FIFA slams the door on Del Nero rejecting his appeal against life ban and $1m fine
May 28 – Former Brazilian football strongman Marco Polo Del Nero (pictured) has lost his appeal against a life ban for bribery and corruption.
FIFA
Three-country Gulf pact leads pack of bidders for U-20 World Cup in 2021
May 24 – Eight countries, including a potential three country bid from the Gulf states, have expressed interest in the U-20 World Cup in 2021. The 2019 edition has just kicked off in Poland.
Friends in need: Putin and Infantino bond at the Kremlin
May 24 – Amid the disappointment of seeing his hopes of expanding the Qatar World Cup to 48 dashed, Gianni Infantino can at least turn to Vladimir Putin to re-inforce his status at world football’s most powerful official.
48 into 32 doesn’t go. FIFA drops Infantino’s push for expanded Qatar World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
May 22 – Gianni Infantino’s hopes of expanding the Qatar World Cup to 48 teams have been dealt a crushing blow with FIFA announcing it has ditched the idea – exactly two weeks before it was due to be debated by the organisation’s entire global membership.
Ahmad under FIFA investigation for financial corruption, say reports
By Andrew Warshaw
May 23 – Is the noose starting to tighten around the neck of controversial African football supremo Ahmad Ahmad?
U-20 World Cup set to kick-off in Poland
May 23 – Poland will launch the U-20 World Cup against Colombia on home soil today as tomorrow’s stars compete for the world crown. Defending champions England failed to qualify for the tournament.
FIFA promises help with split family tickets allocations for France 2019 matches
May 23 – FIFA has promised to do “doing everything it can” to ensure families can sit together at next month’s Women’s World Cup in France following reports that some group ticket buyers have been split after receiving their allocation.
Decision on expanded 48-team Qatar 2022 World Cup will be made at Paris Congress in June
By Andrew Warshaw
May 21 – Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organising chief has confirmed that a decision will definitely be made one way or the other at the upcoming FIFA Congress over possible expansion to 48 teams – but won’t say which way it will go.
Women’s World Cup ticketing bust-up as buyers find their seat allocations split
May 21 – Tickets for this summer’s Women World Cup are among the hottest in town, but some fans may find themselves sitting on their own as some group ticket buyers have been given split seating allocation for certain games.
New handball and subs rules head raft of law changes set for next season
May 21 – Significant new tweaks approved earlier this year by football’s lawmakers are will come into effect across the game from the start of next season, designed to reduce a number of grey areas.
Guinea stripped of World Cup U17 slot for age-cheating, Senegal take spot
May 20 – Guinea have been thrown out of this year’s Under-17 World Cup in Brazil after they were found guilty of age-cheating at the recent U-17 Africa Cup of Nations which served as World Cup qualifiers.
Swiss investigators granted access to former FIFA boss Linsi’s diary
May 17 – Former FIFA general secretary Urs Linsi, who is under Swiss investigation for fraud and money laundering, has lost his appeal to keep his electronic communications and diary private from federal investigators.
FIFA fines Anderlecht but stops short of imposing transfer ban
May 17 – FIFA has fined Belgian club Anderlecht CHF200,000 for breaking rules related to youth transfers but crucially have stopped short of imposing a transfer ban.
Swiss judiciary seek clarification of Lauber’s Infantino powwows
May 16 – The ongoing saga over the conduct of Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber relating to a series of private meetings he held with FIFA president Gianni Infantino has taken yet another twist with reports that Lauber may not be able to run for a third term.
FIFA bans Pogba’s agent Raiola from trading in the summer transfer window
May 13 – One of football’s best-known super agents, Mino Raiola, has had a three-month ban on working in his native Italy extended to a global sanction by FIFA.