By Andrew Warshaw
December 28 – Despite fierce opposition from Europe’s clubs and the danger of the quality being diluted, FIFA’s member federations are “overwhelmingly in favour” of plans for a 48-team World Cup, almost certainly starting in 2026, according to Gianni Infantino.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 23 – Gianni Infantino insists FIFA is a more financially transparent and credible organisation under his leadership despite the ongoing US-led anti-corruption probe and the stream of negative headlines in the early days of his presidency.
December 22 – In danger of losing its clout at the top table of world football administration, the German Football Association has officially put forward its President, Reinhard Grindel, for a seat on the FIFA Council.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 22 – UEFA have confirmed that Russia’s deputy prime minister Vitaly Mutko is among the declared candidates for five European vacancies on the FIFA Council but must still pass an eligibility check ahead of next April’s election.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 22 – After keeping a low profile for several weeks in the wake of the potentially highly damaging probe into his alleged role in the 2006 World Cup bid scandal, Franz Beckenbauer (pictured with Wolfgang Niersbach), Germany’s most revered footballing figure, has re-iterated that his country did not buy the tournament.
December 22 – The Irish Football Association says it wants an “urgent” meeting with FIFA after being fined CHF15,000 for its poppy-displaying act of remembrance at last month’s World Cup qualifier.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 21 – Amos Adamu, one of Africa’s most notorious footballing figures, is facing a second ban from the game after FIFA’s Ethics Committee opened fresh proceedings against the Nigerian.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 19 – The reaction has been understandably incredulous. In a disgraceful move that hardly enhances its attempt to turn over a new leaf and become a respectful, compassionate, modern-thinking organisation, FIFA have once again shown their true colours by predictably fining all four British home nations for their various poppy displays at last month’s World Cup qualifiers on or around Armistice Day.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 20 – Three months after disgraced former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb – not so long ago touted as a possible successor to Sepp Blatter – was banned for life, two more once all-powerful officials of the same confederation have suffered the same fate with Hondurans Alfredo Hawit (pictured) and Rafael Callejas thrown out of the game by FIFA’s ethics committee for taking bribes as part of the US-led football corruption scandal.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 19 – Former German football supremo Wolfgang Niersbach has conceded defeat by agreeing to step down from his senior posts at FIFA and UEFA after failing to win his appeal against his one-year ban.
December 19 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino still hopes to see video technology used at the 2018 World Cup in Russia if teething problems can be ironed out in time.
December 19 – When FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura (pictured right) visited Sierra Leone last month on a working trip that was partly to mediate in the ongoing dispute between the national association and the government over the way football there is run, she somewhat surprisingly suggested that the country bid for the under-17 women’s World Cup.
December 19 – Court papers filed by prosecutors in the US allege that an affiliate of a major broadcasting company in Latin America paid millions of dollars in bribes to obtain the rights for the next four World Cup tournaments in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
By Paul Nicholson
December 19 – The hunting down of Jack Warner by the US Department of Justice suffered a second setback in six months when a judgement at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, refused the US access to join the legal team making the case for his extradition from the island.
December 16 – FIFA’s new video review system, championed by those who have long argued goalline technology alone does not go far enough, has not got off to the most auspicious of starts.