Pussy Riot pitch invaders jailed for 15 days for human rights protest
July 17 – Four members of the Russian punk activist group Pussy Riot have been jailed for 15 days for disrupting the World Cup final by running on to the pitch.
World Cup
Qatar takes learnings from Russia 2018 and is ‘open’ to 48-team discussion
By Samindra Kunti in Moscow
July 16 – Qatar’s Deputy Secretary-General for Tournament Affairs Nasser Al Khater has repeated FIFA stance’s that the 2022 World Cup hosts will have the final decision-making power over the number of participants in four years time.
Game changer? VAR turns from hero to villain on World’s biggest football stage
By Andrew Warshaw
July 16 – Long before the World Cup got under way, FIFA president Gianni Infantino was unequivocal. It was unthinkable, he said, for the destiny of the world’s greatest sporting occasion to be decided by a refereeing mistake.
Russia 2018 opened doors, eyes and opinion as it welcomed the world, says LOC
By Samindra Kunti in Moscow
July 14 – Local organisers followed in the footsteps of FIFA president Gianni Infantino to heap praise on their own World Cup organisation and the results it has delivered. They said that the month-long event has changed Russia’s image and shown the true character of the nation – both to the football and the wider world.
Infantino sings Russian praises and says VAR is making football ‘honest’
By Andrew Warshaw
July 13 – After a tournament that has succeeded all expectations on and off the field, Gianni Infantino wasn’t going to waste the opportunity to heap praise on Russia’s World Cup organisers.
Next stop Qatar 2022, as Infantino keeps doors open to expansion to 48 teams
By Samindra Kunti in Moscow
July 13 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Friday repeated his position that the Qatar 2022 World Cup will be played in a 32-team format, but has left open the door for an expanded 48-team tournament in four years time. The North American 2026 World Cup is the first World Cup to have the confirmed participation of 48 teams.
Van Basten critical of Neymar theatrics; Parreira has no issue; Roxburgh highlights VAR effect
July 13 – FIFA’s technical director Marco van Basten, arguably the greatest striker of his generation, has a word of advice for Neymar: cut down on the play-acting.
France v Croatia – will history repeat itself 20 years on?
By David Owen
July 13- Twenty years and five days ago France and Croatia played out a cagey, tense, tetchy World Cup semi-final that France were expected to win, but ended up making mightily hard work of. A game of similar characteristics may be anticipated on Sunday, when the same two countries meet at the Luzhniki in the final of Russia 2018.
Who’s tired? Modric digs the knife in as Croatia send England home
By Andrew Warshaw
July 12 – As an entire nation digests the disappointment of football not coming home after all, Croatia’s star player insists his side were underestimated and deserved to reach the World Cup final at England’s expense.
Amuneke lays blame for African 2018 performances on poor talent development
July 12 – Africa will never fulfil their potential on the World Cup stage unless they develop their youth properly and have strong enough characters on the field.
No more sexy women, says FIFA, as broadcasters told to censor their crowd shots
July 12 – While racism has been virtually non-existent at the World Cup, the anti-discrimination group advising FIFA says broadcasters have focussed too much on picking out attractive females and that there has been too much sexism generally in and around cities.
Socked. Down and out England fined by FIFA for wearing wrong ankle supports
July 12 – It will hardly register amid the disappointment of semi-final elimination but the English FA has been fined CHF70,000 after three players – Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Raheem Sterling – wore unauthorised equipment at the World Cup.
Vida video puts more heat on Croatian over ‘Belgrade burn’ comment
July 11 – FIFA is investigating a new video of Croatia defender Domagoj Vida’s comments in the wake of his side’s quarterfinal World Cup victory over Russia.
Russians catch the football bug. The world catches the Russia 2018 virus
By Andrew Warshaw
July 10 – Whether Russian football will revert to its pre-World Cup domestic issues of racism and fan violence once the tournament is over remains to be seen. But for the last four weeks the country has bent over backwards to be as welcoming and accommodating to the thousands of foreign visitors attending games.
Adidas dependent on Belgium to prevent all-Nike World Cup final
By David Owen
July 10 – Belgium will try to keep the Adidas flag flying at Russia 2018 in St Petersburg tonight.