North and South Koreas still on course for joint 2023 Women’s World Cup bid
April 17 – A potential landmark joint bid from North and South Korea for the 2023 Women’s World Cup remains very much in the race
FIFA
FIFA to send fact-finding team to Pakistan as PFF power struggle continues
April 17 – World governing body FIFA is to send a fact-finding mission to Pakistan to assess the administrative crisis in the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), but the FIFA delegation seems unlikely to issues sanctions preventing Pakistan from taking part in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Catching up. FIFA gives jailed Brazilian Marin a life ban and CHF1m fine
April 16 – Jose Maria Marin, disgraced former president of the Brazil Football Confederation (CBF), has been banned for life by FIFA and fined CHF1 million for taking bribes, 16 months after he was convicted of corruption charges in the United States.
Zero tolerance. Infantino urges refs to abandon matches when racism occurs
April 15 – The recent resurgence of racism across world football has prompted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to call for a crackdown following several high-profile incidents, echoing UEFA’s call for referees to abandon matches in the worst-case scenarios
Infantino turns to old buddy Costa to head FIFA ‘s Comms department
April 2 – FIFA has a new communications chief after announcing that Portugal national team spokesman Onofre Costa has taken over from Fabrice Jouhaud, who has led its media department since August 2016 when he arrived from l’Equipe broadcasting.
FIFA medical chief d’Hooghe uses Schar incident to warn of dangers of concussion
By Andrew Warshaw
April 1 – FIFA’s top medical official has criticised the decision to allow Fabian Schar to play on during Switzerland’s recent Euro 2020 qualifier against Georgia after suffering from concussion – and warned that authorities have to be ultra-careful when it comes to head clashes.
More FIFA indictments likely, corruption probe ongoing, say former US investigators
By Paul Nicholson in New York
March 26 – FIFA beware, former investigators and prosecutors who worked on the US Department of Justice indictments in 2015 say that the investigation is still on-going and there will likely be more indictments on top of the 42 already charged.
Europe’s clubs agree to boycott Infantino’s Club World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
March 26 – Europe’s leading clubs today re-iterated that they will refuse to participate in Gianni Infantino’s revamped Club World Cup – but have not ruled out changing their minds for future editions if their needs are accommodated.
Will Juve and United be on FIFA’s buy list? Zurich’s money men are not (yet) ruling it out
By David Owen
March 26 – FIFA has yet to rule out buying shares in stock exchange-listed football clubs such as Italy’s Juventus and Manchester United of the Premier League as part of its updated approach to management of its financial assets.
Player injury payouts cost FIFA $106m, but a healthy Russia 2018 kept them under budget
By David Owen
March 22 – The Club Protection Programme (CPP) cost FIFA $106.5 million over the 2015-18 business cycle, well below the initial sum budgeted of $120 million.
FIFA rules out artificial pitches for Women’s 2023 World Cup bidders
March 22 – FIFA has moved to prevent the use of artificial pitches at the 2023 Women’s World Cup after the 2015 tournament in Canada was marred by controversy over artificial turf.
FIFA gives Chiriboga a life ban for bribery and a $1m fine
March 22 – Luis Chiriboga, for 18 years president of Ecuador’s FA and one of those indicted in the US-led crackdown on football corruption, is the latest senior official to bite the dust. FIFA have banned him for life for bribery.
Conmebol’s Dominguez says South American bid leads race for 2030 World Cup
March 21 – The four-nation South American bid to host the 2030 World Cup should definitely be regarded as the favourite to win the rights, according to the region’s top official, despite what will likely be a strong challenge from Europe.
Women’s World Cup winners $4m; Infantino and Samoura $4.07m
By David Owen
March 21 – The winners of this year’s Women’s World Cup in France will get prize money of $4 million, fractionally less than the combined total of Gianni Infantino and Fatma Samoura’s salaries in 2018.
Life ban for Togolese ref Fagla for fixing international matches
March 21 – FIFA has banned Togolese referee Kokou Hougnimon Fagla for life after finding him guilty of corruption.