Gartside tasked with finding new FA chairman
October 27 - Bolton chairman Phil Gartside (pictured) has been given the job of leading the team to find a replacement for Lord Triesman as the next chairman of the Football Association.
Russia describe England World Cup complaint as “absolutely primitive”
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
October 27 – The verbal spat between England and Russia over their fight for the 2018 World Cup took on yet another twist tonight when England were blasted as being “absolutely primitive” for making a formal complaint to FIFA about their chief rival’s behaviour.
Beckenbauer praises Australia World Cup bid
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
October 27 – Australia appear to have won the crucial vote of Frank Beckenbauer ahead of their four rivals in the race to stage the 2022 World Cup.
Buckley hopes playing it by the book can secure World Cup for Australia
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
October 27 – As the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup becomes increasingly embroiled in corruption allegations and tit-for-tat spats, Australia are endeavouring to play it by the book, hoping the strategy ends up working in their favour.
David Owen: The gloves are off in the fight for the World Cup
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Tuesday was the day that the gloves came off in the battle to stage the 2018 World Cup.
By making a formal complaint to FIFA, England 2018 signalled to its arch-rival Russia that from now on, in the five-and-a-half weeks that remain before the all-important December 2 vote, it will be playing hardball.
Quite when increasingly hard-pressed FIFA officials, ensconced in their ultra-modern slate-grey citadel in the hills above Zurich, will find the time to adjudicate the matter,
FIFA scandal is warning for IOC admits Rogge
By Duncan Mackay in Acapulco
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
October 26 – The cash for votes scandal that has rocked FIFA has showed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that they must not be complacent about corruption.
Exclusive: England demands apology over Sorokin comments
By David Owen in Zurich
October 26 – England 2018 has made a formal complaint to FIFA about its arch-rival, the Russian bid.
Mihir Bose: No word in modern football is more misused than “ambition”
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The Wayne Rooney drama illustrates two things. One, that much of what has happened to Rooney is a replay of his past, the other that the modern world of football is a curious kind of business where players, managers, administrators and even owners have all developed their own distinctive agendas. Their demands for money are always clothed in a spurious sense of higher morality.
The only ones who have not written a new script for themselves are the fans.
UEFA calls for “tangible proof” over corruption allegations
By Andrew Warshaw
October 25 – European football’s governing body has called for firm evidence in response to allegations of corruption in the bidding race for Euro 2012.
Platini claims goal-line technology will lead to “PlayStation football”
By Andrew Warshaw
October 25 – UEFA President Michel Platini (pictured) has said introducing goal-line technology will lead to “PlayStation football”.
Exclusive: Zen-Ruffinen admits meeting undercover reporters “a lot of times”
By David Owen in Zurich
October 25 – Michel Zen-Ruffinen (pictured right), the former FIFA general secretary who has emerged as the latest source of explosive allegations in the World Cup bidding race, met the Sunday Times’ undercover reporters “quite a lot of times” over two-and-a-half months, he has told insideworldfootball.
Agents face three per cent fee cap
By David Owen in Zurich
October 25 – Agents’ fees could be capped at three per cent under new rules being drawn up by FIFA, world football’s governing body.
UEFA members accepted millions to vote for Poland and Ukraine to host Euro 2012, it is claimed
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
October 24 – A new corruption scandal erupted today when it was claimed that UEFA officials accepted €11 million (£10 million/$15 million) worth of bribes to help Poland and Ukraine win its controversial bid to host the European Championships in 2012.
Former FIFA secretary general caught up in corruption scandal
By Andrew Warshaw
October 23 – The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has spiralled out of control tonight after further dramatic revelations in the Sunday Times that named Spain/Portugal and Qatar as allegedly agreeing to trade block votes and quoted a former FIFA boss as saying he knew the names of officials who were willing to take bribes.
World Cup bidders warned to stay away from disgraced pair
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By Andrew Warshaw
October 22 – Football’s world governing body has ordered the nine contenders bidding to stage the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 not to make contact with the two suspended Executive Committee members while they are under investigation for alleged bribery.