No change in Kenya despite FIFA reporting ‘excellent’ meetings with government
November 18 – The Kenyan government says the disbanding of the country’s FA remains intact despite positive initial talks with FIFA over the crisis.
FIFA
FIFA tells Kenyan government to reinstate Mwendwa or face football ban
November 16 – The Kenyan government has been directed by FIFA to immediately reinstate embattled Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa who has been arrested following last week’s disbanding of the federation by the government.
FIFA keeps its Awards night virtual; voting for world’s Best to open this month
November 10 – FIFA will hold its annual awards ceremony virtually for the second year in succession. A decision that follows and current public health measures preventing the spread of covid.
Ooredoo answers FIFA call with regional deal for Qatar 2022 and Arab Cup 2021
November 8 – Qatari telecommunications operator Ooredoo has taken a tournament regional sponsorship with FIFA becoming the Official Middle East & Africa Telecommunications Operator for the World Cup Qatar 2022 and the Arab Cup Qatar 2021, to be held in December.
Playmaking the Wenger way: Integrity questions swirl around FIFA and its development chief
November 8 – FIFA’s chief of global football development Arsene Wenger, has come under renewed questions regarding his personal integrity over his involvement with sports technology startup PlayerMaker.
Cool your jets Gianni, we’ve just gone green
November 4 – FIFA has committed to new climate change targets at the COP26 climate conference, committing to reduce their carbon emissions and reach NetZero by 2040. Those pledges collide with FIFA’s plans for a biennial World Cup and the carbon footprint of the organisation’s own supremo Gianni Infantino.
Blatter and Platini to face Swiss fraud trial over CHF2m payment
By Andrew Warshaw
November 3 – After an investigation lasting almost six years, the former heads of FIFA and UEFA, Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, have been charged with fraud over the infamous “disloyal payment” that brought the careers of both powerbrokers crashing down.
FIFA sanctions repeat offenders Hungary and Mexico
November 2 – Hungary and Mexico have been sanctioned by FIFA over persistent fan disorder at their World Cup qualification matches following the October international window.
FIFA Museum calls on members to contribute to global heritage exhibition
October 29 – The FIFA Museum has announced ‘211’, its first collaborative global exhibition on football heritage and culture which will invite all 211 FIFA Member Associations to share their own objects, stories and histories.
IFAB moves to make 5 subs rule a permanent option
October 28 – The temporary move to give teams the option of making five substitutions per game instead of the standard three has been given the green light by football’s lawmakers to become permanent.
FIFA rolls out Women’s World Cup 2023 logo and ‘Beyond Greatness’ slogan
October 28 – FIFA has broken with logo design tradition with the launch of a bold Women’s World Cup 2023 brand identity and tournament slogan.
Samoura joins board of Global FoodBanking Network
October 28 – FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura has joined the Board of Directors of The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), an international non-profit organisation that works towards a hunger-free future, the global governing body announced on Wednesday.
European Leagues warn FIFA’s push for a biennial World Cup is still very alive
By Andrew Warshaw
October 22 – Europe’s top leagues have cautioned that FIFA’s controversial biennial World Cup plan may not, after all, have been abandoned and have stressed their firm opposition to the idea as well as to any overhaul of the international match schedule.
Bayern’s Hainer says FIFA must not ‘sacrifice’ football at the money alter
October 22 – Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer has become the latest high-profile football figure to oppose FIFA’s biennial World Cup proposal, saying that “you must never sacrifice football on the altar of financial interests.”
FIFA push Club World Cup back into 2022 with UAE as new hosts
October 21 – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will replace Japan as hosts for the 2021 Club World Cup, with the tournament that should have taken place in December now to be rescheduled for early next year.