Germany, France and Greece announce Euro 2012 squads
By David Gold
May 30 – Germany, France and Greece have confirmed their 23-man squads for this summer’s UEFA European Championship.
World Tournaments
Earthquake tragedy causes cancellation of Italy-Luxembourg Euro 2012 warm-up match
By David Gold
May 29 – Italy’s friendly match with Luxembourg this evening has been cancelled after an earthquake, which reportedly killed 10 people, struck near Parma, where the game was due to be played.
Poland and Spain reveal Euro 2012 squads
By David Gold
May 29 – Poland and Spain have both confirmed their respective squads for this summer’s European Championship, which gets underway in just under two weeks’ time, with no David Villa or Carles Puyol in the title holders’ 23-man selection.
US puts Olympic women’s title defence in hands of rookies
By David Gold
May 28 – Reigning Olympic champions the United States has named its women’s team for London 2012, with a relatively inexperienced selection from coach Pia Sundhage.
BBC racism and violence exposé casts dark shadow on Euro 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
May 28 – Shocking new evidence of entrenched racism and violence in Ukrainian and Polish football has cast a dark shadow over the 2012 European Championship which starts on June 8.
Britain considering Ministerial boycott of Euro 2012
By Alan Hubbard
May 27 – The British Government are considering whether to join a political boycott of the upcoming European football championship in protest at Ukraine’s human rights record.
We have Government guarantees from Istanbul, Euro 2020 does not, says Rogge
By Tom Degun at the Sport Accord Convention in Québec City
May 25 – International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge has dismissed the threat posed to a successful Istanbul 2020 Olympics and Paralympics bid by the European Championship finals bid from Turkey insisting that only the bid for the Games has the support of the Turkish Government.
If they get the Olympics they won’t get the Euros, insists UEFA boss as Istanbul is shortlisted to host 2020 Games
By Andrew Warshaw in Budapest
May 24 – UEFA President Michel Platini has once again reiterated that Turkey will not be allowed to host the European Championship finals in 2020 if Istanbul is awarded the Olympics and Paralympics the same summer.
Exclusive: There’s “plenty of interest” for the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada, says Hardman
By David Gold at the SportAccord Convention in Québec City
May 23 – Don Hardman, the vice-president of venues for the Canada 2015 Women’s World Cup, told insideworldfootball here today that there was plenty of interest in the country for the tournament.
Euro 2012 organisers urge Ukrainian police force to adopt a softly softly approach
By Andrew Warshaw
May 22 – Ukraine’s police force has been urged to go easy on foreign tourists at the 2012 European Championship and improve their image of heavy-handedness.
Icon Bubka slams thoughts of “senseless” political boycott of Euro 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
May 22 – Ukraine’s most iconic sportsman, Sergey Bubka, says talk of a boycott of the 2012 UEFA European Championship by European Governments is “senseless” and will serve no purpose.
Exclusive: Hodgson’s choice opens up London 2012 football road to Rio
By Alan Hubbard
May 20 – Rio Ferdinand, “gutted” at being omitted from England’s UEFA European Championship squad by manager Roy Hodgson, is set to be thrown an international lifeline with a place in Britain’s 2012 Olympic football team.
2013 African Nations Cup costs revealed by South Africa’s Organising Committee boss
By David Gold
May 18 – Mvuzo Mbebe, the head of the Organising Committee of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations being held in South Africa, has said the tournament will cost a total of R400 million (£30 million/$48 million/€38 million).
David Beckham backs Gary Neville in England Euro 2012 coaching role
By Mike Rowbottom in Athens
May 18 – David Beckham has applauded the England manager Roy Hodgson’s decision to take on his old Manchester United teammate Gary Neville as a coaching assistant for the forthcoming European Championships.
“No pressure” on Pearce to pick Beckham, says Coe
By Mike Rowbottom in Athens
May 17 – Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012, has denied that any pressure has been brought to bear upon Stuart Pearce, coach of the Team GB football squad for this summer’s Games, to include David Beckham, who will be here at the Panathenaic Stadium for the Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony tonight.