By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 10 – Sebastian Coe, Britain’s double Olympic 1500 metres champion and now the head of the committee organising the London 2012 Olympics, has blamed the Football Association and Fabio Capello for England’s failure to do well at the World Cup in South Africa earlier this year.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 10 – South African President Jacob Zuma has offered his country’s help to aid Russia’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 9 – FIFA’s 2018/2002 World Cup inspection team rolled into Holland and Belgium today with the rank outsiders convinced they will not just be making up the numbers when the all-important vote is taken on December 2.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 9 – England manager Fabio Capello today apologised for the country’s dire showing at the World Cup, admitting that his players were both physically and mentally below-par.
August 9 – Heathrow Airport has signed up to become an official sponsor of England’s bid to hold the 2018 World Cup.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 7 – Russia’s match against Bulgaria on Wednesday (August 11) has been moved from Moscow to St Petersburg because of health risks after acrid smog engulfed the Russian capital at a time that officials were hoping to showcase the country’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
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August 4 – Leading Belgium politicians have joined their colleagues in the Netherlands and and raised doubts about their country’s joint campaign to host the 2018 World Cup less than a week before a team of FIFA inspectors are due to arrive to evaluate their bid.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 3 – The Netherlands and Spain have been fined by FIFA for their outrageous behaviour in last month’s World Cup final.
July 30 – Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Mohamed Bin Hammam has revealed that he plans to vote for Qatar to host the World Cup in 2022.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 30 – England’s World Cup bid is hoping to sign-up a new ambassador to help its campaign to host the 2018 tournament – Paul the Octopus.
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By Andrew Warsahw
July 29 – Russia has hauled in its big-hitters, including Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, to take part in a high-profile sports forum a fortnight before becoming the first European candidate for the 2018 World Cup to be scrutinised by FIFA’s six-man inspection team.
July 28 – FIFA are to blame for some of the problems that Brazil is now experiencing in its build-up to the 2014 World Cup, the country’s Sports Minister Orlando Silva (pictured left) claimed today.
July 24 – Japan’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup is set to be thrown into crisis with Motoaki Inukai, who is heading the campaign, set to be forced out after a row over “forceful” style of management.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 22 – Australian officials behind the country’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup, including Frank Lowy (pictured), have been cleared by FIFA of breaking the rules by giving unauthorised gifts to voters, it was announced today.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 22 – Lord Triesman has claimed that England’s World Cup bid has been better received abroad than at home.