First phase ticket sales for Qatar 2022 top 800,000, says FIFA
March 31 – FIFA has said that 804,186 tickets have been sold during first sales phase for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
FIFA
Adidas gets the Qatar 2022 ball rolling
March 31 – You know the tournament is getting closer when it is time to launch the official ball. FIFA sponsor Adidas has unveiled the new ball for Qatar 2022, named Al Rihla.
QatarEnergy completes FIFA’s roster of World Cup 2022 sponsors
March 28 – QatarEnergy has become a partner of the 2022 World Cup, joining Crytpo.com and BYJU’s who were unveiled as Qatar 2022 sponsors last week.
Indian EdTech business BYJU’s joins Qatar 2022 sponsor roster
March 24 – FIFA has added Indian education technology provider BYJU’S as an official sponsor of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
FIFA juggles next week’s World Cup draw protocols with three slots left open
March 23 – Excitement and anticipation is mounting ahead of next week’s World Cup draw in Qatar which will be conspicuous by the three slots that will still be open because of Russia’s war with Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Crypto.com becomes official crypto trading platform for Qatar 2022
March 23 – Cryptocurrency sponsorship has come to FIFA with Crypto.com becoming the exclusive cryptocurrency trading platform partner for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
FIFA opens new Qatar 2022 ticket window on first-come, first-served basis
March 23 – FIFA has opened up another ticket buying window for the Qatar 2022 World Cup ahead of the Final Draw next week.
FIFA earmarks $1m of relief for Ukraine humanitarian crisis
March 21 – FIFA has sent medical supplies to the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) and allocated $1 million to the FIFA Foundation for humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
Fifa-gate felon Del Nero loses appeal in Swiss court to overturn 20-year ban
March 15 – Disgraced former Brazilian powerbroker Marco Polo del Nero has lost his final appeal, this time at Switzerland’s highest court, in his attempt to try and overturn a 20-year FIFA ban for taking bribes worth millions of dollars.
Migrant worker issues in focus as FIFA meet Amnesty to discuss Qatar 2022 progress
March 14 – FIFA are back in discussion with Amnesty International over the conditions for migrant workers in Qatar in connection with the World Cup. This time the discussion is not focussed on construction workers by on those in the service and hospitality sector.
Al-Khelaifi lawyers claim slander and ask how record $450m World Cup TV deal needs a bribe
By Andrew Warshaw
March 10 – Lawyers for Nasser Al-Khelaifi (pictured), the Qatari head of broadcaster beIN Sport and boss of Paris St Germain, have demanded a full acquittal of their client over bribery allegations relating to the sale of media rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cup.
From Sardinian villa to Swiss prison cell: prosecutor demands long stretches for Al-Khelaifi and Valcke
March 9 – Switzerland’s public prosecutor has called for hefty prison sentences for Paris Saint-Germain and beIN Sport boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi and FIFA’s former number two Jerome Valcke (pictured) over alleged bribery relating to a World Cup TV rights deal.
FIFA allow foreign players to leave Russia and its clubs, but not terminate contracts
March 8 – Foreign players based in Russia are being allowed to leave their clubs for the rest of the season without being punished.
Russians demand fast-track ban appeal at CAS and ‘compensation for damage’
March 4 – The Russian Football Union has confirmed it is going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to appeal against its ban from international competitions imposed by FIFA and UEFA as punishment for the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia consider appealing FIFA ban at CAS
By Andrew Warshaw
March 1 – The blanket ban on Russia in FIFA and UEFA competitions may not end there, with reports emerging that the Russian Football Union may take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.