Brazilian fan shootings prompt fresh security concerns
19 April – Security fears surrounding next year’s World Cup have increased after two fans were shot dead near one of the new stadia being used for the tournament.
AEK penalty puts Greek giant on brink of relegation
By Andrew Warshaw
April 19 – AEK Athens are set to be relegated from the top flight of Greek football for the first time in their 89-year history after a points deduction handed down for crowd violence left them stranded near the bottom with one match remaining.
TMS annual review gives new insight into global transfer market
April 19 – ‘Global Transfer Market 2012’ report from FIFA’s new transfer company, FIFA Transfer Matching System GmbH, gives insight into global transfer trends across borders.
Lebanese officials get June date for AFC match-fixing trial
By Andrew Warshaw
April 19 – Three Lebanese officials who were suddenly pulled out of an Asian Football Confederation game in Singapore for alleged match-fixing will go on trial in June, it was reported today.
Allianz set to add Sao Paulo stadium to its global portfolio of rights
April 19 – Europe’s biggest insurer Allianz is reportedly in talks to buy the naming rights for a new stadium in Sao Paulo.
CONCACAF Congress haunted by ugly spectre of past financial dealings
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
April 19 – A year after the most blood-letting and bitter summit in its history, a detailed report into serious financial mismanagement within CONCACAF will be presented to members at their Congress in Panama today.
Trade Unions call for action on migrant worker law in Qatar
By Andrew Warshaw
April 18 – The decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup has once again been called into question, this time by international trades unions across the world who have denounced the Gulf state’s record over the rights of migrant workers.
Real Madrid top ManUtd on Forbes rich list
By Mark Baber
April 18 – Real Madrid has displaced Manchester United as the world’s most valuable soccer club in the new Forbes list.
Kuwaitis declare support for Salman candidacy
By Andrew Warshaw
April 18 – Kuwait has wasted no time in publicly announcing that it will back Asian Football Confederation presidential candidate Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain in next month’s election.
Bidding opens up for five FIFA competitions
April 18 – FIFA has opened the bidding process for five competitions in 2016 and 2017, including the U-17 Women’s World Cup 2016, U-20 Women’s World Cup 2016, U-17 World Cup 2017, U-20 World Cup 2017 and Beach Soccer World Cup 2017.
Lee Wellings: Tan’s red dawn
So Malaysia will be represented in the boardroom of the world’s most powerful football league next season – even if Tony Fernandes and Queens Park Rangers are relegated as expected.
Tan Sri Dato Seri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun – Vincent Tan to supporters of Welsh club Cardiff City – has taken the club in the capital of Wales into the English Premier League.
I was going to write ‘controversial’ owner but is he?
Emirates close to landing Real Madrid shirt deal
By Andrew Warshaw
April 18 – Emirates Airlines is on the verge of capturing its most prestigious shirt sponsorship deal to date by agreeing a partnership with Real Madrid believed to be worth up to €30m a year, according to reports in Spain.
Valencia crisis deepens as Foundation President resigns over battle for control
By Gareth Messenger
April 18 -The chaos at Valencia is continuing to cause doubt among players, the coaching staff and supporters, after the club’s Foundation President Francisco Varona resigned.
Sheikh Salman calls for new faces and change, but blanks key issues
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
April 17 – The frontrunner in the race to become the most powerful man in Asian football has ducked questions about his alleged implication in a vote-buying scandal and about widespread human rights abuses in his native Bahrain.
Rain stops play at new Brasilia stadium
By Andrew Warshaw
April 17 – The stadium being used for the start of the Confederations Cup, the World Cup warm-up tournament, will only be officially opened a month beforehand. The news is a blow to Brazilian authorities who have pledged that the country will stage a World Cup to remember, but have suffered delays and setbacks in the preparation – this being the latest.