“We won’t negotiate, beer will be available at Brazil 2014 World Cup,” insists FIFA
By Andrew Warshaw
January 19 – Beer must be freely on sale inside stadiums at the 2014 World Cup, FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke reiterated today.
Jamaica’s Burrell won’t come clean about facts behind his FIFA suspension
By Andrew Warshaw
January 19 – Horace Burrell (pictured), the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) President suspended by FIFA’s Ethics Committee over the cash-for-votes scandal, has refused to explain exactly why he was sanctioned.
I’d love to captain Team GB at London 2012, says Beckham
By Andrew Warshaw
January 19 – David Beckham says captaining Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics would be a “special” way of giving something back to his country after a distinguished career.
Exclusive: “Gaps are bridged” as Caribbean official comes to London to meet FA chair Bernstein
By Andrew Warshaw in London
January 18 – Jeff Webb (pictured), the man charged with putting Caribbean football back on the map for the right reasons, flew into London today for talks with English Football Association chairman David Bernstein aimed at kick-starting a relationship soured by England’s failed 2018 World Cup bid.
CSKA director Babaev fined one rouble over Welliton threat
By David Gold
January 18 – CSKA Moscow general director Roman Babaev (pictured) has been ordered to pay one rouble in compensation after telling Spartak Moscow forward Welliton to “walk the streets with care” after a game between the sides last year.
SFA chief Regan warns of supporter backlash against players joining Team GB
By David Gold
January 18 – The chief executive of the Scottish Football Association (SFA), Stewart Regan, has told players hoping to compete for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics that they will face a backlash from fans.
Qatar 2022 boss Al-Thawadi promises improved conditions for labourers
By David Gold
January 18 – Hassan Al-Thawadi (pictured), secretary general of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, has promised to give more rights to construction workers building stadiums for the World Cup in the gulf state.
Blatter’s club lose licence after financial irregularities
By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – Swiss football, already tarnished by the FC Sion affair, has been plunged into yet more disarray after Neuchatel Xamax, a club whose honorary President is Sepp Blatter, were thrown out of the league and stripped of their licence less than a year after being taken over by the Chechen businessman Bulat Chagaev.
Equatorial Guinea and South Africa clash over unpaid hotel bill
By David Gold
January 18 – African Cup of Nations co-hosts Equatorial Guinea are embroiled in a dispute with South Africa over a hotel bill arising from a friendly between the two countries to open the Estadio de Bata earlier this month.
FIFA and ECA open talks on club versus country issues
By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – Europe’s top clubs have finally opened talks with FIFA aimed at resolving a long-running dispute over World Cup revenues and other club-versus-country issues.
David Beckham signs two-year contract extension at LA Galaxy
By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – David Beckham has finally ended speculation about him returning to Europe by signing a new two-year deal to remain at LA Galaxy in the United States.
FIFA President Blatter confirms he will step down in 2015
By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) has reaffirmed that he will definitely step down for good when his fourth and final spell in charge expires in three years’ time.
Twenty strong US women’s squad arrive for CONCACAF Olympic qualifiers
By David Gold
January 17 – United States women’s team coach Pia Sundhage has arrived in Vancouver with a 20 woman squad for the 2012 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Olympic women’s qualifying tournament, which takes place on January 19 until 29.
Sporting and political stars gather for latest Bose book launch
By Andrew Warshaw
January 17 – Guests from the world of politics, sport and journalism attended the launch of The Spirit of The Game: How Sport Made the Modern World, the latest book written by Mihir Bose, insidethegames and insideworldfootball columnist.
Rangers tax case back in the dock
By David Gold
January 17 – The ongoing case against Glasgow Rangers for £35 million (€42 million/$54 million) in allegedly unpaid taxes continues at a tribunal hearing in Edinburgh this week.