By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
March 3 – West Ham United’s proposed move into the Olympic Stadium after London 2012 was today rubber-stamped by the Government and London Mayor Boris Johnson, meaning that the Premier League club can officially open negotiations.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 3 – The first major sporting fallout from the political unrest in Libya has seen South Africa as likely replacements for the north African country as hosts of the Orange African Youth Championship, it was reported today.
Given how these organisations see themselves as accountable to nobody but themselves, and this in an era when the cry of democracy and transparency cannot even be resisted by Arab despots, this may seem a ridiculous question.
Yet I am inclined to raise it because of how different the Cricket World Cup in India is turning out compared to the Football World Cup in South Africa.
I have been struck by this comparison in the past week as I have travelled in India following the 50-over cricket tournament.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 3 – Ivory Coast international Kolo Toure has been suspended by his club Manchester City after failing a drugs test.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 3 – Football’s world governing body today decided not to change the allocation of places for the 2014 World Cup finals despite several regions clamouring for more representation.
March 3 – Canada was today officially chosen as the host country for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a formality after Zimbabwe withdrew its bid.
March 1 – Technical problems today overshadowed the launch of ticket sales for Euro 2012 as the official website crashed under the weight of heavy traffic.
March 1 – Zimbabwe has withdrawn its bid to host the women’s World Cup in 2015 leaving Canada as the only candidate, FIFA announced today.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Sepp Blatter faces one of the most politically sensitive weeks of his FIFA Presidency when he tries to keep all his members happy over the controversial issue of 2014 World Cup berths.
February 26 – Coventry’s Ricoh Arena is celebrating after being chosen to play host to qualifying match for the men’s Olympic football tournament in April 2012, an event that will be used by London 2012 as a major test event.
By Tom Degun
February 25 – Barry Hearn (pictured), the chairman of Leyton Orient, has revealed he will be requesting the assistance of West Ham United and the Premier League to help his club build a new 15,000-seater stadium at nearby Eton Manor on the Olympic Park, in return for not disrupting the handover of the London 2012 Stadium with legal challenges.
February 24 – UEFA chief Michel Platini has warned Belgrade its national squad and teams could be banned from international competitions if Serbia does not root out violence among football supporters.
February 23 – British Prime Minister David Cameron has said that hosting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar could help to improve attitudes towards homosexuality in the Middle East during an official visit to the Gulf state.
February 23 – 13 tourist routes specifically for football fans in Kiev will be opened by the start of UEFA Euro 2012, according to the head of Kiev’s Tourism Agency, Mykola Hrytsyk.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 23 – Danny Jordaan, the man who did more than anyone to bring the World Cup to South Africa, today failed in his great ambition to win a seat on to the top table at FIFA.