2012

West Ham United football club are to become the main tenants of London's Olympic Stadium, the BBC reported on Friday ahead of an official announcement expected later in the day.

The long-term future of the £429 million ($648-million, 503-million-euro) venue in Stratford, east London, was supposed to have been decided before last year's Games but a series of legal challenges have led to a drawn-out process.

The BBC said the British government have agreed to put in an extra £25 million towards the cost of converting the venue, taking their total spend to £60 million with the final bill for adapting the venue potentially reaching £190 million in all.

However, the deal was secured only after Premier League West Ham agreed to increase their own funding of the project by £5 million to £15 million, the broadcaster said, without quoting sources.

The Hammers will move from their current Upton Park ground in east London from August 2016 and pay around £2 million a year in rent.

Under conversion plans, the roof will be extended and the seating capacity reduced from 80,000 to 60,000, with a retractable system allowing the venue to be converted from an athletics arena to football stadium within days.

Having a stadium capable of staging a major athletics event after the Olympics was a key component of London's bid for the Games.

It is already scheduled to stage the 2017 World Athletics Championships.

Leyton Orient have started a legal fight against the decision to allow fellow football club West Ham United to move into the Olympic Stadium, it was announced Wednesday.

Orient, who play in England's third tier League One, are geographically the nearest football club to the Olympic Stadium, which is in the east London borough of Stratford, and have long been concerned about the potential impact of Premier League West Ham moving to the site from their existing Upton Park ground.

Orient signalled their willingness to ground share at the £429 million ($648 million) venue but the club's owner, Barry Hearn, the leading British sports promoter, has become alarmed by the prospect of West Ham becoming the sole football side based at the stadium.

Now Hearn, also the World Snooker chairman, has asked for a judicial review of the bid process.

"The rules of the bidding process created by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) we do not believe provided for teaming, which is for all parties to share the stadium," Hearn said Wednesday.

"It is our legal opinion that this is a fundamental flaw of the bidding process.

"We have gone to the High Court to have the decision struck out."

The LLDC board, the body which has the responsibility for securing the stadium's future, in December named West Ham as the number one choice to move into the Olympic Stadium.

"We have been notified that Leyton Orient have made the decision to issue proceedings for judicial review," said an LLDC spokesman.

"Whilst this is disappointing, we believe that our processes have been robust, fair and transparent and that the challenge is misconceived."

Hearn argues the process did not allow Leyton Orient to make a case for a ground-share.

"We have to protect ourselves," he said. "We are doing everything we can to protect Leyton Orient Football Club, which is endangered by West Ham moving to the stadium."

Ground-sharing, while common in Europe, with the likes of Italian giants AC Milan and Inter Milan both playing at the city's San Siro stadium, is a rarity in England.

The original deal for West Ham to take over the stadium collapsed in 2011 due to legal challenges from both north London side Tottenham Hotspur and Orient.

However, the LLDC's decision to rank the Hammers as the preferred bidder means they are in pole position to move to the stadium, but will not be able to take up residency until the 2016/17 season at the earliest.

Final commercial terms have yet to be concluded between the LLDC and West Ham.

Whatever the football future of the 60,000-seater stadium, something regarded as vital if the venue is not to become an expensive 'white elephant', pop concerts and the 2017 World Athletics Championship are also scheduled to take place there.

Zambia and Egyptian club Al-Ahly defied the odds this year to lift the most prized silverware in the African football trophy cabinet.

Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets) won the Cup of Nations for the first time in Libreville just a few kilometres from where a military plane plunged into the sea and claimed the lives of almost all the 1993 Zambian national squad.

Ahly extended a record haul of CAF Champions League titles to seven after playing all but one home match behind closed doors and overcoming the huge disadvantage of no competitive domestic football since last February.

It was a dismal year for Cameroon and Egypt, winners of 11 Cup of Nations titles between them, as both failed for the second consecutive time to qualify for the tournament.

Cape Verde Islands, a nation of just 500,000 people, eliminated Cameroon to secure a first Africa Cup appearance, but the Central African Republic failed to make the 16-nation cut despite stunning Egypt.

Africa experienced little success at international level with Egypt, Gabon, Morocco and Senegal failing to collect any football medals from the London Olympics and Ahly coming fourth at the Club World Cup.

There was sadness at the death of 58-year-old former Cameroon midfield magician Theophile 'Doctor' Abega, a key figure in the first Cup of Nations title won by the central African state 28 years ago.

Coaches were hired and fired with alarming regularity. Belgian Eric Gerets arrived in Morocco with an impressive CV but could not raise the Atlas Lions to a higher level and was dumped after a defeat in Mozambique.

Off the pitch, Cameroonian Issa Hayatou is set to extend his 25-year reign as CAF president next March after Ivorian rival Jacques Anouma was barred when a statute change limited the race to executive members holding voting rights.

Bungle-prone South African officials created unwanted headlines as the year closed with five, including national association president Kirsten Nematandani, suspended amid claims of match-fixing during pre-2010 World Cup friendlies.

"It was written in the stars," said emotional French coach Herve Renard after pre-tournament outsiders Zambia pipped firm favourites Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in the Cup of Nations final following 120 goalless minutes.

Renard admitted his team of dogged figthers captained by striker Christopher Katongo was not the best in Africa, but no opponent could douse the spirit of the supremely motivated and tactically disciplined Zambians.

Defeat left Didier Drogba, who blazed a second-half penalty over the bar, and other Ivorian veterans like Kolo Toure and Didier Zokora wondering what they had to do to succeed after being unbeaten in six games and not conceding a goal.

It was the fourth consecutive Cup of Nations that the Elephants entered as the team to beat and the second time they had featured in a goalless final only to loss the shootout.

Ahly experienced a bitter-sweet year with 74 supporters killed in post-match Port Said rioting last February after the Cairo Red Devils suffered a rare league loss to local club Al-Masry.

Egyptian authorities reacted by suspending domestic championship and cup football, leaving Ahly to play friendlies at home behind closed doors and in Gulf states before CAF fixtures.

After eliminating Saint George of Ethiopia and Stade Malien of Mali in qualifiers, Ahly topped a group including TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Berekum Chelsea of Ghana and Cairo neighbours Zamalek.

Victory over dogged Sunshine Stars of Nigeria in a multi-goal semi-final preceded a 1-1 first-leg draw at home to bitter, decades-old rivals Esperance from Tunisia in the two-leg decider.

But Mohamed 'Gedo' Nagy and Walid Soliman scored before and after half-time to give Ahly control in Tunis and all defending champions Esperance could muster was a late Yannick Ndjeng goal to leave the Red Devils 3-2 overall victors.

After defeating Sanfrecce Hiroshima from Club World Cup hosts Japan, Ahly fell 1-0 to eventual champions Corinthians of Brazil, but could not recapture the semi-final form when losing 2-0 to Mexicans Monterrey for third place.

The second-tier CAF Confederation Cup delivered a shock winner in AC Leopards from Congo Brazzaville, who drew away and won at home against Djoliba of Mali in a tight climax.

It was the first CAF club title for the central African country since 1974 and the victims of a Leopards squad without big-name players included former winners CS Sfaxien of Tunisia and defending champions Moghreb Fes of Morocco.

With Barcelona having made a record start to the season and Lionel Messi hitting the most goals in a calendar year it is easy to forget the clouds of uncertainty that hung over the Camp Nou last summer as they sought to topple champions Real Madrid.

It appeared as though Barca had reached the end of an era as Pep Guardiola chose to walk away after being pipped to the title by his nemesis Jose Mourinho whose side notched up a record 100 points and 121 goals in the process.

It had taken Mourinho two seasons but he had finally ended Barcelona's hegemony that had seen them win three consecutive championships and two Champions Leagues since Guardiola returned to the club in the summer of 2008.

During his first year a fear element set in at the Bernabeu as Mourinho desperately sought and failed to find a way to counteract Barca's technically strong passing game but last April Real came out on top 2-1 in a key game to decide the title at the Nou Camp.

Real seemed to be a team on the up as they had consolidated without the need to spend lavishly in the transfer market, but rather they attempted to fine tune the squad with the addition for example of Luka Modric from Tottenham Hotspur to add competition for Mesut Ozil in midfield.

It would be easy to think that Guardiola decided to leave in the face of this and indications that his Barcelona team was on a downward curve.

While Lionel Messi was prolific as ever with a record of 73 goals for the 2011-12 season the club had become more dependent on him and rumours had developed that Guardiola had lost the support of members of the dressing room like Dani Alves, David Villa and Cesc Fabregas who were not happy about sitting on the bench.

In a number of league games they had struggled as the opposition packed the midfield and prevented Barca from playing and although the team did capture the King's Cup against Athletic Bilbao they were also knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea in the semi-finals despite dominating in both legs.

The decision to promote Tito Vilanova to the top job was widely supported to ensure a smooth transition but there were plenty of questions over whether Guardiola's reserved assistant had the charisma for the role.

Fears were raised as Real came out on top in the domestic Super Cup, the season's curtain raiser between the league and cup winners, but since then Barcelona's form has been relentless.

Despite a catalogue of injuries especially in defence, the Catalans made a record start to the league season as they only dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Real and the main reason for the prolific form has been the displays of Messi.

Having swept aside Gerd Muller's record of goals in a season he also bettered his 85 goals in a calendar year for Bayern Munich and Germany set in 1972.

At the same time Real seemed to suffer a hangover from their league victory and there was a general mood of overconfidence.

They picked up just one point from their first two games against Valencia and Getafe and it was clear from the start that there wasn't the same work-rate and spirit which had typified Madrid the previous season.

Before the end of the summer transfer market Mourinho had already returned to one of his former clubs Chelsea to sign Michael Essien, a player he could rely on.

It was notable in particular how Ronaldo has been unable to inspire his teammates like last season when he was neck and neck with Messi in the scoring charts and in the end finished the league campaign with 46 goals, four less than the Argentinian.

Now going into the Christmas break the question is whether the championship is already over as they trail Barcelona by a mighty 13 points and it is Real Madrid's local rivals Atletico who are in closest pursuit.

The solidity and consistency of Diego Simeone's Atletico side has been a surprise and so far they have been able to break up the domination of the top two in La Liga.

While this has been a breath of fresh air for those complaining at the way the league had become predictable, it perhaps is more an indication of Real Madrid's slump and there is even the provocative suggestion from the Catalan media that it has gone from a two to a one team league now.

However it remains to be seen how Vilanova's renewed battle with cancer will impact on Barcelona's season.

With a performance of breath-taking technical mastery in their Euro 2012 final humbling of Italy, Spain proved this year that they are one of the greatest national teams ever to have graced the game.

The 4-0 victory over the Azzurri in Kiev on July 1 made Vicente del Bosque's side the first team to successfully defend the European crown and the first nation to win three consecutive major international titles.

Beyond the silverware, their stylistic legacy looks set to be remembered with the kind of reverence previously reserved for the Brazilian World Cup winners of 1970 or Rinus Michels' Netherlands side of 1974.

In the build-up to the final, however, Spain had found themselves assailed by accusations that their intricate passing football had become 'boring'.

After beating France 2-0 in the last eight, they needed penalties to overcome Iberian rivals Portugal in the semi-finals, and there were claims that their style had become mechanical.

The critics' pens were poised, but Xavi and player of the tournament Andres Iniesta blew off the cobwebs in the final to inspire a thrilling demolition of Cesare Prandelli's Italy.

"We're talking about a great generation of footballers," said Del Bosque.

"They have roots, and they know how to play together because they come from a country where they learn to play properly.

"We've done a great job. We have some great lads who play abroad, which was impossible before. We didn't really have players abroad and now foreign clubs want our players, so this is a great era for Spanish football."

Spanish thoughts quickly turned to the next World Cup, in Brazil in 2014, when the hosts will hope to exorcise the spectres that still linger from their shock loss to Uruguay when they last hosted the tournament in 1950.

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke had to apologise after suggesting earlier in the year that Brazil needed "a kick up the backside" in order to get ready for the event.

The world governing body now appears satisfied with Brazil's infrastructural preparations, but ahead of next year's dry run in the Confederations Cup, there are fears the team itself may not come up to scratch.

Brazil endured a trying year, notably failing to add a long sought-after Olympic gold medal to their trophy collection after being upset by Mexico in the competition final in London in August.

Coach Mano Menezes ultimately paid with his job, but his replacement, 2002 World Cup-winner Luiz Felipe Scolari, faces a challenge to steel the Selecao for a tilt at a sixth world crown.

Despite the glittering talent of Santos striker Neymar, Brazil's squad is short on international experience, and Scolari knows that excuses for failure will simply not be accepted.

"We have an obligation to win -- we are playing at home," he said.

"Don't you think our players are aware of the importance of winning the trophy on home soil?

"We are not favourites right now, but we intend to turn ourselves into favourites during the tournament."

Brazil's problems were not helped by the sight of Argentina storming to the top of the South American World Cup qualifying table in the host nation's absence.

Lionel Messi's 12 goals in nine international games, meanwhile, suggest he has finally found the secret to reproducing his Barcelona form in the colours of his country.

The year began with a memorable underdog tale, as unfancied Zambia defeated the mighty Ivory Coast -- Didier Drogba and all -- on penalties in Gabon to claim their first ever Africa Cup of Nations title.

There were first-time successes in the continental club tournaments as well, with English giants Chelsea, Corinthians of Brazil and South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai triumphing in Europe, South America and Asia.

Football also began to adjust to the arrival of goal-line technology, with two systems -- HawkEye and GoalRef -- trialled during December's Club World Cup in Japan, which saw Corinthians edge Chelsea 1-0 in the final.

The past year has been a turbulent one for Scottish football as it has faced up to possibly its greatest ever challenge -- life without Rangers in the top flight.

The game in Scotland has traditionally been dominated by the Ibrox club and their Glasgow rivals Celtic and none more so than in the past 27 years when no team outside the Old Firm has won the top division title.

However, this two-horse race was dealt a serious blow in February when Rangers were plunged into administration over unpaid tax bills following the disastrous reign of Craig Whyte at the club.

The Gers were immediately docked 10 points by the Scottish Premier League and, with Ally McCoist's side in disarray, Celtic cantered to the title in May, winning by 20 points.

Rangers limped on but were finally liquidated in June to cap an amazing fall from grace for Scotland's most successful club.

A consortium headed by former Sheffield United chief executive Charles Green bought the club's assets and following heated discussions their fellow SPL clubs voted 10 to 1 against allowing Rangers newco's application to join the league.

The Scottish Football League accepted Rangers into their fold but with the Ibrox club now languishing in the third division it has caused the rest of the top division clubs to tighten their belts in the absence of their fans and the revenue they bring.

Financial meltdown was predicted for some clubs and both Hearts and relegated Dunfermline have run into major problems with the taxman.

However, the health of the game across the country is not as bleak as expected.

Celtic, unsurprisingly, still top the table but they are not runaway leaders.

Without having to look over their shoulders for Rangers, the Hoops have had some breathing space while on domestic duties allowing them to concentrate on a remarkable run in Europe.

After negotiating two qualifying rounds, Celtic made it to the group stages of the Champions League where they picked up their first ever away win in the competition while also claiming a famous win over Barcelona as they qualified for the last 16.

However, the European run has come with a domestic hangover and Celtic's inconsistent league form means there are five teams within seven points of the Glasgow club.

While this season will be the first year since 1890 that there hasn't been an Old Firm fixture in the top flight, manager Neil Lennon said the Champions League had been a good substitute.

"It has been less stressful, put it that way. I am not saying it has been more beneficial," Lennon admitted.

"There is no doubt it has been difficult at times. There has been an economic problem with not having the four Old Firm games this season, a lot of revenue and interest has been taken away.

"Getting through to the Champions League has been a sort of great substitute, certainly for the players and supporters, they have really enjoyed the campaign so far.

"There is definitely less of an edge though and you can feel that with the punters as well at times with Rangers not being there. That is natural because the competition has been so intense.

"You do definitely miss that side of it. But the reality is they are not here and you have to get on with it."

The future could see huge changes in the landscape of Scottish football.

The Rangers crisis has seen both the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League propose new visions for the direction of the game.

While the SFL favour an enlarged top division the SPL want to retain the current 12 team top-flight along with a 12 team SPL 2.

No consensus has been reached as yet but change could be on the cards as early as next season.

Financial problems look likely to continue to plague clubs in the top flight.

Hearts seem the worst affected and let go most of the players who won them the Scottish Cup in May with a 5-1 thrashing of rivals Hibernian.

Despite their cost cutting Hearts were issued with a winding up order in October.

They may have agree a deal to pay off a £450,000 tax bill but there is still a shortfall in revenue for the season that totals £2 million.

A separate £1.75 million tax bill, which the club are challenging in a tribunal, also hangs over Tynecastle and with owner Vladimir Romanov refusing to put any more of his own money into the club it may be left to the fans, who have already raised £600,000 in a recent share issue, to dig deep again.

Didier Drogba has opened up a world of opportunity in China and blazed a trail for other senior stars as the wealthy Asia-Pacific region becomes an increasingly hot football destination.

The ex-Chelsea striker remains the headline act after a year that also saw Nicolas Anelka, Marcello Lippi and Alessandro Del Piero head east, with even David Beckham linked with a move to Australia or China.

Japan's Shinji Kagawa made a breakthrough at Manchester United, but moves in the other direction are catching attention as economic imperatives help raise the profile of Asian football.

Many questioned whether Drogba could ride out the culture shock of Shanghai Shenhua, but the Ivorian, nicknamed "Devil Beast" by admiring fans, rose above boardroom turmoil at his new club and looks set to stick around next season.

"Wait for me, I'll be back," Drogba told the Oriental Sports Daily, as he left Shenhua's Hongkou Football Stadium after their final match in November.

Anelka was the pioneer when he joined Shenhua at the start of the season, but Drogba's move, shortly after his heroics in the Champions League final, caused shockwaves with big European clubs queuing for his signature.

"I hope to help promote Chinese football around the world and further improve the links between China and Africa," Drogba said, when announcing the deal -- for a reported $300,000 a week -- in June.

Free-spending Guangzhou Evergrande snapped up World Cup-winning coach Lippi and Borussia Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios in their quest for Asian glory, but had to be content with a domestic league and cup double.

And Australia's A-League pulled off a coup when Sydney FC secured the services of Italian great Del Piero. Ex-England forward Emile Heskey has also been a hit at Sydney's near-neighbours, the Newcastle Jets.

Such purchasing power meant Australia and China were tipped as top of the list when Beckham announced his departure from LA Galaxy, with the intention of playing for one more club before retiring.

The Asia effect was in evidence elsewhere with the Thai league luring former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and even Malaysia, notorious for its match-fixing scandals, attracting ex-English Premier League players.

South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai won Asia's team, coach and player of the year awards after their unbeaten run to the AFC Champions League title, rounded off in swashbuckling style with a 3-0 win over Al Ahli in the final.

Coach Kim Ho-Gon masterminded a competition-record nine straight wins and winger Lee Keun-Ho earned Asia's top individual honour, as Ulsan earned a spot at the Club World Cup and helped bury the K-League's corruption woes in the process.

Kagawa left Borussia Dortmund mid-year to become Manchester United's first Japanese player, and he quickly became a hit before being sidelined by a knee problem.

Asian champions Japan were the form international team and have one foot in the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil after winning four out of five games so far in the last qualifying round.

Off the pitch, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) struggled with the fall-out of president Mohamed bin Hammam's suspension over corruption claims but there was a breakthrough when the body announced leadership elections next year.

Caretaker leader Zhang Jilong, pledging a "new era of transparency" looks favourite to secure the post full-time at the body's Congress, due by the end of April, where bin Hammam's FIFA executive committee seat is also up for election.

Indonesia remain under the threat of sanctions over a rebel league which has split the country's football establishment, while Singapore and Thailand, with six titles between them, will contest Southeast Asia's AFF Suzuki Cup final.

Interim Chelsea coach Rafael Benitez was left to rue a number of missed chances as Chelsea lost 1-0 to South American champions Corinthians in the Club World Cup final in Japan on Sunday.

Centre-forward Paolo Guerrero got the goal on 69 minutes but Benitez felt it was a string of saves from goalkeeper Cassio, later named player of the tournament, that made the difference.

"We knew it would be a tough game against a good team," Benitez said.

"I think they had one (clear cut) chance and they scored and we didn't take our chances. That was the difference.

"We had four very clear chances. Their goalkeeper was man of the match (sic) and for me that means a lot."

Striker Fernando Torres missed three good opportunities, including one from close range with just four minutes to go, while defender Gary Cahill also went close.

Benitez, who became the first coach to manage three different teams at a Club World Cup final, hinted that he felt his team were out-muscled by the Copa Libertadores winners during spells of the match.

"They were very physical from the first minute, in every challenge, every ball," the Spaniard said.

"In possession they had some quality. Once they scored, they were keeping the ball, they were passing the ball, and it was difficult to regain."

Benitez also suggested that Chelsea were at a disadvantage to Corinthians, who won the Club World Championship in 2000, because they were competing for the first time at the intercontinental tournament.

"Every second they were around the referee... doing well, and wasting time at the end," Benitez said of the Corinthians players.

"I don't say it as a negative. I say... they were managing it (the match) quite well."

South American champions Corinthians beat Chelsea 1-0 in Japan on Sunday to win the Club World Cup.

Striker Guerrero scored for the Copa Libertadores winners at Yokohama's International Stadium.

Mexican side Monterrey took third place at the Club World Cup in Japan on Sunday, defeating African champions Al Ahly 2-0.

Goals from Jesus Corona goal and Cesar Delgado were enough to see the CONCACAF champions win, but it was far from plain sailing with the Egyptians seeing plenty of the ball and creating numerous goal-scoring opportunities.

Winger Corona opened the scoring on three minutes, easily tapping into an open goal after Al Ahly goalkeeper Mahmoud Abou Elseoud and defender Sayed Moawad had collided while both trying to clear the ball.

Striker Delgado almost made it 2-0 after 24 minutes with a sidefooted shot from inside the box but the ball sailed wide of Elseoud's left-hand post and out for a goal kick.

It proved to be the last chance of the first 45 for the Mexicans, who lost to Chelsea 3-1 in the semi-finals, as Al Ahly surged forward looking for an equaliser.

Striker Emad Meteab was unlucky not to get it on the half-hour mark when his powerful header struck the post following a perfectly delivered in-swinging free kick.

Al Ahly were unfortunate not to go into the break level after twice forcing Monterrey into some last-ditch defending before forward Mohamed Aboutrika missed an easy header from the edge of the six-yard box with five minutes to go.

Shortly after the restart Aboutrika had another golden opportunity -- this time forcing Monterrey goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco into a splendid save with a firm shot from near the penalty spot.

The Cairo club pressed forward but the equaliser never came and on 66 minutes they were hit on the counterattack, Delgado breaking through Al Ahly's backline to chip the ball over an onrushing Elseoud and into the net.

Al Ahly continued to seek a way back into the match but there were no further goals at Yokohama's International Stadium and Monterrey finish the annual intercontinental tournament third, going some way to avenging last year's disappointing exit at the quarter-final stage.