By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – Asian football, which has not always spoken with one voice, moved towards a closer alliance today when FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured left) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) acting President Zhang Jilong (right) signed a Collaboration Agreement between the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP) and AFC.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – The composition of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game’s lawmaking body comprising FIFA and the four British Home Associations, was the notable topic of discussion when FIFA’s Strategic Committee met at the start of a week-long series of key sessions ahead of Thursday’s (March 29) Executive Committee meeting.
By David Gold
March 27 – There was a major shock in Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) men’s Olympic football qualifiers as the hosts, the United States, were knocked out after a failing to beat El Salvador in their final group game.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – Jeffrey Webb, the man charged with putting Caribbean football back on its feet after last year’s cash-for-votes scandal, now looks almost certain to become one of the most influential administrators in world football as the new boss of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – An attempt to push through a controversial motion recommending that only confederation heads can in future become FIFA vice-presidents has been shot down, insideworldfootball has learned.
By David Gold
March 26 – New Zealand have qualified for the London 2012 Olympic football tournament after beating Fiji 1-0 in the final of the Oceania men’s qualifiers.
By David Gold
March 26 – One person has been left dead and dozens injured as supporters angry at the suspension of Egyptian Premier League team Al-Masry battled police in Port Said.
By David Gold
March 26 – Australian football has received a timely boost with the Hyundai A-League recording its largest seasonal aggregate attendance since its launch in 2005 – with just over 1.4 million fans watching matches.
By David Gold
March 26 – United States women’s football coach Pia Sundhage has her sights set firmly on winning gold at London 2012 and has described the Olympic tournament as “special”.
By David Gold
March 26 – Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo (pictured) has said that the 2014 World Cup law will be approved, and indicated that it would be done at some point in April.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 26 – Disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has been re-elected as chairman of Trinidad and Tobago’s United National Congress (UNC) as his political career shows no sign of being marred by the corruption scandal that led to him resigning last year from all footballing activities.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 26 – Mark Pieth (pictured), the Swiss trouble-shooting professor brought in to clean up FIFA, has called for a swift ruling over publication of the eagerly anticipated ISL documents that cite senior FIFA officials for allegedly taking thousands of dollars in kickbacks from World Cup broadcasting deals.
By David Gold
March 24 – Chilean Football Association (ANFP) President Sergio Jadue has announced that they have agreed with their Brazilian counterparts to take over as hosts of the 2015 Copa América.
By Andrew Warshaw in Istanbul
March 24 – Turkish Olympic officials claim they are playing a tactical waiting game before deciding whether to proceed with a double bid for the 2020 Summer Games and the European football Championship finals the same year.
By David Gold
March 24 – Major League Soccer (MLS) champions LA Galaxy have agreed a record shirt sponsorship deal with Herbalife worth a reported $44 million (£28 million/€33 milion).