Spanish star striker Raúl makes move to Qatar
By David Gold
May 15 – Qatari side Al Sadd have clinched the signing of Spain’s former international star Raúl on a reported one-year contract.
Exclusive: Scotland and Wales primed to unveil late joint bid for Euro 2020
By Andrew Warshaw
May 14 – Scotland and Wales are considering launching a joint bid to stage the UEFA European Championship 2020, going head-to-head with Turkey, insideworldfootball has learned.
The German decade – will it start on Saturday?
By David Owen
May 14 – Could this be the start of the German decade – a period of increasing dominance over European football by the Bundesliga?
Belo Horizonte appoints Mike Lee firm ahead of Brazil 2014
By Andrew Warshaw
May 14 – Belo Horizonte, the south-eastern Brazilian city scheduled to stage six matches at the 2014 World Cup, have appointed MLA True Communications, sister company of Vero Communications, to support its international promotions campaign in the build-up to the tournament.
Exclusive: London 2012 will put women’s football on the map, insists Briton Kelly Smith
By Andrew Warshaw
May 14 – Kelly Smith, Great Britain’s all-time record goalscorer, says London 2012 should help finally shake off the country’s macho male image and put women’s football firmly on the map.
Former Sheffield United chief Charles Green saves Rangers from extinction
By Andrew Warshaw
May 14 – Crisis-torn Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers look to have finally been saved from potentially going out of business after a deal to take over the iconic club was struck between the administrators and an international consortium headed by Charles Green, former chief executive of Sheffield United.
West Ham United endure further wait for Olympic Stadium move decision
By David Gold
May 14 – English Championship club West Ham United will have to wait until London 2012 kicks-off to find out if they can move into the Olympic Stadium, after the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) extended the bidding process by eight weeks.
Ronaldinho set to miss London 2012 after snubbed by Brazilian coach
By David Gold
May 12 – Ronaldinho seems set to miss out on London 2012 after failing to make Brazil coach Mano Menezes’ squad for a series of four friendlies in the coming weeks.
Exclusive: IOC faces tough decision on Istanbul 2020 Olympic bid, admits Sir Craig Reedie
By David Gold in Olympia
May 11 – Britain’s International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board member, Sir Craig Reedie, has admitted that the organisation faces an unprecedented decision as they seek to establish whether Istanbul can organise both the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and football’s European Championships in the same year.
Mihir Bose: Blackburn Rovers fiasco shows football is just too big and too important to self-regulate any longer
This may not come as much comfort to Blackburn Rovers supporters, but one result of their relegation and how Venky’s, their Indian owners, have managed, or rather mismanaged, the club, is that, at last, high profile politicians may be persuaded that self-regulation in football does not work.
This could even lead to legislation. I am given to understand it might it, and if it does, it will mark a significant development in British football.
Craig Whyte agrees to sell 85 per cent share in Rangers
By Andrew Warshaw
May 11 – Craig Whyte, owner of beleaguered Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers, has agreed to transfer his 85 per cent majority shareholding so that the administrators running the club can move forward with finding new buyers.
Brazil Senate approves contentious 2014 World Cup law
By David Gold
May 11 – The World Cup law for Brazil 2014 has moved another step closer to being authorised after the country’s Senate approved the Bill, which passed through the lower house of Parliament in March.
Javier Hernández will not play for Mexico at London 2012, insists Man Utd boss
By David Gold
May 11 – Manchester United forward Javier Hernández will not be part of the Mexico squad for this summer’s Olympic Games, according to his club manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Slaven Bilić to quit as Croatia coach after Euro 2012
By David Gold
May 11 – Slaven Bilić will leave his post as Croatia coach at the end of the European Championships this summer, after six years in charge.
UEFA announces Ultimate Champions Match line up
By David Gold
May 11 – The two teams who will take part in the Ultimate Champions Match during the UEFA Champions Festival in Munich next week have been revealed.