By Duncan Mackay
January 11 – The Mail on Sunday paid £50,000 ($77,000/€60,000) to the mistress of the former English Football Association chairman, Lord Triesman, for the exclusive story that led to him having to step down as the head of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup, it was revealed today.
By David Owen
January 3 – It should be perfectly possible to stage a World Cup in Qatar in summer, a top executive at a leading temperature control company has told insideworldfootball.
By David Gold
December 27 – More than 30,000 tickets to the 2014 FIFA World Cup will be given to disabled fans, the legendary former Brazil forwards Romário and Ronaldo have announced.
By David Gold
December 27 – The tender process for media rights in most European countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, being held in Russia and Qatar respectively, has been started by FIFA.
By David Gold
December 26 – Italy’s 2006 World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro says that the 2022 World Cup, being held by Qatar, should be held in the winter because of the intense heat.
By David Gold
December 20 – Japan is set to host the FIFA 2012 Women’s under-20 World Cup after Uzbekistan was stripped of the right to stage the event.
By David Gold
December 19 – Romário has praised fellow Brazilian great Ronaldo’s involvement in the Organising Committee for the 2014 World Cup, saying that his face means they have “everything to make the competition a success”.
By Declan Warrington
December 15 – The Brazilian Government has launched an initiative to reduce the number of illegal guns in circulation within the country and plans to exchange them with free tickets to the 2014 World Cup.
By Declan Warrington
December 13 – Russia 2018 has dismissed reports that its successful World Cup campaign is involved in an FBI investigation regarding computer hacking.
By David Gold
December 7 – Brazil has drafted a new 2014 World Cup Law, which overturns a ban on alcohol being sold and consumed at sports venues.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – The corruption allegations that swirled around the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups just over a year ago have been reignited by a suggestion that the FBI is now involved.
By David Gold
December 6 – Anzhi Makhachkala stars Samuel Eto’o (pictured) and Roberto Carlos have stated their confidence in Russia’s ability to stage the World Cup in 2018.
By David Gold
December 5 – Qatar is donating $400,000 (£256,000/€300,000) generated in ticket proceeds from the recent friendly game between Brazil and Egypt in Doha, to the victims of famine in Somalia.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 6 – FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke (pictured) has fuelled further tension between the world governing body and English football by suggesting that they not always feel welcome in the country.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 4 – FIFA Pesident Sepp Blatter has re-opened his feud with English football by saying the country has still not come to terms with losing out on the 2018 World Cup.