By David Gold
November 2 – The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has reiterated its call for FIFA to conduct a full independent investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively in December 2010.
By David Gold
November 2 – Orange has reaffirmed its commitment to African football with plans to take the mobile platform Football Fan Club to a number of new countries.
By David Gold
November 2 – FIFA has donated $300,000 (£188,000/€218,000) to efforts to boost football infrastructure in Christchurch, where a devastating earthquake struck the Canterbury region earlier this year.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 2 – New York Cosmos, once the most glamourous name in United States soccer which even lured Pele out of retirement, wants to become a major force once again – possibly with Arab money.
By David Gold
November 2 – Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has followed Gareth Bale’s example and reiterated his desire to play in the Great British football team at next year’s Olympic Games by posing in a limited edition British Olympic Association (BOA) football supporters shirt.
The Carlos Tévez and John Terry affairs could not be more different. One is a case of an employee allegedly not wanting to do his job; the other is about an employee allegedly behaving badly while at work.
They both illustrate the behaviour problems of today’s footballers, more so during high profile matches which are subjected to unprecedented public scrutiny through the internet and social media.
They also illustrate that those involved in running football including the players union,
By David Gold
November 1 – Mauritius have pulled out of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil due to a lack of funds, meaning that Liberia progress to the next stage of the African qualifiers in their place.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 1 – One of the darkest days in the history of Asian club football resulted in mass suspensions being announced today by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
By David Gold
November 1 – Populous’ senior principal John Barrow has praised English stadiums as the best in the world, citing Arsenal as the best example of how to approach moving into a new ground.
By David Gold
November 1 – Lionel Messi is in line to win his third successive FIFA Ballon d’Or award after being named on a 23 man shortlist for the prize, along with seven of his Barcelona team mates.
Bar one, I have covered every Olympic Games since Tokyo in 1964. The one I missed was Atlanta 1996, when I was sports editing The Observer. Colleagues who were there tell me I was a good judge.
In all those Games, I have also covered every Olympic sport. Bar one.
Football.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 31 – In an era of belt-tightening and battening down the hatches, the Premier League general secretary, Nic Coward, makes no apologies for promoting the brand of the most popular product in world football.
By David Gold
October 31 – Russia and Singapore will be creating a joint business venture to develop airports being used for the World Cup in 2018.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 31 – The lawyer who helped change the face of world football has been drafted in by Swiss club FC Sion to try to win their case against UEFA and FIFA.
By David Gold
October 31 – FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Al Hussein wants rules brought in to allow Islamic headscarves to be worn during football matches.