By David Gold
August 22 – Omani football has received a huge boost as BankMuscat, the nation’s largest financial services provider, has announced that it would be supporting the national football team in its bid to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
By Tom Degun
August 22 – An independent inquiry has upheld the Olympic Park Legacy Company’s (OPLC) decision to award the Olympic Stadium in Stratford to West Ham United following the London 2012 Games.
By David Gold
August 20 – Following Syria’s suspension from the Brazil 2014 World Cup qualification programme, the country has claimed that FIFA’s decision to kick them out of the competition was politically motivated.
After months of speculation, Manchester United has confirmed that it will make 25 to 30 per cent of the club’s shares available to investors in a partial flotation later this year on the Singapore Stock Exchange.
Once again it raises searching questions about the club’s owners, the Glazer family, who burdened the club with significant debts when taking it over in 2005, and as a result are reviled by the United supporters.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 19 – UEFA has formally opened disciplinary proceedings against Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for allegedly breaching the terms of his Champions League touchline ban during this week’s qualifying tie against Udinese.
By David Gold
August 19 – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff (pictured) has given a staunch defence of the country’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup despite continual delays on stadium renovation and the slow pace of expanding airport capacity.
By Marcus Crawley
August 19 – New figures released today by the national tourism agency revealed that more than 750,000 inbound visitors who came to Britain last year experienced a football game.
By David Gold
August 18 – Construction workers have gone on strike at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana following an explosion during renovation work.
By David Gold
August 17 – UEFA will investigate the sponsorship deal Manchester City signed with Etihad earlier this summer in the first major test of their new financial fair play regulations.
By David Gold
August 17 – The opening match of this season’s FA Cup, between Ascot United of the Hellenic League and Combined Counties League outfit Wembley FC, is to be the first football match ever broadcast live on social networking site Facebook.
By David Gold
August 17 – The Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, which is set to host the final of the 2018 World Cup, is unlikely to be demolished ahead of the competition despite concerns over the cost of renovating the venue.
By David Gold
August 17 – Belize has been cleared to compete in World Cup qualifying after FIFA removed a threat to suspend the country over alleged Government interference in football affairs.
By David Gold
August 17 – Brazilian legend Romario (pictured) has claimed that the 2014 World Cup will only benefit the wealthy, calling ticket prices “absurd”.
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The beginning of the football season always turns to talk of money and how much clubs have spent on the transfer market.
Yet what this misses is the age-old truth that money does not buy sporting success. Spending money can keep the fans happy and raise their expectations for the season, but is no guarantee of silverware at the end of the season.
This is something that Manchester City fans might well discover this season as they finally strive to wrest back some glory from their more famous city rivals.
By David Gold
August 17 – CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer (pictured) has vigorously denied reports circulating that he is being investigated by the FBI.