By David Gold in London
June 30 – Brazil is facing a race against time to ensure the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro is ready for the 2013 Confederations Cup, whilst doubts over the construction of stadia in Natal and São Paulo persist, according to a report released today by UK Trade & Industry.
By Duncan Mackay
June 28 – Andy Anson, the leader of England’s disastrous bid to host the 2018 World Cup, has been given a new role as chief executive of Kitbag, which claims to be Europe’s leading sports online retailer.
By David Gold
June 26 – Idenitification cards for young Russian footballers will help create a national side which can compete well at the 2018 World Cup, according to Alexander Zorkov, the deputy general secretary of the Russian Football Union (RFU).
By David Gold in Moscow
June 25 – Alexander Zorkov, the deputy general secretary of the Russian Football Union (RFU), described the incident this week when a banana was thrown at Anzhi Makhachkala’s legendary Brazilian full back Roberto Carlos as an “awful, terrible incident”.
By David Gold
June 25 – Brazilian legend Romario has criticised Brazil’s World Cup preparations and said that costs are spiralling out of control.
By David Gold
June 15 – As Belize prepares to kick off the first qualifier for the 2014 World Cup when they take on Montserrat, they have been told by FIFA that they face sanctions if their Government interferes with the country’s football federation.
By David Gold
June 14 – Cities hosting World Cup games in Brazil in 2014 will be the first to enjoy the benefits of 4G wireless technology as super fast mobile internet access comes to the country.
By David Gold
June 8 – Qatar’s first stadium for the 2022 World Cup will be completed by 2015, according to their World Cup Committee secretary general Hassan Al Thawadi.
By David Gold
June 7 – Edusport Travel has been appointed as the exclusive South African agent of MATCH hospitality, the rights holder of the FIFA hospitality programme, to sell the packages for the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup, taking place in Brazil.
By David Gold
June 5 – Tom Jones, the Associate Principal of Populous, the global design specialists whose Senior Principal John Barrow will be speaking at the Inside World Football Moscow Forum in June, says that Russia should think about the wider infrastructure required for the 2018 World Cup, and learn some lessons from the experience of South Africa in preparing to host a successful World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
June 1 – An attempt by Arab nations to relax the rules on players switching nationality was thrown out by FIFA today, a blow to countries like 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar to buy up and develop young talent ahead of the next World Cup in Brazil.
By David Gold
June 1 – FIFA has expressed fresh concerns over Brazil’s progress in developing its infrastructure sufficiently in time for the 2014 World Cup.
By Duncan Mackay in Zurich
June 1 – Germany has called for the circumstances that led to Qatar being awarded the 2022 World Cup to be investigated as the controversy surrounding the decision to award the tournament to the tiny Gulf state refuses to subside.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 30 – FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke insisted today that he had never accused Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam of buying the 2022 World Cup and categorically stood his ground after becoming embroiled in the ongoing bribery scandal.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 30 – FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke’s position was unexpectedly plunged into severe danger·today·when he admitted that a damaging email he sent suggesting the 2022 World Cup was bought was genuine.