Euro 2012 ticket lottery begins after record number of applications
By David Gold
April 19 – The draw for tickets to the Euro 2012 Championships, co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland, begins today following a record number of applications.
MATCH invite companies to become official hospitality agents for 2014 World Cup
By David Gold
April 19 – MATCH Hospitality, the FIFA Hospitality Programme rights holder, has launched a global Invitation to Tender (ITT) process for companies interested in becoming official and exclusive agents of hospitality for the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup in their respective countries.
Brazil’s airports face race against time to be ready for 2014 World Cup
By David Gold
April 18 – Up to 10 of the 13 Brazilian airports currently being upgraded for the 2014 World Cup, are unlikely to be ready on time or able to cope with the volume of air traffic during the tournament, a report by the country’s Institute for Applied Economic Research shows.
Japan’s Copa America plans meet opposition from German clubs
By David Gold
April 18 – Japan’s plans to take part in the Copa America are facing another threat after German clubs including Borussia Dortmund announced that they were unwilling to release their players for the tournament, taking place in Argentina this July.
Makudi talks up 10 nation Southeast Asian bid for 2030 World Cup
By David Gold
April 18 – Thailand Football Association President and FIFA Executive Committee member Worawi Makudi (pictured) believes that Southeast Asia could host the World Cup in 2030.
$5 billion required for World Cup, says Russian Sports Minister
By David Gold
April 18 – Russia’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has announced that approximately $5 billion (£3 billion) would be required for the construction of new stadiums and upgrades to the country’s infrastructure for the World Cup in 2018.
Mihir Bose: Kroenke deal as much about keeping David Dein away from Arsenal
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Soap operas dressed up as morality tales do not come any better than the American Stan Kroenke’s take-over of Arsenal. The official word from Arsenal made the latest arrival of a foreign owner sound like the welcome a 19th century father might have given a man seeking the hand of his daughter.
This is what Peter Hill-Wood, the long serving chairman of the club, said: “The board of directors and I consider it a key responsbility to protect the ethos and spirit of the club.
Swiss TV station to complain to FIFA over treatment of journalists in Qatar
By Andrew Warshaw
April 18 – A Swiss television network is to launch an official complaint to FIFA after two of its journalists were detained in Qatar for 13 days for filming a report on the 2022 World Cup hosts.
Blatter claims Central American countries will back him for FIFA President
By Andrew Warshaw
April 17 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter believes he has the support of seven Central American federations for his re-election campaign.
Exclusive: I hope FIFA fight is fair says Johansson
By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – Lennart Johansson, the former UEFA chief humbled by Sepp Blatter for the Presidency of FIFA 13 years ago, has called for a fair fight when Blatter stands for a fourth term of office.
Azarov wary of terrorism threat at Euro 2012
By David Gold
April 15 – Kiev and Warsaw have been told to strengthen anti-terrorism plans for the European Championships, being held jointly by Ukraine and Poland in 2012, by Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.
Legends aim to make 2014 World Cup a better spectacle
By Andrew Warshaw
April 15 – A galaxy of footballing legends past and present, led by Pele and Franz Beckenbauer (pictured), meet next month to start to find ways of improving the game as a result of some of the sterile encounters at last year’s World Cup.
Birmingham’s European participation could be in doubt
By David Gold
April 15 – Carling Cup winners Birmingham City could be denied entry to the Europa League next season due to concerns over the club’s finances.
Ukraine confident of trouble free Euro 2012
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By David Gold
April 18 – Ukraine is confident that Euro 2012, being hosted jointly with Poland, will be free of racism and violence, in response to a report documenting a number of such crimes at football games in the two countries during the last 18 months.
“Pray for my success” Bin Hammam tells India
By Andrew Warshaw
April 14 – Mohamed Bin Hammam wound up a two-day visit to India today by saying he had a “50 per cent chance” of unseating Sepp Blatter at the FIFA Presidential election on June 1.