FIFA links with UNODC for match-fixing educational programme
March 16 – FIFA is intensifying its fight against match-fixing by linking up with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) over its Global Integrity Programme.
FIFA
Gianni’s jet: Federal court rules out witness evidence but criminal case not grounded
March 12 – After a series of legal losses in his battle against criminal prosecution in Switzerland, FIFA president Gianni Infantino had a win yesterday when the Swiss Federal Criminal Court ruled in favour of one of four complaints Infantino’s legal team had made in December 2020.
Former Welsh player and board-hardened McAllister sets sights on FIFA Council seat
By Andrew Warshaw
March 12 – Laura McAllister is under no illusions about her chances of success when she bids to become European football’s female representative on the FIFA Council next month.
Swiss refuse, again, release of investigation file to Infantino before his criminal hearing
March 9 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino was struck another legal blow in the criminal case against him in Switzerland with the Swiss Federal Criminal Court ruling he can’t have access to the investigation file into his case.
IFAB to trial new offside rule in China
March 8 – Having already agreed to tweak the handball rule following a clamour for change from fans and pundits alike football’s lawmakers are also set to trial what would be the biggest revamping of the offside law for a century.
Infantino denies meddling in CAF elections, but says CAF has had ‘some difficult times’
By Andrew Warshaw
March 5 – With exactly one week to go before African football chooses its next leader, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended his recent tour of the Continent to meet with the candidates, denying he has in any way been meddling in the election process.
IFAB re-rules handball law in the ‘spirit’ of the game
By Andrew Warshaw
March 5 – Bowing to pressure from legions of pundits and fans frustrated about crucial goals being unfairly ruled out, football’s global lawmakers today agreed to backtrack and scrap accidental handball whenever it leads to a team-mate scoring.
FIFA pressures Anouma who denies government funding and continues on campaign trail
By Paul Nicholson
March 2 – CAF presidential candidate Jacques Anouma (pictured) has responded to a request from the head of the FIFA Governance Committee Mukul Mukdal saying that he has not received any funding for his election campaign from the Ivory Coast government.
Boris backing Britain and Ireland bid for World Cup 2030 hosting
By Andrew Warshaw
March 2 – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is backing a potential joint bid from the four UK federations plus the Republic of Ireland to host the 2030 World Cup even though South America are early favourites to land the tournament.
FIFA runs out of time in Beckenbauer, Zwanziger and Schmidt corruption probe
By Andrew Warshaw
February 26 – FIFA’s attempt to finally get to the bottom of the alleged vote-buying scandal linked to Germany’s staging of the 2006 World Cup is over – with those at the heart of the probe free from further scrutiny.
Infantino pledges support to rebuild Sudan’s football culture
February 23 – Gianni Infantino’s African roadshow landed in Sudan on Monday, where the FIFA boss pledged more support for the north African country.
Infantino keeps up the pace and politics as he criss-crosses Africa
By Samindra Kunti
February 22 – On his pan-African tour, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, addressing the general assembly of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA), in South Africa, called on African teams to step up and leave a mark on the 2026 World Cup, the first global finals to be staged in a 48-team format.
FIFA’s Wenger warns UEFA it could kill its Champions League with new format plans
February 19 – Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Development since the end of 2019, has hit out at proposals to overhaul the Champions League, warning that fans will be turned off if the competition is watered down.
Out in Africa: Infantino manoeuvres through CAF, Rwanda and SA pre-CAF elections
February 19 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s latest stop on his tour of Africa during the global health crisis – Africa’s football governance is similarly facing a major health crisis – has been the Central African Republic.
Africans jostle for FIFA ranking position as nations prepare for major competitions
Sobaclieu.com
February 19 – FIFA have released their first World Ranking of 2021 but in a period where only 43 full internationals were played, the top of the 32 places in the rankings remain unchanged with only the African nations showing movement.