MasterCard renews Champions League sponsorship
By David Owen
February 13 – MasterCard has extended its sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League, the premier competition for European football clubs, until 2015.
News
Man behind success of USA 1994 given new role
By Sara Evans
February 13 – Grand Prix Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based sports and entertainment company, have announced the appointment of Alan Rothenberg (pictured), the man credited with the currrent growth of soccer in the United States, as chairman of the Board of directors of their newly sports division.
Donation to Port Said tragedy fund made by CAF and FIFA
By David Gold
February 13 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee is donating $150,000 (€114,000/£95,000) to the families of victims from the recent Port Said tragedy which saw at least 74 supporters killed after an Egyptian league game.
CAF announces record earnings
By Andrew Warshaw
February 13 – Despite being regarded as one of the less affluent FIFA groupings, African football has announced record financial earnings.
CAF refuse to bring African Nations Cup in line with Europe
By Andrew Warshaw
February 13 – African nations have steadfastly refused to bow to European pressure to stage their showpiece tournament, the African Cup of Nations, every four years instead of two.
South Sudan welcomed as official CAF member nation
By Andrew Warshaw
February 13 – Seven months after becoming an independent country following a bloody civil war, South Sudan has been admitted as the 54th member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), paving the way for it to be named as the 209th FIFA nation.
Ajax Supervisory Board offer resignations over Cruyff dispute
By David Gold
February 11 – The entire Ajax Supervisory Board have offered to resign to bring to an end the civil war between those supportive of, and those opposed to, the plans of club legend Johan Cruyff (pictured), which continues to paralyse the Dutch champions.
CAS to determine Persipura’s Asian Champions League participation
By David Gold
February 11 – Uncertainty surrounds an Asian Champions League qualifier between Adelaide United of Australia and Indonesia’s Persipura, who were reinstated in the competition by a provisional Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) judgement.
Hijab ban is limiting participation, insists FIFA’s Prince Ali
By Andrew Warshaw
February 10 – Muslim women are being discouraged from taking up football because of the worldwide ban of the hijab, the Islamic headscarf, according to FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, the man leading the campaign to change the rules.
Euro 2012 border crossings not likely to be ready on time, admits Poland’s Transport Minister
By Andrew Warshaw
February 10 – Poland’s preparations for the 2012 European Championships have been dealt a potentially damaging setback with the admission that its transport links bordering co-hosts Ukraine may not be ready on time.
FIFA reveal 50 national match fixing investigations
By Andrew Warshaw
February 10 – The scourge of match fixing across the globe has resulted in up to 50 separate national investigations, FIFA has revealed.
China’s Zhang Jilong wants permanent role as head of AFC
By Andrew Warshaw
February 10 – The acting head of Asian football, China’s Zhang Jilong (pictured), has revealed for the first time that he would like the post on a permanent basis after replacing the suspended Mohamed Bin Hammam.
Trinidad and Tobago internationals rebel against unpaid bonuses
By David Gold
February 9 – Office equipment has been seized from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) by a group of players who participated in the 2006 World Cup as a payment dispute escalates.
Europe’s catenaccio economy slows growth of football’s biggest clubs
By David Owen
February 9 – Much as massed catenaccio defences once frustrated the best strikers, so Europe’s economic woes are slowing revenue growth at the continent’s top football clubs.
Stuart Pearce named as England’s caretaker manager
By Andrew Warshaw
February 9 – Stuart Pearce (pictured left) was today given caretaker control of the England team for the upcoming friendly against Holland on February 29 following a tempestuous 24 hours sparked by the shock resignation of manager Fabio Capello (right), English Football Association chairman David Bernstein confirmed.