FIFA include dead Nigerian referee on 2012 officials list
By David Gold
December 30 – Despite having been dead for almost a month, the Nigerian referee Auwalu Barau has been included on a list of officials for 2012 by FIFA.
Mihir Bose: Blatter’s turn towards Europe shows him at his best as he attempts FIFA clean up
Could 2012 be the year when football finally begins to accept that it can longer disregard the wider world?
2011 has been the year of the great “no”. The game tried hard to carry on with the fiction that all of football’s problems can be solved behind the front door of the family mansion irrespective of what the outside world may expect.
It has always been curious that the world’s most popular game is so conservative and resistant to change.
England manager wants FIFA rule changes to stop youngsters being “stolen”
By David Gold
December 29 – England manager Fabio Capello says that FIFA should bring in stricter rules to prevent clubs from “stealing” the best young talents from other countries.
Viktoria Plzeň’s defender Davida Bystroně tests positive for doping
By David Gold
December 29 – Viktoria Plzeň’s Davida Bystroně tested positive for banned drugs after a Champions League game last month, the Czech champions have revealed.
FC Sion continue battle with FIFA following threats towards Swiss FA
By David Gold
December 29 – FC Sion are continuing their ongoing battle with FIFA after world football’s governing body threatened to expel the Swiss Football Association and all its teams from international competition unless the club are punished for breaching a transfer ban.
Ukraine to reveal cultural events programme for Euro 2012
By David Gold
December29 – Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, Borys Kolesnikov (pictured), has said that the cultural events and programme which will be held during the European Championships next summer will likely be revealed in March.
Turkish clubs could face European ban if found guilty of match fixing
By David Gold
December 29 – UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino (pictured) has refused to rule out the possibility that Turkish clubs could be banned from European competition if found guilty of involvement in the match fixing scandal that has rocked the country.
Warner claims World Cup TV rights deal with Blatter
By Andrew Warshaw
December 29 – Jack Warner (pictured left), the former FIFA vice-president who walked away from football rather than face a potentially damning probe into his role in the infamous cash-for-votes scandal, stepped up his attempts at revenge today by claiming he was awarded FIFA World Cup television rights for as little as $1 (£0.65/€0.77) in return for helping Sepp Blatter gain the Presidency of world football’s ruling body.
Platini makes veiled attack on critics in New Year’s message
By Andrew Warshaw
December 28 – UEFA President Michel Platini has made a veiled attack on his critics in a mixed New Year message to European football’s various stakeholders.
Serie A games targeted by illegal betting rings, claims former defender
By David Gold
December 28 – Three Serie A games were targeted by a betting ring which sought to manipulate the results of football matches according to former Piacenza defender Carlo Gervasoni (pictured).
European giants set to travel to Doha for inaugural Al Kass International Cup
By David Gold
December 28 – The youth teams of some of the world’s top teams, including European champions Barcelona, Juventus and Paris St Germain will be travelling to Doha next week for the first edition of the under 17s Al-Kass International Cup.
Michael O’Neill appointed Northern Ireland manager
By David Gold
December 28 – Michael O’Neill has been confirmed as the new Northern Ireland manager following his heroics with Shamrock Rovers this season.
FIFA ordered to release ISL papers
By Andrew Warshaw
December 28 – FIFA has been ordered by a Swiss court to release documents that could pave the way to finally naming high-ranking officials who allegedly took millions of dollars in kickbacks from World Cup broadcast deals.
Barcelona’s Sandro Rossell asks UEFA for agents’ fee reforms
By David Gold
December 28 – Barcelona President Sandro Rosell wants UEFA to reform agents’ fees and says that players should themselves cover such costs.
Exclusive: Footballers help FIFA gather match-fixing evidence
By Andrew Warshaw
December 28 – Professional footballers from across the world have started coming forward to give evidence of match-fixing as part of a new information-gathering crackdown instigated by the FIFA head of security, Chris Eaton.