By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
May 2 – A ban on Iran’s women’s team competing in the inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore later this year has been lifted after a new set of clothing that complied with the Islamic dress code was proposed to FIFA, it has been claimed.
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May 2 – Plymouth Argyle’s relegation from the Championship will not affect plans to redevelop its Home Park stadium in time to host matches if England are chosen to host the World Cup in 2018, club officials promised today.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
May 2 – FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has been accused by 13 Trinidad and Tobago players, including Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones (pictured) and former West Ham United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, of trying to mislead the public about a row over unpaid bonuses from the 2006 World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
May 1 – Organisers of an established anti-corruption conference have accused FIFA of scare-mongering tactics over a session to be given by controversial British investigative journalist Andrew Jennings (pictured).
May 1 – Everton midfield player Tim Cahill (pictured) has claimed that Australia offers FIFA an “exceptional” opportunity if they are chosen to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
April 30 – Australia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup has hit a major barrier which could seriously undermine it after it was reported Australian rules officials are demanding up to $100 million (£61 million) to allow them to use the iconic-Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
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April 30 – England have appointed an independent search marketing consultancy to try to gather more support on the internet for its bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
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Football works best as a dictatorship, not a democracy.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Just ask Sir Alex Ferguson.
He was never happy with the Manchester United board when it was run as a plc. Indeed he refused to take up the shares when the club floated, although this may have reflected his deep socialist convictions of equal shares for all.
April 29 – The Premier League should be available through four television broadcasters by August after BSkyB today reached a legal settlement with the media regulator Ofcom.
By Duncan Mackay in Dubai
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
April 28 – Qatar today unveiled a $4 billion (£2.6 billion) plan here to build or renovate 12 stadiums with high-tech cooling systems as part of its bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
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April 28 – Every Premier League club in the country is to show its support to England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup with a series of activities for the last two weeks of the season, it has been announced.
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April 28 – UEFA President Michel Platini has criticised what he calls the “liberalism” in Premier League financial regulations which he claims led to Portsmouth going into administration.
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So is that it then?
Should Korea, Australia and other leading candidates to stage the 2022 World Cup quietly pack up their toys and go home?
A casual reader of FIFA President Joseph Blatter’s comments in Qatar at the weekend might be forgiven for thinking so.
April 27 – Guus Hiddink has led a delegation from the Netherlands and Belgium bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup to South Korea, where he is still considered a national hero after leading the national team to third place at the tournament in 2002.
April 26 – Frank Lowy (pictured right), the chairman of Football Federation Australia (FFA), has claimed that he is not concerned by Sepp Blatter’s claims that the Middle East deserves to host the World Cup, which have been perceived as being encouragement for Qatar’s bid for the 2022 tournament.