Putin attempts Tom Tomsk rescue plan
By David Gold
January 20 – The Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, is attempting to save the Russian Premier League outfit Tom Tomsk from bankruptcy.
African footballers join Oxfam famine appeal
By David Gold
January 23 – Top African stars competing in this month’s African Cup of Nations, including Barcelona’s Seydou Keita (pictured) and Newcastle’s Demba Ba, have joined forces with Oxfam to call for an end to hunger across the continent.
Ghana’s Government buy African Cup of Nations broadcasting rights
By David Gold
January 23 – Ghana’s Government has bought the broadcasting rights to the African Nations Cup, as the competition began in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon this weekend.
Exclusive: FIFA veteran Gagg slams Chagaev as Xamax are on the brink of extinction
By Andrew Warshaw
January 23 – FIFA veteran Walter Gagg (pictured), the man leading a consortium to save two-time Swiss champions Neuchâtel Xamax from extinction, has hit out at the “crazy” behaviour of the club’s Chechen owner Bulat Chagaev and has promised to re-launch Xamax in the lower leagues.
Canada, Cost Rica, Mexico and USA reach semis of CONCACAF Olympic qualifiers
By David Gold
January 22 – Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States are all in the semi-finals of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Olympic football women’s qualifiers, with all four winning their first two games of the competition with relative ease at BC Place in Vancouver.
Blatter remark undermines Brazil 2014 preparations
By Andrew Warshaw
January 22 – Brazil’s preparations for staging the 2014 World Cup have been further undermined by a seemingly off-the-cuff remark from FIFA President Sepp Blatter that 2018 hosts Russia are already making better progress.
No visas needed and free travel in Russia for 2018 World Cup visitors, says Putin
By David Gold
January 21 – Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (pictured) has indicated that supporters with tickets to matches for the 2018 World Cup will be able to travel across the country for free, and also confirmed that they will not need to obtain visas.
Olympic football coach Pearce “saddened” by Team GB opposition
By David Gold
January 21 – Team GB men’s football coach Stuart Pearce (pictured) has spoken of his sadness that Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales do not want their players to be a part of his squad for the Olympic Games in London this summer.
Turkey’s “energies are focussed on Olympics” promises Sports Minister after Euro 2020 claims
By Duncan Mackay
January 21 – Turkey is concentrating its efforts on successfully bidding for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, the country’s Sports Minister Suat Kılıç (pictured) has revealed following reports that they were also planning to launch a campaign to host football’s European Championships that year.
Mihir Bose: English football will do itself no good by continuing to rubbish the Europa League
The amount of muck poured on this competition reminds me of the words Kelvin MacKenzie said to John Major after he had taken Britain out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). As MacKenzie recounted to the Leveson inquiry on the press, as the hapless Prime Minister rang to ask the then Sun editor how he would treat the news, he replied, “Prime Minister, I have a bucket of shit by my desk and I am about to pour it on you.”
Putin and Blatter join forces to celebrate Russian Football Union centenary
By David Gold
January 20 – Dignitaries from the world of football and politics, including the FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, and Russia’s Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, have gathered in St Petersburg to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Russian Football Union (RFU).
Liverpool deny pricing themselves out of adidas sponsorship deal
By Andrew Warshaw
January 20 – Liverpool have responded to a claim from the adidas chief executive, Herbert Hainer, that the club priced themselves out of a new kit deal by saying they could soon be worth £300 million ($464 million/€359 million).
Canada take early lead at CONCACAF London 2012 qualifiers
By David Gold
January 20 – Four goals from Christine Sinclair helped Canada to an easy 6-0 win over Haiti in the opening game of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) women’s London 2012 Olympic football qualifiers at BC Place in Vancouver.
Bin Hammam fights to save Asian position
By Andrew Warshaw
January 20 – Former Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam’s (pictured) attempt to clear his name after being banned for life for bribery by FIFA’s Ethics Committee reaches the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday (January 23) in a related case against his own Confederation.
Coleman named as Welsh manager despite Greek club claiming he still belongs to them
By David Gold
January 19 – Chris Coleman has been unveiled as the successor to the late Gary Speed as Wales manager at what he described as “the most difficult press conference I am ever likely to do,” though Greek club Larissa claim he is still under contract to them.