Russian worker killed at site of 2018 World Cup stadium
By Duncan Mackay
November 13 – A Russian builder was killed today after a crane collapsed at the construction site of the 2018 FIFA World Cup stadium in Kazan, local authorities said.
Qatar to host FIFA 2013 Beach Soccer World Cup Asian qualifiers
By Tom Degun at the Aspire Dome in Doha
November 13 – Qatar’s capital, Doha, has been confirmed to host the Asian qualifying rounds of the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
I’ve made mistakes but I’ve learnt from them, claims Blatter
By Andrew Warshaw at the International Football Arena conference in Zurich
November 12 – Sepp Blatter admitted today that he had made mistakes during his 14-year FIFA Presidency but said he would not have got where he is without taking risks.
Exclusive: British public divided on Chelsea’s handling of referee controversy, says new poll
By David Owen
November 12 – Chelsea’s handling of the Mark Clattenburg controversy has split British football fans clean down the middle.
Arsenal shareholder Usmanov at centre of controversy after Wikipedia entry doctored
By Duncan Mackay
November 12 – Alisher Usmanov, a major shareholder in Premier League club Arsenal and Russia’s richest man, today found himself at the centre of controversy after a London-based public relations firm edited his Wikipedia entry to remove information that could cast him in a bad light.
Ex-Everton striker Branch jailed for drug offences
By Andrew Warshaw
November 12 – Former Everton and Wolves footballer Michael Branch, who was once also on loan to Manchester City, has been sentenced to seven years in jail after pleading guilty to drugs offences.
M’Vila banned from French squad until 2014
By Andrew Warshaw
November 12 – French football is reeling from one of the most stringent domestic bans ever imposed after star midfielder Yann M’Vila was kicked out of the international game until June 2014 after an unauthorised night out while on under-21 duty.
Chelsea to strike groundbreaking new deal with Sauber F1
By Andrew Warshaw at the International Football Arena conference in Zurich
November 12 – A groundbreaking new sponsorship deal will be announced in the next two months between Chelsea and the Sauber Formula One team, the club’s chief executive Ron Gourlay revealed today.
Delroy Alexander: No more monkey business
As United States President Barack Obama swept back into power, I felt a real surge of pride because young, old, white, black, gay, straight, Hispanic and people of all dispositions had voted once again to make a man of colour the most powerful person on the planet.
It didn’t take long for me to realise that perhaps my own footnote in history might not be any of my professional deeds. Rather a sporting happenstance that saw me become Malia and Sasha Obama’s first “soccer”
CONMEBOL boss recovering in hospital after heart surgery
By Andrew Warshaw
November 11 – Nicolás Leoz, the 84-year-old President of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), is recovering in hospital in São Paulo following heart surgery.
ZIFA sets up match-fixing appeals body
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has set up a special body to deal with appeals over the bans handed out in the country’s infamous match-fixing scandal.
AFC document “theft” charges suspiciously dropped
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – Senior Asian officials are privately questioning why prosecutors in Malaysia have suddenly dropped charges against a man accused of stealing documents linked to banned former powerbroker Mohamed Bin Hammam.
Confederations Cup host cities make the cut as FIFA confirms venues
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – All six venues slated to stage next year’s Confederations Cup – the dress rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup – have now been confirmed by FIFA though some will face a race against time.
Muamba pays emotional visit to White Hart Lane
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – Fabrice Muamba, the Premier League footballer who suffered a massive cardiac arrest and almost died during a cup game at Tottenham Hotspur in March, made an emotional return to the club’s White Hart Lane stadium for the first time yesterday.
FIFA President welcomes Switzerland’s crack down on match-fixing
By Andrew Warshaw
November 8 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has welcomed efforts by the Swiss Government to crack down on match-fixing and corruption by considering the introduction of fresh laws to make all international associations based in the country subject to Swiss criminal law.