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Andrew Warshaw: One year on from the World Cup ballots and the scepticism is showing no sign of slackening

Andrew Warshaw_new_byline

Happy Anniversary? Depends where your allegiances lie. But my, how time flies.

Exactly a year ago today, December 2, we were sitting in the cavernous Messe in Zurich eagerly awaiting the results of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup ballots.

You could almost cut the tension with a knife as one after the other, the candidates gave their final presentations in a bid to get over the line after months of painstaking,

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Blatter’s FIFA reforms face early setback

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By Andrew Warshaw

December 1 – Twenty-four hours after FIFA unveiled their new reform chief, their plans immediately hit the buffers today when the anti-corruption watchdog that has been advising them for weeks said they wanted no part of the new operation and were cutting all links with world football’s governing body.

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Valcke praises Russia’s 2018 World Cup progress

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By David Gold

December 2 – A year after Russia was awarded the right to host the 2018 World Cup, FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke has praised the progress made by the country in the first year of its preparations to stage the event.

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England praised for choosing Kraków base for Euro 2012

Hotel Stary

By David Gold

December 1 – England’s decision to base themselves in Kraków during the 2012 European Championships, co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine, was “a superb choice”, according to the managing director of PROSKE | sports, Lindsay Gomer.

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Pressure is on for Australian football as Strategic Plan is unveiled

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By David Gold

December 1 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) has set the national team the target of qualifying for and reaching the second round of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

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Ronaldo to be public face of Brazil 2014

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By Duncan Mackay at the Sheraton San Conrado in Rio de Janeiro

December 1 – Ronaldo was officially unveiled here today as the new face of the Organising Committee of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

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Gibbs insists “Olympics is the biggest stage”

Kieran Gibbs

By David Gold

December 1 – Arsenal and England left back Kieran Gibbs has said that he wants to play in the London 2012 Olympic Games for the Team GB football team, despite his club manager Arsene Wenger being vehemently opposed to the involvement of his players in the football tournament.

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Drogba receives Humanitarian in Sport award

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By David Gold

December 1 – Didier Drogba has been awarded the Humanitarian in Sport award by Beyond Sport, supported by Virgin Atlantic, recognising the work the Chelsea striker has done with The Didier Drogba Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme.

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Ronaldo to be confirmed today as head of Brazil 2014 World Cup

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By Duncan Mackay in Rio de Janeiro

December 1 – Ronaldo, the highest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup, will be cofirmed as the the new face of the 2014 World Cup here later today, insideworldfootball can reveal.

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Polish Football Association dismiss secretary general as heat remains on Lato

Zdzislaw Krecina

By David Gold

November 30 – Poland’s Football Association (PZPN) has sacked secretary general Zdzislaw Krecina over a corruption scandal that could still bring down the organisation’s head, Grzegorz Lato.

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Exclusive: West Ham reinstate Tompkins after Olympic Stadium row

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By Andrew Warshaw

November 30 – Ian Tompkins (pictured), the man who spearheaded West Ham United’s aborted move to the Olympic Stadium after London 2012 is back in work four months after being suspended, insideworldfootball can reveal.

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Pieth calls for shorter terms and tougher screening of FIFA’s inner sanctum

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By Andrew Warshaw

November 30 – The Swiss academic charged with cleaning up FIFA has recommended limited terms for the organisation’s inner sanctum – including the President (pictured left) – and far more scrutiny when it comes to screening key decision makers.

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Hosts Morocco on winning streak at London 2012 football qualifiers

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By David Gold

November 30 – Morocco have made a superb start in their bid to reach London 2012 after winning the first two games of the African football qualifying tournament they are hosting.

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Premiership clubs will benefit from players appearing in Olympics, insists Coe

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By David Gold

November 30 – London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe (pictured) has said that Manchester United and other teams could benefit from their players participating in the Olympic Games football tournament next summer.

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Portsmouth face losing points as parent firms folds

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By Andrew Warshaw

November 30 – Crisis-torn English club Portsmouth could be docked points after its parent company, controlled by Russian businessman Vladimir Antonov (pictured), entered administration.