New Aussie A-League outfit Western Sydney Wanderers unveiled
By David Gold
June 26 – New Australian A-League team Western Sydney Wanderers has been officially launched at a media event at the Parramatta Stadium.
Russian Sports Minister blames season changes and Advocaat for Euro 2012 exit
By Andrew Warshaw
June 25 – Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has cited the country’s protracted transition season for their surprise group stage elimination from the 2012 European Championship – and also laid the blame partly at the feet of coach Dick Advocaat (pictured below).
Johannesburg to host 2013 African Nations Cup qualifying draw next month
By David Gold
June 25 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the board of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations have confirmed the final qualifying round draw for the tournament will take place in Johannesburg on July 5.
CAS undermines FFP as it lifts Bursaspor’s UEFA ban
By Andrew Warshaw
June 25 – UEFA’s hopes of imposing Financial Fair Play (FFP) sanctions against clubs who fail to balance the books have suffered a potentially damaging blow after Turkish club Bursaspor won a shock appeal against being banned from playing in Europe for failing to pay transfer fees.
Warner appointed Minister of National Security in Trinidad and Tobago
By Andrew Warshaw
June 25 – The cash-for-votes scandal that led to former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner resigning in disgrace from all footballing activities is clearly having no effect on his political career after he was appointed Minister of National Security in his native Trinidad and Tobago.
Russia hit with third Euro 2012 fine as fans’ shameful behaviour continues
By Andrew Warshaw
June 23 – Russia’s Euro 2012 went from bad to worse today when the national association was fined for the third time by UEFA because of the misbehavior of their fans.
FFA to improve elite footballer development after review
By Tom Degun
June 22 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) has revealed its plan to help develop and improve elite male football players in the country after releasing the outcomes of their National Competition Review (NCR).
Mascot named for 2012 Under-17 Women’s World Cup
By Tom Degun
June 22 – The mascot for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan later this year has been officially named the “Top Top Girl” following a nationwide competition to decide what she would be called.
Exclusive: UEFA “hopping mad” at FIFA’s decision to allow Kosovo partial informal status
By Andrew Warshaw
June 22 – FIFA and UEFA are on a collision course over whether to allow Kosovo the right to play international matches, with European officials furious at what they see as a clear attempt by the world governing body to undermine their regulations.
Dević’s disallowed goal was an “unfortunate mistake”, says Collina
By Andrew Warshaw
June 22 – UEFA’s refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina has defended the organisation’s experimental system of two extra goal-line officials but admits that an “unfortunate mistake” helped eliminate Ukraine from the 2012 European Championship.
Rangers deny Bury takeover
By Andrew Warshaw
June 21 – Debt-ridden Scottish giants Rangers have denied a report that they plan to re-emerge as an English club by taking over third-tier team Bury.
English FA handed €5,000 fine for “inappropriate conduct” at Euro 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
June 21 – The English Football Association (FA) has been fined a token €5,000 (£4,000/$6,000) by UEFA for the “inappropriate conduct” of a small group of fans in Friday’s (June 15) European Championship win over Sweden.
Drogba heads to Shanghai
By David Owen
June 21 – Didier Drogba, the Ivorian striker who starred in Chelsea’s recent European Champions League victory, has confirmed his long-expected move to Shanghai Shenhua of China.
Socceroos’ first captain honoured with retrospective awarding of cap number one
By Stuart Newman
June 21 – The first ever captain of Australia’s national football team, the late Alex Gibb, has been honoured in a special ceremony during the recent FIFA 2014 World Cup Asian qualifying match between the hosts and Japan in Brisbane, which ended 1-1.
Mihir Bose: Sport, particularly football, should not be served up as the panacea to society’s inherent racial ills
The European Championship once again raises the question of whether we are right in believing that sport, and in particular football, can reach out to society in the way nothing else can. The answer so far from the Euros is a chilling one: those of us who believe in the redemptive power of modern sport need to re-examine our beliefs – or at least ask if we do not need to prepare much better before we burden sport with this heavy load of transforming society.