By Andrew Warshaw
January 31 – Poland is hoping it can buck the trend of European countries being plunged into economic crisis by using this summer’s European Championships to its advantage.
Michel Platini’s Financial Fair Play may finally deal with the financial doping the UEFA President feels is ruining the game. But there is an equally serious crisis confronting the game which Platini and other football administrators refuse to address.
This is the failure by football’s bosses to deal with the events on the pitch where almost every game is blighted by incidents the referees do not spot. These then become the subject of calls for disciplinary inquiries by frustrated managers,
By David Gold
January 31 – India’s Premier League Soccer (PLS) has held an auction in Calcutta, in which almost $21 million (£13 million/€16 million) was spent by franchises on the likes of 2006 World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro and former France midfielder Robert Pirès.
By David Gold
January 31 – Brazil’s Brasilierão has climbed above Holland’s top flight to become the world’s sixth richest league, according to a study by BDO RCS, as football benefits from the country’s economic boom.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 31 – Britain’s automatic FIFA Presidency is no longer under threat despite last year’s opposition to Sepp Blatter’s unchallenged re-election as FIFA President, according to the newest member of the organisation’s hierarchy, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured).
By Andrew Warshaw
January 31 – Just days after qualifying for the London Olympics, women’s soccer in the United States has suffered a massive blow with the announcement that the entire 2012 season is being scrapped.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 31 – Qatar’s hopes of participating in this summer’s London Olympics have been dealt a potentially critical blow after FIFA ruled they fielded an ineligible player in last year’s 1-1 draw against Oman in Muscat.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – Poland’s showpiece venue for this summer’s European Championship finals was opened on Sunday – eight months late.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – Former Welsh manager Gary Speed texted his wife, Louise Speed (pictured), four days before his tragic death and “talked in terms of taking his life”, an inquest was told today.
By David Gold
January 30 – Ukrainian international goalkeeper Oleksandr Rybka (pictured) has been banned by UEFA for two years after testing positive for a banned substance last year.
By David Gold
January 30 – Tom Tomsk are set to be saved after Gazprom and Rosneft stepped in to help the ailing Russian Premier League side, following pressure from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – Zambia’s coach at the African Cup of Nations, Hervé Renard (pictured), has called on FIFA to tighten the regulations on naturalised players.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – The man leading the Ukrainian side of Euro 2012, Markiyan Lubkivskyi, insists there will be enough hotel rooms to accommodate the thousands of fans expected to pour into the country for the world’s third largest sports event this summer.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – Just over a year after becoming the youngest member of FIFA’s inner sanctum, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured) of Jordan believes there is still too much politics and a lack of openness within world football’s governing body and that those who wish to speak out should not be silenced.
By David Gold
January 29 – The United States crushed Canada 4-0 to cap a dominant showing at BC Place in Vancouver, where they have strolled through the CONCACAF qualifiers for the London 2012 Olympic Games women’s football tournament.