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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 19 – FIFA’s 2018 World Cup inspection team completed its fact-finding tour of Russia today after repeated assurances the country would be ready to host football’s flagship tournament in eight years’ time.
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 19 – David Beckham today launched a campaign urging English football fans to show their support for the country’s bid for the 2018 World Cup by getting involved in events aimed at impressing a FIFA inspection team when it visits next week.
By David Owen
August 19 – FIFA is budgeting $16 million (£10.2 million) for the next Olympic football tournament, to be staged in Great Britain in 2012.
By David Owen
August 19 – Last year’s under-17 World Cup cost more than double its budget, in an overshoot blamed by FIFA on “exceptional high” medical and security costs.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 18 – Kazan and Sochi were the latest stops visited today by the FIFA inspection team as they continued to assess Russia’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
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.
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.
By David Owen
August 17 – The finances of FIFA’s Club World Cup have been transformed by its switch to the Middle East.
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.
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August 17 – Arsenal are to launch a new Barcelona-style membership scheme for thousands of fans, they have announced.