November 11 – Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva today demanded an explanation for the blackout which left large parts of the country which is due to host the 2014 World Cup in darkness and chaos for more than five hours after the country’s worst power outrage in a decade.
By David Owen
November 11 – Whenever Michel Platini (pictured) turns to the issue of football club finances, England’s 2018/22 World Cup bid team must hold their collective breath.
By Tom Degun
November 10 – Luther Blissett (pictured), one of the black pioneers of English football, has said that Spain should not be debarred from hosting the 2018 or 2022 World Cup because of its recent history racist behaviour at major matches.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 10 – Former Russian captain Alexei Smertin (pictured), who spent three years at Chelsea, believes his country has a better case for staging the 2018 World Cup than England.
November 8 – Former England and Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler (pictured) has laughed off suggestions that he is supporting Australia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup ahead of England.
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November 6 – The opening of a new $14 billion (£8.5 billion) international airport in Doha in 2011 will help boost Qatar’s campaign to host the 2022 World Cup, the chief executive of the bid has claimed.
November 6 – England must earn the support of Africa if its campaign to host the 2018 World Cup is to be successful and they are to avoid a similar thing happening to them that befell Chicago’s bid to stage the 2016 Olympics last month, Danny Jordaan (pictured) has warned.
November 4 – Handbags given out as gifts to wives of the members of the FIFA Executive Committee by the bid at England 2018 have become “a symbol of derision, betrayal and embarrassment for me and my family”, according to Jack Warner (pictured), one of its most influential members.
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November 4 - Businesses in Derby could face a 2p tax if the city is chosen to host matches if England’s bid to stage the 2018 World Cup is successful, the leader of the Council revealed today.
November 4 – A painting of David Beckham’s (pictured) footprint has sold $500,000 (£300,000) at an auction in Doha in the run-up to the England-Brazil friendly fixture there later this month.
October 15 – Russia has a good chance of being chosen to host the 2018 World Cup, FIFA President Sepp Blatter claimed after a meeting in Moscow today with the country’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
October 30 – Fabio Capello (pictured) has brushed off criticism from Sir Alex Ferguson regarding England’s upcoming friendly with Brazil in Qatar, claiming his international players will enjoy a lighter burden of work than most.
September 29 – Mexico has withdrawn its bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, claiming that they could not afford it during the current economic crisis.
September 28 – Johan Cruyff (pictured) has delayed a decision on whether to become an ambassador for Belgium and the Holland joint bid to host the 2018 World Cup because he is unsure of how much support it has.
September 21 – Plans for 12 new stadiums and strong corporate backing should make the joint Belgium-Holland bid to co-host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup finals compelling, organisers said as they formally launched their bid at a ceremony attended by Johan Cruyff (pictured) and Ruud Gullit.