FIFA kicks-off bid process for Women’s World Cup 2023 hosting
By Andrew Warshaw
February 20 – FIFA are reverting to the old behind-closed-doors rules to decide on the hosts of the Women’s World Cup in 2023.
FIFA
European leagues, clubs and UEFA slam Infantino’s $25bn ‘secret’ sell-off
By Andrew Warshaw
February 19 – European football stakeholders have aimed their strongest broadside to date at Gianni Infantino’s contentious $25 billion blueprint to change the landscape of global competitions.
With Miami deadline approaching Infantino keeps up drum roll for 48-team 2022
February 18 – Gianni Infantino is repeating the same rhetoric ahead of next month’s decision-making FIFA Council session in Miami saying he is “optimistic” about expanding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams but warned that it would “not be easy”.
Ahmad and Infantino union for MoU on wide-ranging African development
February 13 – Its own president may be subject to continual criticism over the autonomous way he allegedly runs the continent but there is no doubting the growing bond between Confederation of African Football (CAF) boss Ahmad Ahmad and Gianni Infantino
CAS clears Makudi of Thai election forgery and cuts his fine in half
By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – After years of fighting FIFA’s ethics apparatus, former executive committee member and Thai strongman Worawi Makudi has succeeded in clearing his name and winning his fight against a five-year ban.
Brazil’s video-linked Del Nero pleads innocence to FIFA’s appeals committee
February 8 – In a seven-hour testimony former CBF president Marco Polo Del Nero has pleaded his innocence to FIFA’s Appeals Committee in a bid to avoid an enforced exit from Brazil’s supreme football body. Del Nero was banned for life from football by FIFA in April 2017 for taking bribes.
Asian teams surge up the FIFA rankings with Qatar jumping 38 places
Sobaclieu.com
February 7 – The Asian Cup win for Qatar last Friday in the UAE has pushed the hosts of the 2022 World Cup 38 places up the FIFA Rankings, released today, to 55th position, the highest spot the country has achieved since 1993.
Infantino set to get four more years as FIFA president
By Andrew Warshaw
February 6 – Gianni Infantino will rule FIFA for at least four more years after it was confirmed, as anticipated, that he will stand unopposed in June’s presidential election.
FIFA moves to assert closer control over Qatar 2022 delivery
By David Owen
February 6 – FIFA has moved to assert control over the Qatar 2022 World Cup delivery process. The governing body has announced establishment of a joint venture with the Qatar 2022 Local Organising Committee (LOC) that will take responsibility for the planning and delivery of operations and services for the tournament, scheduled for the first time for a northern-hemisphere winter.
Vega lands in Rome to take FIFA presidential challenge to UEFA
By Paul Nicholson and Andrew Warshaw
February 5 – Ramon Vega has landed in Rome in advance of the UEFA Congress to carry out some last minute lobbying in advance of the deadline for nominations for the FIFA presidential elections that will be held in June in Paris.
Questions of Infantino’s manipulation of Swiss judiciary refuse to go away
February 4 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino is under investigation in Switzerland for suspicion of bribery and potential corruption of the Swiss judiciary.
Democracy vs Fear is FIFA’s biggest election battle, says Vega
By Paul Nicholson
February 1 – It is harder to get five nominations for the FIFA presidency than it is to get 100 votes in the election, said Ramon Vega, who is putting together a challenge for the top job at the world governing body.
Concacaf fall into line behind big boss Infantino
February 1 – Concacaf are the latest confederation to come out and formally support Gianni Infantino for re-election as FIFA president in Paris on June 5.
African qualifiers for U-20 World Cup kick off in Niger
February 1 – Africa will compete for four berths at the U-20 World Cup in Poland at this month’s U-20 continental championship in Niger. Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal have a strong case to win the tournament as defending champions Zambia failed to qualify for the finals.
Palestine lawyer asks if FIFA’s new human rights agenda is just a callous political tool?
By Paul Nicholson in Abu Dhabi
January 31 – FIFA’s rush to become involved in the civil extradition case of Australian refugee, Bahraini passport holder and part-time football Al-Araibi has again raised questions over the validity and motivations of FIFA’s human rights policy.