Bundesliga strikes €2.5 billion media deal with Sky
By David Gold
April 18 – Sky Deutschland has won the rights to show Bundesliga football live for four years starting from 2013, in a deal worth €2.5 billion (£2 billion/$3.3 billion).
Banned former Asia chief Bin Hammam makes last-ditch attempt to clear name
By Andrew Warshaw
April 17 – Former Asia football supremo Mohamed Bin Hammam makes a final attempt to regain his credibility when he tries to overturn his lifetime FIFA ban for corruption tomorrow.
Andrew Warshaw: Turkey’s risky mega-events bidding game could see it drop the ball and lose everything
Over breakfast at an Istanbul hotel a couple of weeks ago, I asked one of Turkey’s leading Olympic officials which was the more important: staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020 or hosting football’s European Championships the same year.
“What we want above all is to secure one big event,” Ali Kiremitciogly, a prominent member of Istanbul 2020, diplomatically replied, hedging his bets the best he could.
He knows full well that hosting both mega-events in the same summer would be out of the question.
Turkey officially launch bid for 2020 European Championships
By Duncan Mackay in Moscow
April 17 – The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) confirmed today that it had submitted a bid to UEFA to host football’s 2020 European Championship, leaving a fresh question mark over Istanbul’s bid to stage the Olympics and Paralympics in the same year.
FIFPro head delivers stark warning that Euro 2012 will be remembered for the wrong reasons
By Andrew Warshaw
April 17 – The head of the union representing professional footballers has warned that the 2012 European Championships will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Fabrice Muamba pays tribute to medical staff as he is released from hospital
By Andrew Warshaw
April 17 – Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba has paid tribute to the medical staff who kept him alive after he was pronounced clinically dead for 78 minutes when collapsing with a cardiac arrest in a cup game at Tottenham Hotspur.
FIFA’s Müller impressed by commitment of Russia 2018 host cities
By David Gold
April 17 – Jürgen Müller, FIFA’s head of the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups, has expressed his satisfaction at what he described as “full commitment from all candidate host cities visited so far” during an inspection tour of Russia.
Superstar J-Lo to provide glitz at under-17 Women’s World Cup
By David Gold
April 17 – International pop superstar Jennifer Lopez will perform at the Opening Ceremony of this year’s FIFA under-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan, FIFA have announced.
FFA receives welcome boost as Fox extends A-League media deal for three seasons
By David Gold
April 16 – Fox Soccer has renewed its media rights deal with Australia’s Hyundai A-League for three seasons, a boost to the embattled Football Federation Australia (FFA).
Pelé’s Santos celebrates centenary with exhibition games
By David Gold
April 16 – Santos is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a series of commemorative matches between players of past and present, including the legendary Pelé.
Part-rebuilt Maracanã Stadium opens to the public
By David Gold
April 16 – The doors of the revamped Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, which will host the final of the 2014 World Cup as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympics, have been opened to the public.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter brought to tears over death of Piermario Morosini
By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter says he cried at learning of the tragic death of 25-year-old Italian midfielder Piermario Morosini during a Serie B match at the weekend.
Goal-line technology to enter final testing phase following latest refereeing gaffe
By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – The final phase of testing for goal-line technology will begin by the end of April, according to FIFA, following yet another blatant and ultimately decisive injustice on the field of play.
David Owen: Au revoir but not goodbye Auxerre
An era may be about to end in French football.
As I write this, AJ Auxerre sit 20th and last in Ligue 1, the French First Division.
There is still time for them to save themselves, but they are three points adrift, six points from safety and the days are getting longer.
Football world shaken as Italy’s Piermario Morosini suffers fatal heart attack on pitch
By David Gold
April 15 – Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini (pictured) has died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Serie B game with Pescara.