By Andrew Warshaw
December 27 – UEFA president Michel Platini (pictured) admits 2012 has thrown up considerable challenges for his organisation but insists he will continue to meet them head on to make sure he sets the correct standards for the game.
By Duncan Mackay
December 26 – Controversial plans to demolish Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium and rebuild it in time for the 2018 FIFA World Cup have been scrapped in favour of renovating it, the city’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has revealed.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 24 – In a highly unusual move, UEFA have decided to appeal against the sanctions of its own control and disciplinary body imposed on Serbia following the explosive Euro 2013 under-21 play-off match against England in October.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 24 – British Sports minister Hugh Robertson (pictured) says football must get a firmer grip on the worrying recurrences of racism – whether on the pitch or in the stands.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 24 – The new Middle Eastern owners of iconic English club Leeds United have promised not to spend recklessly as they attempt to restore past glories.
By Mark Baber
December 24 – American entrepreneur Jim Pallotta, (pictured) who became president of AS Roma on August 27, attended his club’s 4-2 conquest of AC Milan on Saturday. After the game he reinforced his commitment towards building a new stadium.
December 24 – An unnamed man who racially abused Paul Ifill (pictured), the former Barbados striker, has been banned by Football Federation Australia (FFA) from A-league matches for two years.
By Mark Baber
December 24 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has re-worked the qualification requirements for the 2013 Asian Champions League Group Stage resulting in the UAE losing a spot as Saudi Arabia and Iran each gain one.
By Duncan Mackay
December 23 – Dave Beeche (pictured), who organised the ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final in Auckland earlier this year, has been named chief executive for the 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which New Zealand is staging.
By Duncan Mackay
December 23 – Hesterine de Reus has been appointed as the new head coach of Australia’s women’s football team to replace Tom Sermanni, who has left to take over the United States women’s team.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 22 – In one of their strictest sanctions since pledging to crack down on clubs who don’t comply with financial rules, UEFA have slapped a one-season European ban on high-flying Spanish club Malaga because of unpaid bills.
By Mark Baber
December 21 – The Bundesgerichthof (German Federal Court of Justice) yesterday ordered a partial retrial for Ante Sapina (left with an unsuspecting Lionel Messi) and Marijo Cvrtak who were found guilty of deception and sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison in May 2011.
By Mark Baber
December 21 – PSG, owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, has reportedly agreed a deal with the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) worth between €150 million and €200 million a season.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 21 – Asia’s Fifa vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein (pictured) has called for an end to disunity in the region and has urged the various factions to bury their differences and set the Asian Football Confederation on a new path of reconciliation.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 21 – Interpol has been drafted in to help with the investigation into the match-fixing scandal that has sent shock waves through South African football.