Despite initial FIFA support, Kosovo remain in world football limbo
By Andrew Warshaw
June 1 – FIFA appear to have backtracked slightly over the precise conditions of allowing the Balkan province of Kosovo to play friendly matches.
All squads for Euro 2012 confirmed
By David Gold
May 31 – The teams competing at this summer’s European Championship have all confirmed their squads for the tournament.
Financial breaches result in UEFA Europe ban for Turkish clubs
By David Gold
May 31 – Turkish outfits Beşiktaş and Bursaspor have been suspended from European competitions for a year by UEFA due to financial difficulties.
David Owen: Challenges for Europe’s top leagues as Spain polarises and France declines
European football is proving more resilient than many businesses in the face of the fiscal and economic shadows hanging over Europe.
But, as the new Deloitte Annual Review of Football Finance* makes clear, not everything is rosy in the rose-garden.
Take Spain, home of arguably Europe’s two leading clubs – Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Barça and Real Madrid will consider TV rights share, says Spanish Minister
By David Gold
May 31 – Spanish Sports Minister José Ignacio Wert has said that Barcelona and Real Madrid are open to agreeing a more balanced television rights agreement with fellow La Liga teams.
Euro 2012 hosts reject British media’s racism allegations as “dreamed up”
By Andrew Warshaw
May 31 – The 2012 European Championship hosts Ukraine and Poland have hit back sharply at a BBC television programme that highlighted entrenched racism in both countries, saying the Panorama broadcast was “unbalanced and biased” and that fans would be perfectly safe.
FIFA confirm Confederations Cup venues
By Andrew Warshaw
May 31 – The capital Brasília will stage only one match at next year’s Confederations Cup in Brazil – the traditional dry run for the World Cup 12 months later.
Prime Minister Mario Monti suggests three-year veto on Italian football
By David Gold
May 30 – Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Monti has suggested that football be suspended in the country for as long as three years as a result of the latest match-fixing investigation.
Injury-hit defenders give Ireland and Russia coaches major headaches ahead of Euro 2012
By David Gold
May 30 – Kevin Foley is the highest profile casualty from the Republic of Ireland squad for the 2012 European Championship, while Russia coach Dick Advocaat has named uncapped defender Kirill Nababkin in his squad to alleviate an injury crisis.
ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo set to lead FIFA ethics team
By Andrew Warshaw
May 30 – FIFA’s clean-up campaign to root out corruption looks set to take a vital step forward by capturing the services of the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Leyton Orient want to share Olympic Stadium with West Ham
By Duncan Mackay
May 30 – Leyton Orient are to approach West Ham United in a bid to ground-share the Olympic Stadium, despite its chairman Barry Hearn having claimed earlier this year that it “is not fit for football”.
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.
New nation South Sudan recognised by FIFA after near unanimous support
By David Gold
May 29 – South Sudan has been confirmed as a member of FIFA with near unanimous support from member of world football’s governing body.
Manchester United has finally achieved world domination – it’s official!
By Stuart Newman
May 29 – Manchester United’s unparalleled popularity among football fans across the globe has been confirmed by a new survey.
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.