English clubs rewarded for European failure
By David Owen
August 25 – Four of the seven biggest earners from the two major European cross-continental club football competitions last season were English.
Exclusive: FIFA personnel costs soar
By David Owen
August 24 – FIFA’s personnel expenses soared last year, reflecting an increased headcount at world football’s governing body.
Sir Alex Ferguson backs England 2018 as FIFA inspectors head north
By Andrew Warshaw in London
August 24 - FIFA’s 2018 World Cup inspection team headed north today as Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson became the latest figure to pledge his support to the England bid.
Government gaffes give England 2018 rivals advantage
By Andrew Warshaw in London
August 23 – Arsenal’s international Russian striker Andrei Arshavin has hit back at claims by Sports Minister Hugh Robertson that the Eastern European country is lagging behind England for the right to stage the 2018 World Cup.
Tom Degun: The inspiring story of how Haiti’s young footballers overcame tragedy to stand on the brink of Olympic glory
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Haiti’s footballers, who travelled to Singapore for the inaugural Summer Youth Olympics cloaked in tragedy and sadness, are riding a massive wave of sympathy to stand on the brink of winning the most unlikeliest gold medal of these Games.
The country’s boy’s footballers brought some much needed joy to their earthquake-stricken nation as they remarkably defied the odds to book their spot in the boy’s final with a 2-0 win over Singapore at the Jalan Besar Stadium last night.
England World Cup bid is unbeatable claims Deputy Prime Minister
By Andrew Warshaw in London
August 23 – British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg laid down the gauntlet to England’s 2018 World Cup rivals today by describing the English bid as “unbeatable” in his welcoming address to the FIFA inspection team.
England is a better football bid than Russia, says Sports Minister
By Andrew Warshaw in London
August 23 – Sports Minister Hugh Robertson insists England have by far the strongest case for staging the 2018 World Cup and says the absence of Prime Minister David Cameron during the all-important FIFA technical visit will have no negative impact on the country’s chances.
Exclusive: World Cup in England would be easiest to organise admits Blatter
By Duncan Mackay in Singapore
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 23 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has given England’s campaign to host the 2018 World Cup a massive boost by admitting that staging the tournament there presents the least risks.
England 2018 prepare for most critical phase of bid
By Andrew Warshaw in London
August 23 – England;s 2018 World Cup bid enters its most critical phase today when FIFA’s technical team arrives for a four-day inspection of the country’s facilities.
England 2018 announce cities FIFA inspectors to visit
By Andrew Warshaw in London
August 21 – England 2018 bid officials have chosen Manchester, Sunderland, Newcastle and London as candidate cities to host the FIFA inspection team when the eagerly awaited visit gets under way on Monday (August 23).
England 2018 officially unveil Paul the Octopus as ambassador
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By Andrew Warshaw
August 20 – Paul the Octopus, who became internationally famous for correctly predicting results during the World Cup, has become the latest global figure to back England’s bid to host the 2018 tournament – though this time as an ambassador, as reported first on insideworldfootball last month.
MLS could learn from Indian cricket admits Gulati
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 20 – Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States could pick-up a few lessons from cricket’s Indian Premier League (IPL), the head of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) has claimed.
Mihir Bose: Welcome to Premier League Two
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This Premier League season may well prove to be a seminal one. Not on who wins it, or who qualifies for that modern Holy Grail the Champions League, but marking the moment when the Premier League, in effect, created Premier League Two.
Creating a second division in the Premier League has always been talked about, particularly by the smaller clubs fearful of relegation, but the idea has never found favour in the rest of the Premiership.
FA retain control of England team
August 19 – The Football Association will continue to have overall ultimate responsibility on major issues concerning the national team after confirmation of the role of Club England was discussed at a Board meeting today.
West Ham: We offer a natural and logical solution
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sport Internet Writer of the Year
August 19 – West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady today claimed that if the Olympic Stadium becomes their new ground after the London 2012 Games then it would guarantee the legacy of the whole surrounding area.