérôme Valcke (left), by formally writing to Brazil’s Sports Minister, Aldo Rebelo, apologising for Valcke’s disparaging remarks over the country’s slow progress in organising the 2014 World Cup.
By David Gold
March 6 – MATCH Hospitality has appointed Suseia as Belgium’s exclusive sales agent of FIFA hospitality packages for the 2014 World Cup, taking place in Brazil.