By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 11 – The expansion of Major League Soccer (MLS) illustrates the benefits of hosting a World Cup in the United States, the country’s coach Bob Bradley (pictured) has claimed.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 10 – Saint-Clair Milesi (pictured), head of communications for Rio 2016, is quitting to take up a new role with the 2014 World Cup, which is also being staged in Brazil, he has announced.
.jpg)
September 10 – Qatar Airways has been announced as as the official airline of the country’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
.jpg)
By Duncan Mackay in London
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 10 – England 2018 will not be drawn into a war of words with its main rival Russia following potentially explosive claims by that country’s World Cup bid leader Vitaly Mutko, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has promised.
September 9 – Premier League Liverpool has successfully trademarked the Liver Bird, the city’s world-famous symbol.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 10 – The head of the United States bid to stage the World Cup admitted today that a growing number of FIFA’s 24 voting members favoured the 2018 tournament going to Europe.
The European Club Association may not be a household name among football fans but Europe’s largest grouping of clubs is beginning to show its teeth.
Unlike its predecessor, the elitist G14, the ECA has no fewer than 197 members across the entire spectrum of the professional game, all speaking with one voice.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 9 – Sepp Blatter says the controversial “golden goal” rule could be brought back to stop defence-minded teams deliberately playing for penalties.
.jpg)
By Andrew Warshaw
September 9 - FIFA’s technical inspection team wound up its tour of the United States today with Bid President Sunil Gulati hinting strongly that there was more work to do to clinch the tournament in either 2018 or 2022.
September 9 – Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium, which is due to stage the 2014 World Cup final, has been closed down for two years to be undergo a major $300 million (£175 million) renovation.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 8 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter appears to have dashed any lingering hopes that the United States has of hosting the 2018 World Cup by claiming that no-one is in doubt that the tournament will be held in Europe.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 8 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy has hit back at claims that the country’s A-League is suffering because too much attention is being paid to their bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
.jpg)
September 8 – FIFA’s World Cup inspectors had breakfast today at the White House, meeting with aides to President Barack Obama.
September 8 - Leaders in Football, the world’s most exclusive football business event, taking place for the third time at Chelsea FC on October 6 and 7 has sold out its exhibition.
.jpg)
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 7 – Russia’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has today blamed the British media for the racism row that is threatening to overshadow his country’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup and claimed that there was corruption in England, an allegation that draw could draw the attention of FIFA watchdogs.