Portland Timbers release details of $31 million facelift
December 23 – Portland Timbers have unveiled their $31 million (£19 million) plans to transform PGE Park into a top-class venue for when they join Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2011.
World Football
Ireland payout to Wells being investigated
December 23 – Sport Northern Ireland has launched an official review into how the Irish Football Association (IFA) acted in the Howard Wells (pictured) affair.
FIFA Executive Committee member offers to step down in Thailand
By Duncan Mackay
December 23 - Worawi Makudi (pictured), the President of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) and a member of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee, has threatened to step down from his post after the country’s disastrous campaign in the 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEA) tournament.
Abramovich deputy pulls out of race for Russian FA top job
By Duncan Mackay
December 21 – Sergei Kapkov, a close friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who had been expected to run to become the new President of the Russian Football Association has ruled himself out of the job which could alert clubs chasing the country’s coach Guus Hiddink (pictured).
New Zealand club facing axe in Australian row with AFC
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December 18 – New Zealand’s Wellington Phoenix could be facing extinction in 2012 after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) demanded they be axed from the A-League.
New Zealand club facing axe in Australian row with AFC
December 18 – New Zealand’s Wellington Phoenix could be facing extinction in 2012 after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) demanded they be axed from the A-League.
Ford confirmed as new chief executive of FAW
December 11 – The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has officially unveiled former Coca-Cola marketing guru Jonathan Ford (pictured) as its new chief executive, as first revealed by insideworldfootball last month.
ESPN sign £60 million deal to show FA Cup
By Duncan Mackay
December 9 – ESPN signed a four-year deal £60 million deal today to broadcast live FA Cup matches in Britain to fill the void left by collapsed network Setanta.
UAE hoping to impress with FIFA Club World Cup
By Duncan Mackay
December 8 – Abu Dhabi organisers have been praised for their preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup, which opens tomorrow and which could be the launchpad for a bid for the 2026 World Cup.
Passarella becomes new River Plate President after controversial election
December 7 – Argentina’s 1978 World Cup-winning captain Daniel Passarella (pictured) was today elected president of River Plate after winning an election that was overshadowed by allegations of fraud and corruption.
Giveth With One Hand and Taketh with Another
By Andrew Warshaw in Cape Town
December 2 - Talk about a double whammy. No sooner did Thierry Henry’s France become the fall guys in a revamped seeding system for next summer’s World Cup than Henry’s own damaged reputation took another serious battering.
Houllier and Dein united on video technology
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By Andrew Warshaw in Johannesburg
December 1 – Two of world football’s most respected statesmen have called for the immediate introduction of goal line technology as a result of the infamous Thierry Henry handball that is showing no sign of being taken off the game’s agenda.
We may scrap play-offs after Henry handball, reveals Blatter
By Andrew Warshaw in Johannesburg
November 30 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) today admitted for the first time that the World Cup playoff system had to be seriously re-examined as a result of Thierry Henry’s infamous handball that cost Ireland a place in the finals.
Blatter claims Henry did nothing he would not have done
November 29 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) revealed today that he has telephoned France captain Thierry Henry to offer him support over his controversial handball in the World Cup play-off win over Ireland.
India hope to use Commonwealth Games to bid for World Cup
November 28 – India plans to use next year’s Commonwealth Games as the launchpad for a bid to host the FIFA World Cup, they announced today.