Swiss close ranks. Lauber and Infantino’s secret meetings to remain secret
August 13 – Swiss prosecutors are set to close the investigation of the former attorney general Michael Lauber’s secret meetings with FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
FIFA
FIFA bigwig and Mali FA president Toure arrested on suspicion of embezzling public funds
August 10 – A member of FIFA’s all-powerful Council is reported to have been arrested, heaping fresh embarrassment on world football’s governing body.
Booking.com hosts remain unpaid as FIFA sponsorship rolls on without comment
By Paul Nicholson
August 8 – Fury over FIFA’s last minute sponsorship deal with Booking.com has failed to slow down as thousands of small hotels and accommodation hosts worldwide remain unpaid, most since early June, with a number reporting they are facing bankruptcy having had to lay off staff and reschedule suppliers.
Infantino jets into Vanuatu and Fiji, unveils a ‘Pele pitch’ and gets a Legends game in
August 7 – Criticised for travelling via private jet on a whistlestop tour of a number of Pacific Rim nations during the group stages of the Women’s World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino was back amongst Oceania confederation nations as the last 16 knockout round was kicking off.
WWC2023 by numbers. Attendances and digital traffic break records
August 6 – FIFA released a set of record-breaking facts and figures as Women’s World Cup 2023 moved into the last 16 knockout rounds at the weekend. Top of those stats is that more than 1,715,000 tickets have been sold for the tournament so far.
Aussies get World Cup bug and ponder hosting bid for 2034 men’s finals
August 4 – Australia are considering a bid to stage the 2034 men’s World Cup following the success of the current women’s version.
Mengniu expands FIFA deal to cover next three World Cups
August 4 – China’s Mengniu has attached its name to FIFA’s next three World Cups, extending a previous partnership with the world federation.
FIFA investigates alleged sexual harassment of Zambia coach at WWC2023
August 3 – FIFA is investigating allegations of misconduct involving the Zambia team at the Women’s World Cup.
Pop-up FIFA Museum in Sydney to showcase 2023 winner’s trophy
August 3 – The Women’s World Cup 2023 winner’s trophy will make an appearance this weekend at the FIFA museum during the FIFA fan festival in Sydney.
Infantino’s whistle-stop PacRim trip was all about the money… and a bit about the votes
August 2 – Having been criticised for leaving the hosts of the Women’s World Cup to tour the Pacific Islands, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has detailed his meetings and appointments on his private jet whistle-stop tour, adding a video news release from his last stop in Tonga.
‘Chill and let live’: Gianni’s jet takes him on a tour of PacRim islands
July 30 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has departed the Women’s World Cup to tour the Pacific, prompting criticism after he had called for the women’s tournament to be shown the same respect as the men’s competition.
Booking.com signed sponsorship deal with FIFA whilst withholding hotel and host payments
July 25 – FIFA’s last minute sponsorship with Booking.com has sparked anger amongst small hotels and accommodation hosts, thousands of whom had gone unpaid worldwide for more than six weeks when the sponsorship deal was announced.
TFF says CAS ruling on FIFA’s new agency rules does not apply, and that PROFAA is a scam body
July 26 – The Football Forum (TFF) – an association of national football agent bodies – has said that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling against the Professional Football Agents Association’s (PROFAA) challenge of FIFA’s new Football Agents Regulations (FAR), does not apply to their members.
Indigenous communities keep pressure on FIFA over ‘empty symbolism’ of WWC imagery
By Samindra Kunti in Auckland
July 26 – Indigenous Football Australia (IFA) have written to FIFA and Football Australia, slamming their “empty symbolism” of Indigenous imagery at the Women’s World Cup. FIFA, however, say work is being done on space for indigenous football.
CAS backs FIFA over cap on player agents’ fees
July 25 – FIFA have won the latest ruling in an international fight by player agents to block rules that would regulate their industry and cap their fees.