Football world shaken as Italy’s Piermario Morosini suffers fatal heart attack on pitch
By David Gold
April 15 – Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini (pictured) has died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Serie B game with Pescara.
Racist abuse allegations from French cup tie spark calls for inquiry
By David Gold
April 15 – The France-based International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) has demanded an immediate inquiry into allegations that racist abuse was aimed at Lyon striker Bafétimbi Gomis during a cup tie in Corsica.
Barcelona’s Éric Abidal “recovering well” after liver transplant
By Andrew Warshaw
April 13 – Barcelona’s international French defender Éric Abidal, who had a lengthy liver transplant on Tuesday (April 10), is recovering well from the operation according to the club.
Land dispute causes UAE to cancel Iran friendly
By David Gold
April 14 – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has cancelled a friendly match, scheduled originally for Tuesday (April 17), with Iran after the Islamic Republic’s hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited an island which both countries believe they own.
UEFA’s Platini hands Europa League trophy to Bucharest
By David Gold
April 13 – UEFA President Michel Platini has handed over the Europa League trophy to the Mayor of Bucharest, the host city for the final of the competition, which takes place in just under a month’s time.
African Nations Cup 2013 draw confirmed for October
By David Gold
April 13 – The draw for the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa next year will take place on October 26, it has been revealed by Confederation of African Football (CAF) secretary general Hicham El Amrani.
Exclusive: “Everyone wants Turkey but Turkey wants the Olympics”
By Duncan Mackay in Moscow
April 13 – Leaders of Istanbul 2020 claim that there is no threat of their campaign to host the Olympics and Paralympics being sabotaged by a bid from Turkey to stage football’s European Championships in that year instead.
Sochi 2014 Olympic Stadium World Cup bid hit by weather
By Duncan Mackay in Moscow
April 13 – A trip to inspect the stadium being built for the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi to see whether it should be one of the venues for the 2018 FIFA World Cup had to be abandoned when FIFA delegates were unable to land because of thick fog in the city.
UEFA President slams “bandits and crooks” bumping up hotel prices for Euro 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
April 13 – The decision to grant the 2012 European Championships to Poland and Ukraine has once again been brought into sharp focus with UEFA President Michel Platini attacking the “bandits and crooks” who have made Ukrainian hotel costs prohibitive for the average fan.
Egypt long list 73 players for London 2012 Olympics
By David Gold
April 14 – Egypt have named 73 players in a provisional list for their men’s football squad ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games.
Blatter to give London 2012 Olympic football tournament draw a miss
By Andrew Warshaw
April 12 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter looks likely to be conspicuous by his absence when the draw is made at Wembley later this month for the London 2012 Olympic football tournament.
Swiss aid organisation launches online Brazil World Cup protest with Blatter spoof video
By Andrew Warshaw
April 12 – A Swiss aid organisation has launched a campaign targeting FIFA for holding World Cups in countries with poor human rights records.
SPL debt sanctions halt sale offers for beleaguered Rangers
By Andrew Warshaw
April 12 – A potential new buyer for beleaguered Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers has been delayed because of a string of draconian proposals to heavily penalise clubs who fall into debt.
Mihir Bose: Footballers will remain brainless bad boys until clubs step up
Mario Balotelli (pictured below) is not the only footballer whose antics make you think there is much wrong with the game. Apart from his well publicised problems with his manager, the Manchester City player also managed to set fire to his house after a fireworks display in his bathroom. It is just as well not all footballers are like Balotelli. Not that the inane way they often answer questions on television give you much confidence that they think before they speak.
Kirin Cup won by Japan’s iron ladies
By David Gold
April 12 – World champions Japan (pictured in blue) have laid down a marker for the London 2012 women’s football tournament with a 4-1 win over Brazil (pictured in yellow) to lift the Kirin Cup in Kobe.