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Andrew Warshaw: Qatar may have worked the system to their advantage but there is no evidence to suggest they have broken any rules

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Just occasionally, in the murky, unpredictable world of football politics, an issue so outrageous and so baffling hits you so hard between the eyes, you wonder if you are actually seeing straight.

More column inches have been written about FIFA’s decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup than of us could have imagined before last month’s Zurich vote. What’s done is done say those who voted for the tiny Middle East state half the size of Wales.

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Europa League referee banned for life over links to match-fixing gang

By Mike Rowbottom

January 19 – Ukrainian referee Oleg Oriekhov (pictured) has been banned for life after being found guilty in the Court of Arbitration for Sport of having links with a criminal match-fixing gang before and after last season’s UEFA Europa League match between FC Basel and CSKA Sofia.

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If Spurs get Olympic Stadium it “would·destroy the whole idea” of London 2012 claims bid star

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

January 18 – More key figures involved in London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, including former Mayor Ken Livingstone, have come forward to criticise Tottenham Hotspur’s controversial plans to demolish the Stadium and rebuild it without an athletics track.

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Exclusive: Bolt and Caborn add backing to West Ham Olympic Stadium plans

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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

January 16 – Opposition to Tottenham Hotspur’s controversial proposal to take over the Olympic Stadium after London 2012 continues to grow, with the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt and Britain’s former Sports Minister Richard Caborn both adding their voices to the growing anger at the plans of the Premier League club to demolish the arena and rebuild it without an athletics track.

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Spurs bid to move into Olympic Stadium suffers major setback with new Crystal Palace plans

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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

January 17 – Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of moving into the Olympic Stadium after London 2012 are set to suffer a major blow later this week when a rival plan to renovate the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, a key part of their proposal, is unveiled.

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Decision to move Qatar World Cup to winter was done deal claims FIFA Executive Committee member

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By Andrew Warshaw

January 17 – The idea of staging the 2022 World Cup during the winter if Qatar became hosts was discussed weeks before last month’s vote, according to a senior member of the FIFA Executive Committee.

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Southeast Asia considering joint bid for 2030 World Cup

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January 17 – Foreign Ministers from Southeast Asia have discussed for the first time the possibility of a joint bid from the region to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030.

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“Powerhouse” CONCACAF seeks fourth automatic World Cup spot in Brazil

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By Andrew Warshaw

January 17 – The North, Central American and Caribbean Football Confederation (CONCACAF) is gunning for a fourth automatic place at the next World Cup in Brazil.

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David Owen: Eastern breakaway could send shockwaves through FIFA – and win China the 2026 World Cup

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As members of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) made their way last week to Pago Pago to vote for a new President, word reached me of an idea that could transform their futures and send a shockwave through the murky world of global football politics.

The idea of a breakaway Asian confederation, embracing Oceania and several easterly members of the current Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is being actively discussed.

At present it is hard to assess the timescale,

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New Oceania chief Chung pledges support for Blatter

By Andrew Warshaw

January 16 – Acting President David Chung (pictured) has been elected to succeed the banned Reynald Temarii as head of the Oceania Football Confederation, strengthening the position of FIFA President Sepp Blatter in the process.

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Putin demands Russia builds high-speed rail network for 2018 World Cup

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January 16 – Russian cities hosting 2018 World Cup matches should be linked by an €4 billion (£3 billion/$5 billion) integrated high-speed rail network, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said.

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Papers question Qatar spending spree to secure 2022 World Cup

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By Andrew Warshaw

January 15 – Qatar’s landslide 2022 World Cup bid victory has burst into yet more controversy with two newspapers – one on either side of the Atlantic – questioning how they did it.

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Exclusive: Chairman Warner denies UK Athletics “refusing to engage” with Tottenham

By Mike Rowbottom

January 14 – Ed Warner (pictured), chairman of UK Athletics, has explicitly denied the suggestion made this week by those handling Tottenham’s bid to redevelop the 2012 Olympic Stadium that his organisation has refused to engage with them on their plans for an athletics legacy elsewhere.

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Blatter on collision course with Platini

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By Andrew Warshaw

January 14 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter appears to be on a collision course with UEFA boss Michel Platini over the possible introduction of goal-line technology.

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Talk of winter switch for Qatar World Cup “premature” says Bin Hammam

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By Andrew Warshaw

January 14 – The head of Asian football has come out fighting by insisting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will not be switched from summer to winter or be shared with other Gulf nations.