Brazil 2014 World Cup stadium workers threaten strike
By Andrew Warshaw
February 2 – Workers at yet another of the 2014 World Cup stadiums, the Arena Fonte Nova (pictured) in Salvador, Brazil, have threatened to go on strike.
Burrell breaks silence on cash-for-votes scandal
By Andrew Warshaw
February 2 – Horace Burrell (pictured), President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), who was banned for six months – including three suspended – as part of last year’s cash-for-votes debacle, has broken his silence by admitting he failed to cooperate with the official investigation.
Lynch resigns from Visa head of global sponsorship marketing role after 16 years
By Tom Degun
February 2 – Michael Lynch, the Visa head of global sponsorship marketing, has resigned following a successful 16-year career with the American multinational financial services corporation.
Former London 2012 marketing executive forced out at Tottenham Hotspur
By Andrew Warshaw
February 2 – Tottenham Hotspur executive director Charlie Wijeratna, hired little more than a year ago from London 2012 with a brief to bring in fresh sponsorship, has left the club.
Egypt goes into mourning after what Blatter describes as a “black day” for football
By Andrew Warshaw
February 2 – Three days of national mourning have been declared by the Egyptian authorities after at least 74 people died and over 1,000 were injured in one of football’s deadliest cases of fan violence for years.
Dozens killed in football riot in Egypt
By David Gold
February 1 – Thousands have been injured and 73 people have died tonight in clashes between rival fans of al-Ahly and Masry in the Egyptian Premier League, which has been indefinitely suspended as a result.
FIFA promise “definitive decision” on goal-line technology
By Andrew Warshaw
February 1 – After numerous false dawns, FIFA have finally promised a “definitive decision” on goal-line technology but not until July, almost certainly ruling out it out for the start of next season.
UEFA were entitled to expel Sion from the Europa League, explain CAS
By David Gold
February 1 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has published the reasons why it ruled in favour of UEFA in their battle with Swiss side FC Sion over their expulsion from the Europa League in December.
Chelsea achieve record turnover and reduce losses
By David Gold
February 1 – Chelsea have reduced their annual losses to £67.7 million (€80 million/$106 million) for the year ending June 30, 2011, largely thanks to record turnover of £222 million (€266 million/$357 million).
London Mayor Boris Johnson urges Tottenham to move on with new ground development
By Andrew Warshaw
February 1 – Tottenham Hotspur, whose battle to move into the Olympic Stadium was abandoned last year following a bitter wrangle, have been urged by London Mayor Boris Johnson (pictured) to press ahead with a new ground in their own back yard after the parties struck a fresh £27 million ($43 million/€33 million) funding agreement.
Exclusive: CFU Normalisation Committee initiate talks to restore region’s integrity
By Andrew Warshaw
February 1 – Caribbean football officials meet in Cuba tomorrow (February 2) in a concerted drive to restore credibility for the region after the worst period in its history.
Almost 70 Zimbabwean players suspended in match fixing probe
By Andrew Warshaw
February 1 – The global crackdown on match fixing has achieved one of its biggest coups to date after the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) suspended a staggering 67 players, including the core of its national team, following a long-standing investigation.
West Ham among 16 interested in London 2012 Olympic Stadium as deadline passes
By David Gold
January 31 – There have been 16 expressions of interest from parties interested in moving to the Olympic Stadium after London 2012, including one from West Ham United, insideworldfootball understands.
Munich’s Olympiastadion to host Women’s Champions League final
By David Gold
January 31 – UEFA has announced that this season’s Women’s Champions League final will be held in Munich’s Olympiastadion on May 17, two days before the men’s showpiece.
Turkish Federation chairman steps down over match fixing embarrassment
By David Gold
January 31 – Turkish Football Federation (TFF) chairman Mehmet Ali Aydınlar (pictured) and two of his deputies, Göksel Gümüşdağ and Lütfi Arıboğan, have resigned from their posts as a result of the ongoing match fixing investigation in the country.