FIFA hands out life bans for Lai, Rocha and Esquivel
November 21 – For the first time since they took over in May, FIFA’s new ethics watchdogs have bared their teeth by banning three leading officials for life.
FIFA
Will they, won’t they? Is China poised to take on Europe for 2030 World Cup
November 20 – The Chinese Football Association have moved to play down an apparent gaffe by national team manager Marcello Lippi after he was quoted as saying the country were making plans to bid for the 2030 World Cup.
FIFA to rethink World Cup seedings and ranking system after Russia 2018
November 17 – A loophole that allows national teams to boost their seedings for the World Cup by deliberately avoiding playing too many friendly matches is likely to become a thing of the past after next year’s finals in Russia.
Israeli pressure group complains to FIFA of Palestine’s Rajoub using Nazi comparison
By Andrew Warshaw
November 16 – An Israeli-based media watchdog is urging FIFA to throw the book at the head of Palestinian football for comparing Israel to a Nazi state in the latest escalation of Middle East footballing tensions.
Burzaco lifts lid on TV rights bribery and drags Fox and Qatar into the spotlight
By Paul Nicholson
November 15 – The depth of the corruption around the sale of TV rights that has plagued South and North America and shattered the reputations of football officials worldwide, was unmasked in the federal court in Brooklyn yesterday. For the first time major broadcast networks Fox Sports (USA), and Televisa (Mexico) were dragged into the narrative alongside Brazil’s TV Globo, all of whom were accused of paying bribes for rights.
Northern Ireland to push for VAR after 2018 play-off carve up against Swiss
November 14 – Northern Ireland are to push for the implementation of video assistant referees in the wake of the country’s failure to reach the World Cup courtesy of a highly controversial first-leg penalty that left players, officials and fans fuming.
FIFA advisory board urges it to step up monitoring of construction conditions
By Andrew Warshaw
November 10 – FIFA has been urged by its own advisory board on human rights to step up monitoring risks to those working on construction sites at World Cup venues in Russia and Qatar.
Adidas unveils Telstar 18, the official 2018 World Cup match ball
By Mark Baber
November 10 – Adidas has revealed the official match ball for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, paying homage to the first-ever Adidas World Cup ball.
FIFA’s cartel culture ‘is foreign to the rule of law’, says Maduro
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – The Portuguese official ousted by FIFA as its chief governance and electoral watchdog has blasted the organisation’s approach to political neutrality under Gianni Infantino as “shocking” and says there is no chance of reform from within because of its closed-shop mentality.
Samoura stands FIFA solidly behind Johansen despite Sierra Leone corruption indictments
November 9 – The bitter in-fighting over who runs Sierra Leone football has taken a remarkable twist with FIFA intervening to overturn a decision by the country’s national FA to remove Isha Johansen (pictured left) from her role as president – right in the middle of a court case in which she is charged with corruption.
FIFA ends secret voting with promise to publish who votes for whom for 2026 World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
November 8 – Having promised to leave no stone unturned in ensuring a corruption-free bid process for the 2026 World Cup after the scandals of the 2018 and 2022 campaigns, FIFA has pledged to publish all votes – traditionally kept secret – by individual federations when the ballot takes place next June.
Over the line? VAR to come into play at England vs Germany friendly
November 8 – Despite growing doubts about the system’s efficacity, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will be used for the first time in an official game in the UK during England’s prestige friendly against Germany at Wembley on Friday.
Jury selection begins in NY in trial of Marin, Napout and Burga
By Paul Nicholson
November 7 – Jury selection began yesterday in the trial of three South American football officials arrested as part of the FIFA corruption scandal charged with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy.
FIFA and FIFpro bury the hatchet (for 6 years), giving more rights to ‘abused’ players
November 7 – After a lengthy campaign for better treatment of its members, the world players’ union FIFpro has dropped its legal bid against FIFA to outlaw football’s transfer system believing it has won significant concessions.
Rank outsiders. Named and shamed women’s rankings now fail to make it into FIFA’s media
By Paul Nicholson
November 3 – You couldn’t make this up. FIFA, under fire in this publication last month via its women’s rankings that showed a lack of women’s development in nations where three Confederation presidents reign, has in the latest edition of its FIFA 1904 magazine not bothered to even publish the women’s rankings page. The men’s rankings were, of course, published.