West Ham ready to launch formal bid for Olympic Stadium
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 18 – West Ham United can today officially launch its formal bid to take over the Olympic Stadium after London 2012.
Russia to waiver visas for 2018 World Cup Putin tells FIFA team
By David Owen
August 17 – Russia is ready to introduce a visa-free regime for fans attending World Cup football matches, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has told a FIFA inspection team, as the country wheeled out the big guns in support of its ambition to host the 2018 World Cup.
Exclusive: Club World Cup finances boosted by Middle East switch
By David Owen
August 17 – The finances of FIFA’s Club World Cup have been transformed by its switch to the Middle East.
Plymouth unveil 2018 World Cup plans for Home Park
August 17 – Plymouth Argyle have unveiled plans for a £150 million ($235 million) redevelopment of Home Park, which they hope will be part of the 2018 World Cup if England’s bid to stage the tournament is successful.
Arsenal launch Barcelona-style membership scheme
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August 17 – Arsenal are to launch a new Barcelona-style membership scheme for thousands of fans, they have announced.
Blatter urged to postpone Nigerian elections
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 17 – Pressure to get the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to postpone its elections due on Saturday (August 21) is continuing to build with Segun Odegbami , one of the country’s former top players, joining in the calls by petitioning FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
Thomas Lyte sign-up as England 2018 official supporter
August 17 – The England 2018 World Cup Bid has announced the signing of Thomas Lyte as an Official Supporter.
Mutko confident of Russian success as FIFA inspectors arrive
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 16 – Russia will do everything possible to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022, the country’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko vowed as FIFA’s inspection team arrived in St Petersburg to begin its four-day visit.
David Cameron to miss FIFA World Cup inspection visit
By David Owen
August 16 - David Cameron (pictured right), the British Prime Minister, is to miss next week’s visit by FIFA inspectors assessing England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup.
Iran coach happy to talk about football rather than clothing
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By Tom Degun in Singapore
August 15 – Shahrzad Mozafar, the coach of the Iranian girl’s team at the Summer Youth Olympic Games, told insidethegames that she was happy to talk about something other than the team’s clothing after her side claimed a 1-0 win over Papa New Guinea in their second match in Group A courtesy of an early second half strike by Fatemeh Ardestani.
Exclusive: Coe delighted with West Ham pledge to keep track
By Duncan Mackay in Singapore
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 15 – Sebastian Coe has publicly backed West Ham United’s bid to take over the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games in London following their pledge to keep a permanent athletics track.
Indonesian naturalisation plan backed
August 13 – A controversial plan by the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) to recruit players from overseas to play for the national team has been backed by the Government.
Cruyff absence cannot dent Holland-Belgium confidence after World Cup inspection visit
By Andrew Warshaw
August 13 – Dutch and Belgian bid officials believe their so-called “World Coaches legacy programme” will be the key factor that could persuade FIFA to grant them the 2018 World Cup.
Coventry hope Olympics will help win train station approval for Ricoh Arena
August 13 – Coventry is hoping that being added to the list of venues to host football matches for the 2012 Olympics will help them win approval to build a new train station at the Ricoh Arena.
Mihir Bose: Fans should treat new owners with extreme caution
It is part of the change that has come over football that, as the new season starts, the fans must not only look out for the new players who have walked into the clubs’ changing rooms but the new owners who may now own their clubs’ boardrooms.
In the last few weeks, the football news has been as dominated by the transfers of club ownership as much as player transfers. Or more accurately stories of possible sales of clubs with Liverpool,