Platini praises preparations for Euro 2016
By David Gold
November 29 – UEFA President Michel Platini has said that preparations for the 2016 European Championships, which will take place in France, “are going well.”
Turkey reduces prison sentences for individuals found guilty of match fixing
By David Gold
November 29 – Turkey has decided to reduce the maximum prison term individuals convicted of involvement in match fixing can serve from 12 years to three, as a match fixing scandal continues to be investigated by the country’s Football Federation.
FA Cup goes on tour in China
By Andrew Warshaw
November 29 – Sponsors of the FA Cup, the world’s oldest domestic knockout competition, have taken the trophy to China in an attempt to generate the same kind of passion that Asia has for the English Premier League.
Trinidad and Tobago continue Olympic qualifying progress with stunning win
By David Gold
November 29 – Trinidad and Tobago crushed Surinam 9-1 to progress from the second round of the CONCACAF London 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers with Cuba, knocking out the hosts St. Kitts and Nevis.
Brazil will be ready for 2014 World Cup promises new Sports Minister
By Duncan Mackay at Soccerex in Rio de Janeiro
November 28 – Brazil will put on a “great World Cup”, the country’s new Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo promised as the annual Soccerex convention opened here today.
London 2012 football tickets go back on sale
By David Gold
November 29 – Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games football tournament are going back on sale tomorrow, with 1.5 million tickets available to the public for as little as £20 from 11am.
Lowy claims “last word has not been heard” on Qatar 2022 World Cup bid
By David Gold
November 28 – Frank Lowy, the chairman of the Australian Football Federation (FFA), has indicated that he believes that Qatar could yet lose the right to host the World Cup in 2022.
Italian players unite to help ease debt crisis
By David Gold
November 28 – Players competing in the Italian football league are buying more than €100,000 (£86,000/ $134,000) worth of Government bonds as they hope to help alleviate the financial gloom afflicting the debt ridden country.
Game 39 won’t happen on my watch, insists Premier League chief Scudamore
By David Gold
November 28 – Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has promised that there will be no ‘Game 39’ – the controversial plan to play an extra league game overseas – during his tenure.
Ronaldo quashes 2014 World Cup Presidency rumours
By Andrew Warshaw
November 28 – Former Brazilian international Ronaldo has denied reports that he has been asked to replace controversial FIFA powerbroker Ricardo Teixeira as head of the country’s 2014 World Cup Organising Committee.
Combating match fixing is “top priority”, says UEFA general secretary Infantino
By David Gold
November 28 – UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino (pictured) has reiterated the organisation’s commitment to eradicating match fixing from football, calling it their “top priority”.
Wales manager Gary Speed dies
By Andrew Warshaw
November 27 – The football world was plunged into mourning today after Wales manager Gary Speed was found dead at the age of 42 from an apparent suicide.
Leave my kids alone, Sir Alex Ferguson warns Team GB
By David Gold
November 26 – Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has welcomed the potential involvement of several of his young English players in the Olympic Games next year, but warned that he did not want any of them playing at both London 2012 and the European Championships.
Racism is not resolved with a handshake, sneers Brazil’s Teixeira
By David Gold
November 26 – Brazil’s controversial football chief Ricardo Teixeira (pictured) has launched a veiled attack on Sepp Blatter by declaring that “racism is not resolved with a handshake”, echoing the words the embattled FIFA President used in an interview last week, as the country launched an anti-racism drive.
African London 2012 Olympic qualifiers get under way in Morocco
By David Gold
November 25 – Eight teams from across Africa are in Morocco for the next fortnight hoping to progress to the London 2012 Olympic Games football tournament.