Durban stadium will not become white elephant officials promise
July 21 – Durban officials have claimed that they are working on plans to ensure that the Moses Mabhida Stadium has a sustainable future now that the World Cup is over.
FIFA approve additional assistant referees for Champions League
July 21 -FIFA has approved the use of two additional assistant referees for the next two seasons of UEFA Champions League football.
David Owen: No China Crisis yet for Asian 2022 World Cup bidders
.jpg)
On the face of it, Asian bidders for the 2022 World Cup were hit last week by some very bad news.
This took the form of an announcement by a top official at the Chinese Football Association that his powerhouse of a nation wants to host the 2026 World Cup.
“The CFA,” said Wei Di, its general secretary, “is preparing to ask the General Administration of Sport to bid for the 2026 World Cup”.
Big boost for West Ham hopes of taking over Olympic Stadium
By Tom Degun in London
July 20 – West Ham United’s hopes of taking over the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games today received a major boost from the owners of Westfield, who are building a new multi-million shoping centre in the shadow of the arena.
Goal-line technology not on agenda for IFAB meeting
.jpg)
July 20 – FIFA have gone back on President Sepp Blatter’s pledge to discuss introducing technology following at the first opportunity following the controversy over Frank Lampard’s goal that was not given against Germany.
Jordaan absent as FIFA inspectors arrive in Japan
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 19 – FIFA’s team of inspectors arrived in Japan today to begin evaluating the candidates for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup but were unexpectedly missing Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of South Africa 2010, who had been expected to be part of the delegation.
Bosnia threatened with ban by FIFA and UEFA
July 19 – Bosnia’s Football Federation (NS/FSBIH) was threatened today with exclusion from international competitions as it has failed to adopt statute changes requested by FIFA and UEFA.
British bookmaker in crisis talks with new Qatari owner of Malaga
July 19 – British bookmaker William Hill is currently in talks with La Liga club Malaga, following reports that the their sponsorship deal with the club is to be terminated.
China admits: We don’t want Asia to win 2022 World Cup bid
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 19 – Mohamed Bin Hammam, the President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), will told talks with Chinese Vice-Sports Minister Cui Dalin in Beijing tomorrow with the prospect of a bid from China for the 2026 World Cup set to be top of the agenda.
FIFA begins World Cup inspection visits in Japan
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 19 – A team of FIFA inspectors will today begin its marathon global trip of assessing the nine candidates bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups when it lands in Japan.
Eligibility row between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland goes to CAS
July 19 – A delegation from the Irish Football Association (IFA) will today travel to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne to lay out their case in the ongoing eligibility case against the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and FIFA, which Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington claims is exploiting them.
Scotland confirm they will back goal-line technology at IFAB meeting
July 19 – Scotland, one of the four countries that make up the International Football Association Board (IFAB) that decides on law changes in the sport, will again back the introduction of new technology following the controversy over Frank Lampard’s ghost goal for England against Germany in the World Cup.
Angry England coach demands “Capello Index” taken down from internet
July 17 – Fabio Capello found himself at the centre of a new row today after his controversial “Capello Index”, which rates the performances at players at the World Cup, was published on the internet without his permission.
CAF trying to come up with qualifying plan for African Nations Cup
.jpg)
July 17 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has convened a special meeting to work out the qualifying system for the African Nations Cup to be staged in Libya in 2013.
Andrew Warshaw: World Cup was Africa’s last chance for long time
Now the vuvuzelas have been put away and South Africa is returning to some semblance of normality, attention will inevitably turn to if and when the African continent will stage the World Cup again.
Whilst the event matched or exceeded expectations both in terms of infrastructure and organisation, the reality is that Africa will almost certainly have to wait at least a generation before it can again embrace the infectious colour and collective enthusiasm that have been hallmarks of the past month.