FIFPro slams Indonesia following death of Paraguayan player
By Andrew Warshaw
December 6 – The death from a routine virus of Diego Mendieta, a Paraguayan player based in Indonesia, has outraged the international players’ union, FIFPro.
Asia
Park hit with ban and fine following London 2012 political protest
By Andrew Warshaw
December 3 – South Korea’s Park Jong-Woo, whose political protest sparked a diplomatic row with Japan at the London 2012 Olympics, has been banned for two games by FIFA and fined 3,500 Swiss francs (£2,400/$3,800/€2,900), football’s world governing body said today.
Exclusive: AFC officials throw out proposed ethics task force
By Andrew Warshaw
November 30 – Reformers within Asian football have been left shocked and disappointed after their campaign to heal deep-rooted rifts and crack down on corruption was dismissed by the Continent’s top brass.
Gaza conflict damages vital sporting infrastructure
By Andrew Warshaw
November 28 – The recent hostilities in Gaza have spilled over into the football arena with pro-Palestinian representatives criticising Israel’s military offensive, which is claimed to have damaged vital sporting infrastructure.
Exclusive: Bitter Asian divisions threaten to scupper reforms
By Andrew Warshaw
November 28 – The bitter political in-fighting at the heart of Asian football comes to a head tomorrow in a make-or-break showdown designed to heal the rifts and bring about desperately needed stability.
Israel cancels fixtures as Gaza fighting continues
By Andrew Warshaw
November 16 – Sport has once again become an unwitting victim of military activity after Israel called off two Premier League fixtures set for tomorrow due to the ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Qatar to host FIFA 2013 Beach Soccer World Cup Asian qualifiers
By Tom Degun at the Aspire Dome in Doha
November 13 – Qatar’s capital, Doha, has been confirmed to host the Asian qualifying rounds of the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
AFC document “theft” charges suspiciously dropped
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – Senior Asian officials are privately questioning why prosecutors in Malaysia have suddenly dropped charges against a man accused of stealing documents linked to banned former powerbroker Mohamed Bin Hammam.
FIFA strips Futsal Arena of hosting rights over safety fears
By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – FIFA has dramatically ditched plans to use Bangkok’s showpiece $40 million (£25 million/€31 million) Futsal Arena during the current Futsal World Cup in Thailand, deeming the venue unsafe after missing several construction deadlines.
Bin Hamman’s latest ban extension lacks evidence, claims lawyer
By Andrew Warshaw
October 24 – The festering dispute between Mohamed Bin Hammam and his political opponents has reached new levels of bitterness after the current ban on the former Asian football powerbroker was extended by FIFA for a further 45 days to allow the ongoing investigation into his alleged misconduct to be completed.
AFC head Jilong slams Bin Hammam’s “intimidation tactics”
By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – The acting head of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Zhang Jilong, has accused his predecessor Mohamed Bin Hammam of “intimidation tactics” designed to derail the investigation into alleged financial wrongdoing by the one-time most powerful man in Asian football.
Bin Hammam appeals to CAS over provisional ban
By Andrew Warshaw
October 16 – Former FIFA Presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam has lodged a fresh appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the latest episode of the long-running saga to clear his name.
Singapore to use lie detectors to cut down on match-fixing
By Andrew Warshaw at the Leaders in Football conference at Stamford Bridge in London
October 11 – Singapore is using lie detector tests to try to cut down on match-fixing, according to the head of the country’s football federation.
Bin Hammam’s PA suspended for not cooperating with investigation
By Andrew Warshaw
October 3 – The campaign by FIFA’s new Ethics Committee to get to the bottom of Mohamed Bin Hammam’s alleged improper cash dealings has led to the suspension of his former personal assistant at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Gan’s husband charged with AFC theft
By Andrew Warshaw
September 19 – The husband of Amelia Gan, finance director of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) at the time it was run by Mohamed Bin Hammam, has pleaded not guilty to stealing in the latest cloak-and-dagger development in the ongoing corruption probe into Bin Hammam’s conduct.