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Once the white smoke from FIFA’s conclave of cardinals has dissipated into the clear alpine air on Thursday (December 2), the way will be clear for an almighty inquest into the way English football is run.
The disappointing nature of the national team’s 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa has ensured this inquest will happen whether or not England’s bid to stage world football’s flagship tournament in 2018 succeeds.
But,
By Andrew Warshaw
November 28 – The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has asked FIFA to allow it to send a replacement for next week’s World Cup vote following the suspension of its President, Reynald Temarii (pictured), in order to retain a say in deciding the venues for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 28 – Britain’s Culture Minister Jeremy Hunt says he has been assured by FIFA voting members that England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup will not be adversely affected by the recent spate of newspaper corruption allegations and a forthcoming television broadcast.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 26 – Prime Minister David Cameron today stepped into the row over the forthcoming BBC Panorama programme that threatens to heap embarrassment on FIFA three days before the 2018 World Cup vote is taken.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 26 – The Holland/Belgium 2018 World Cup team today announced a heavyweight delegation to take to Zurich for the December 2 announcement, headed by bid President Ruud Gullit and the country’s most iconic footballing figure, Johan Cruyff (pictured).
November 26 – Spurs have agreed a one year extension of their deal with Puma, which will supply the club with technical and replica kit and trainingwear for the next five seasons.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 26 – Five former England internationals will join Prince William, Prime Minister David Cameron and David Beckham as part of the England 2018 delegation for the World Cup vote in Zurich next week.
By Andrew Warshaw at Wembley
November 26 – The chairman of Wembley Stadium has promised the pitch will be in perfect condition for this season’s Champions League final.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 26 – England 2018 ambassador Gary Lineker has urged FIFA not to be swayed by politics at next week’s eagerly awaited World Cup vote.
November 25 – Liverpool have announced their new chairman will be Tom Werner, who holds a similar position with club owners New England Sports Ventures.
By David Owen
November 25 – A World Cup in Australia would offer FIFA and its partners “huge economic and financial opportunities”, the country’s bid has claimed, as the contest for the 2022 World Cup turned into a statistical battleground.
Should England not win the 2018 World Cup, and that must be considered a possibility, then I suggest the starting point for the post-mortem should be a thin orange and blue FIFA booklet called the Committees Directory 2110. This lists the people who sit on the various FIFA committees.
These committees are the powerhouse of the organisation. They range from World Cup organisation, to referee administration, the technical development of the game, player status,
By Tom Degun
November 25 – Tottenham Hotspur have had their plans to redevelop White Hart Lane approved by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
By David Owen
November 25 – FIFA has announced the extension of its top tier sponsorship deal with Hyundai-Kia, the South Korean automotive group, by eight years, through to 2022.
By Mike Rowbottom
November 25 – Tottenham Hotspur fans are planning a mass protest against the club’s possible move from White Hart Lane – their home for the last 111 years – to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford after the London 2012 Games are over.