UEFA set to ignore goalline technology approval
By Andrew Warshaw at Soccerex in Manchester
March 29 – UEFA have given the biggest hint yet that it may ignore goalline technology, even if it is brought into law on a global level.
Blatter scrapped whistle blowing initiative, FIFA’s head of security reveals
By Andrew Warshaw at Soccerex in Manchester
March 29 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter suddenly halted a much-lauded whistle blowing programme designed to weed out match-fixing and illegal gambling before it even got off the ground, it has emerged.
English Championship clubs are a scene of carnage, admits Portsmouth administrator
By Andrew Warshaw at Soccerex in Manchester
March 29 – The man charged with saving crisis-stricken English Championship club Portsmouth painted a bleak picture of all second tier teams by describing them as “a scene of carnage” in terms of their finances.
FIFA Executive Committee step in to save Brazil 2014 World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
March 29 – In an unprecedented move, FIFA has put its entire Executive Committee on its own organising body for the 2014 World Cup amid growing concern about Brazil’s ability – or lack of it – to stage the event.
Honduras secure semi-final place in CONCACAF London 2012 qualifiers
By David Gold
March 29 – Honduras have booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) men’s Olympic football qualifiers.
England plays delay game over centralised media rights, insists UEFA
By Andrew Warshaw at Soccerex in Manchester
March 28 – England is the only country among UEFA’s 53 members to be dragging its feet over thrashing out final details covering centralised media rights for national matches, according to the organisation’s general secretary, Gianni Infantino.
Rainforests in focus as Brazil votes on World Cup law
By David Gold
March 28 – Rainforests will come under the microscope today with Brazil due to vote on World Cup law once again.
Women’s W-League can look forward to sunny future, insist Australian football chiefs
By David Gold
March 28 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) chiefs have pledged to continue supporting the W-League – insisting they see “blue sky not storm clouds”, as speculation mounts over its future.
Eight South African cities bid for 2013 African Nations Cup matches
By David Gold
March 28 – Eight cities – Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Cape Town, Polokwane (pictured), Rustenburg and Nelspruit – have bid to host matches at next year’s African Nations Cup, hosted by South Africa.
UEFA hopes for bumper 50,000 crowd for Women’s Champions League final
By David Gold
March 28 – UEFA has placed 50,000 tickets on sale for the Women’s Champions League final, to be held at the Olympiastadion in Munich on May 17.
Stuart Pearce backs Olympic football to “galvanise Great Britain”
By Andrew Warshaw at Soccerex in Manchester
March 28 – Stuart Pearce, who is doubling up as Great Britain’s Olympic football coach as well as running the England senior team on an interim basis, says the tournament at this summer’s London Games will “galvanise the country” and showcase the sport at under-23 level.
Exclusive: Wales to take UEFA to CAS over Europe entry ruling
By Andrew Warshaw
March 28 – The Football Association of Wales (FAW) are considering taking UEFA to Europe’s highest sporting court, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), for barring their clubs, including Premier League Swansea City, from playing in the Welsh Cup in order to try and gain a berth in the Europa League.
Indonesian football soon to learn fate as FIFA meet to discuss sanctions
By David Gold
March 27 – FIFA is meeting this week to discuss what sanctions, if any, to take against the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) after they missed a deadline to take control of domestic football in the country.
Asian football showing signs of unity as collaborative agreement is met
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – Asian football, which has not always spoken with one voice, moved towards a closer alliance today when FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured left) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) acting President Zhang Jilong (right) signed a Collaboration Agreement between the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP) and AFC.
IFAB composition under scrutiny at FIFA Strategic Committee meeting
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – The composition of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game’s lawmaking body comprising FIFA and the four British Home Associations, was the notable topic of discussion when FIFA’s Strategic Committee met at the start of a week-long series of key sessions ahead of Thursday’s (March 29) Executive Committee meeting.