USA 2 Costa Rica 2 (USA win 4-3 on pens)
June 29 – You’d hate to use the word ‘sterile’ to describe a Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final, but following the drama and passion of Guatemala versus Canada, it all felt a little flat as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Costa Rica kicked off for the right to face Guatemala in St. Louis. After 90 minutes and the drama of penalty kicks,
By Andrew Warshaw
August 29 – Six months being after told he would not be welcome any longer because of a highly publicised rift, FIFA secretary-general Jérôme Valcke is once again back in Brazil on another visit to 2014 World Cup venues having seemingly patched up his differences with the tournament organisers.
By David Gold
August 29 – Goran Tufegdžić, the coach of the Kuwait national football team, has been shot in the chest, allegedly by a neighbour, and admitted to intensive care in hospital in a serious condition.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 28 – The Federal Administration of Public Income (AFIP), Argentina’s national tax agency, has suspended almost 150 football agents as part of a detailed investigation into alleged tax evasion involving player transfers to overseas clubs.
By David Gold
August 28 – Tunisian outfit Étoile du Sahel have been ejected from Africa’s Champions League after crowd disturbances during their losing match to compatriots Espérance earlier this month.
By David Gold
August 28 – A minute’s silence was observed at every Brazilian league match at the weekend after Félix, the country’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper in 1970, passed away aged 74.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 28 – The international players’ union, FIFPro, has expressed its concern over UEFA’s decision to ban Malta’s Kevin Sammut for 10 years for match-fixing, a punishment that has effectively ended the 31-year-old’s career.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 27 – Michael Garcia, the newly appointed joint chairman of FIFA’s revamped two-chamber Ethics Committee, has confirmed that Russia and Qatar will come under fresh scrutiny for the manner in which they were awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
By David Gold
August 26 – Santander has agreed a three-year deal to become the title sponsor of the Recopa Sudamericana, which pits the winner of South America’s two major continental club competitions against each other.
By David Gold
August 26 – Boca Juniors’ La Bombonera stadium (pictured) in Argentina will be closed for at least one league match as a punishment for the violent behaviour of fans after this week’s Copa Sudamericana clash with Buenos Aires rivals Independiente.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 25 – Manchester United chief executive David Gill is set to stand for election for a seat on UEFA’s Executive Committee next year.
By David Gold
August 24 – Spartak Moscow has accused Turkish hackers of targeting their website after they beat Fenerbahçe in a UEFA Champions League qualifier this week.
By David Gold
August 24 – Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo has insisted that there is “no secret” to staging a major sports event and that the country is prepared for the challenges ahead.
By David Gold
August 24 – La Liga’s new 11pm kick off time has come under attack from all sides following the start of the season.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 24 – UEFA has finalised the sale in China of media and internet rights for the next three editions of the Champions League and Europa League up until 2015.
It was always to be expected that the London 2102 Olympics would see a Team GB in football for the one and only time in the modern era. This was inevitable given the vehement opposition of the Scots, and the lukewarm response of the other home nations; fearful that an Olympic Team GB will mean the end of Britain’s unique position in world football, the only country with four teams.
But while Team GB in the wider football world will never come about,