US sportswear giant signs Spurs deal
By Andrew Warshaw
March 9 – An American sportswear manufacturer has broken into the English Premier League, with Under Armour Inc. signing a deal to become kit suppliers for Tottenham Hotspur.
Coe sympathetic to Scottish reluctance to participate in 2012 GB team
March 9 – Sebastian Coe (pictured) has claimed he understands Scotland’s lack of enthusiasm for joining a Great British football team to compete at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Blatter criticises Brazil promises
March 8 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter reprimanded Brazilian politicians for promising that the opening match of the 2014 World Cup would be staged in Sao Paulo.
Hawk-Eye sale could have implications for goal-line technology
By Andrew Warshaw
March 7 – Hawk-eye Innovations, the ball-tracking technology system used in cricket and tennis, has been sold to Sony for an undisclosed sum reported in some quarters as around £20 million ($32 million).
FA hatches plot to oust FIFA supremo Blatter
By Andrew Warshaw
March 7 – The English Football Association will support any credible rival to FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) when he stands for re-election on June 1.
New Zealand want to play Britain’s Olympic team at Wembley as earthquake fundraiser
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
March 7 – Britain’s football team could begin its preparations for next year’s Olympics in London with a match against New Zealand at Wembley Stadium in a special fundraising event for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake if a proposal from the President of the Oceania Football Confederation is accepted.
A move to Olympic Park would help resolve Stadium row claim Orient
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
March 7 – Leyton Orient would be prepared to drop their threatened legal action over West Ham United’s proposed move to the Olympic Stadium if they allowed to move to Eton Manor after London 2012, the club’s chairman Barry Hearn has revealed.
Portuguese teams threatened with expulsion from international football
March 6 – FIFA has told the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) that it must urgently update the status of its clubs, athletes, coaches and associations, or face a ban from international competitions.
A move to Olympic Park would help resolve Stadium row claim Orient
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
March 6 – Leyton Orient would be prepared to drop their threatened legal action over West Ham United’s proposed move to the Olympic Stadium if they allowed to move to Eton Manor after London 2012, the club’s chairman Barry Hearn has revealed.
“Wales should be in the Olympics in own right” says football chief
By Andrew Warshaw at Celtic Manor
March 5 – The row over an all-British team for the 2012 Olympic football tournament escalated today when the Welsh insisted they would not allow the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey (pictured) to take part.
“Completely ludicrous” for South America to have so many World Cup spots for 2014 blasts Blazer
March 4 – FIFA’s decision to allow South America a possible six slots at the 2014 World Cup has been blasted as “completely ludicrous” by Chuck Blazer, the FIFA Executive committee member from the United States and secretary general of CONCACAF.
Goal-line technology could be introduced for Brazil 2014
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By Andrew Warshaw at Celtic Manor
March 5 – Goal-line technology moved a significant step forward today when football’s lawmakers said it could be in place by the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.
Bin Hammam calls for competition for FIFA President
By Andrew Warshaw
March 5 – Mohamed Bin Hammam (pictured right), President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), has again hinted he may challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA Presidency, claiming there should be competition for the biggest job in the sport.
England 2018 tried to use Prince Andrew to form World Cup alliance with Qatar
March 4 – England’s failed 2018 football World Cup bid tried to use Prince Andrew’s relationship with the Qatari royal family to secure a voting alliance, it was claimed tonight.
Goal-line technology under the spotlight again
By Andrew Warshaw at Celtic Manor
March 4 – Football’s lawmakers will once again tackle the age-old question of goal-line technology tomorrow in an attempt to finally achieve a breakthrough over one of the most burning issues facing the game.