Russian billionaire set to gamble on Monaco
By David Gold
December 14 – Fallen French giants AS Monaco are set to be bought by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev (pictured), the club’s current President Etienne Franzi has said.
World Football
Security stepped up at Club World Cup after pitch invasion
By David Gold
December 13 – Following the pitch invasion that marred the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal between Tunisian outfit Esperance and Al Sadd of Qatar in Toyota earlier this week, there will now be an increase in security at the event.
Beckenbauer stands ground against goal-line technology
By Andrew Warshaw
December 13 – German football icon Franz Beckenbauer (pictured) has reiterated his opposition to goal-line technology.
Besiktas coach Tayfor Havutcu released following match fixing scandal
By David Gold
December 13 – Eight suspects, including the Besiktas coach, Tayfur Havutcu (pictured), and the club executive Serdal Adal, have been released by a Turkish court investigating the match fixing scandal which has rocked the country.
Dutch court blocks van Gaal appointment
By David Gold
December 12 – Louis van Gaal’s appointment as a director of Dutch champions Ajax has been suspended by a judge temporarily to give the club’s shareholders a chance to vote on the change.
Valencia strike deal for work on new stadium to restart
By David Gold
December 12 – Spanish side Valencia have struck a deal with Bankia to allow work to be restarted on their new stadium.
IOC have “disrespected” Africa over Hayatou reprimand, claim CAF
By David Gold
December 10 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed its disappointment at the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to reprimand its President Issa Hayatou for allegedly accepting payments from FIFA’s former marketing partner ISL.
Jordaan withdraws from race to take over as head of COSAFA
By Andrew Warshaw
December 9 – South Africa’s World Cup organiser Danny Jordaan dramatically pulled out of the race to lead the sport in Southern Africa leaving Suketu Patel of the Seychelles to be re-elected for a second term.
FIFA vice-president Prince Ali wades in on match fixing debacle
By Andrew Warshaw
December 8 – FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein is the latest high-profile figure to stress the need to eradicate match fixing.
CFU general secretary Kanhai resigns due to “pressures”
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – Angenie Kanhai (pictured), general secretary of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) who is understood to have helped FIFA in its investigation of the cash-for-votes scandal, is resigning in the face of “emotional, psychological and physical” pressure.
Jordaan takes on Patel for top COSAFA role
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – Danny Jordaan (pictured), organiser of last year’s World Cup in South Africa, goes head to head with a single rival on Friday (December 9) in a bid to get back into the footballing spotlight and oversee the game in southern Africa.
Indictments made in Turkish match fixing scandal
By David Gold
December 7 – Turkish prosecutors have indicted 93 suspects in the match fixing scandal which has rocked the game in the country.
Goal-line technology could be used from 2012-2013, says FIFA President
By Andrew Warshaw
December 6 – At least two goal-line technology systems have proved themselves sufficiently accurate and could be in place by the start of next season, FIFA President Sepp Blatter has revealed.
FIFA’s publication of ISL file delayed
By David Owen
December 6 – Sepp Blatter (pictured) has suffered a new setback in his drive to reform world football’s governing body.
Bulgarian PM wants player of year award scrapped after scooping the prize
By David Gold
December 5 – After winning the Bulgarian player of the year award ahead of Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov (pictured) has called for the abolition of the prize.