FIFA World Football Museum on schedule for 2016 opening
September 22 – FIFA reports that construction at it’s FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich is running according to plan and that the museum will open in the first quarter of 2016.
FIFA
FIFA ethics body requests more leeway to disclose investigation details
By Andrew Warshaw
September 22 – FIFA’s ethics investigators have tabled a request to this week’s executive committee meeting calling for greater powers to explain precise reasons for punishing officials in order to offset constant media speculation and speed up the reform process.
Last resort for Warner as US closes in and Trinidad agrees extradition
By Andrew Warshaw
September 22 – The net appears to be finally closing in on former FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF supremo Jack Warner after extradition proceedings to the United States on corruption charges were approved by Trinidad’s attorney general.
Prince Ali uses Valcke fiasco to demand Blatter quits now; Romario dances with glee
By Andrew Warshaw
September 21 – FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali bin al-Hussein has been quick to seize on the suspension of the organisation’s secretary general Jerome Valcke.
FIFA auditor KPMG puts Swiss office under the microscope
September 21 – The global auditing firm KPMG has launched an internal review of its Swiss subsidiary that is responsible for the audit of FIFA according to the Swiss media.
FIFA stands Valcke down over allegations of World Cup ticket fraud
By Andrew Warshaw
September 18 – Just when you thought the corruption scandal enveloping FIFA could not get any deeper, Jerome Valcke, Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man, was dramatically relieved of his duties today, hours after he was the subject of allegations over a scheme to sell 2014 World Cup tickets above face value.
FIFAgate: Swiss agree to release Figueredo for extradition to US
By Andrew Warshaw
September 17 – Eugenio Figueredo (pictured), one of the seven high-profile figures arrested in Zurich at the end of May accused of receiving bribes worth millions of dollars, could soon be on his way to face trial in the United States after Swiss authorities ruled he can be extradited.
South Asians to follow AFC ‘directive’ and vote for Platini
September 17 – The general secretary of the seven-strong South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), says his members will all tow the party line and vote for Michel Platini in next February’s FIFA presidential election.
‘Platini: Skeletons…’ scribe written out of FIFA script
By Andrew Warshaw
September 17 – The FIFA staffer who penned a 1,400-word document questioning Michel Platini’s credentials for taking over from Sepp Blatter has quit the organisation.
FIFA election: English FA drop Prince Ali in favour Platini’s ‘agenda’
By Andrew Warshaw
September 16 – The English FA has re-iterated that it will support Michel Platini in next year’s FIFA presidential election – even though it nominated Prince Ali bin al-Hussein last time.
Caribbean World Cup rights whip up new storm of denials, and accusations
By Andrew Warshaw
September 16 – The saga of World Cup broadcast rights sold to the Caribbean for the 2010 and 2014 tournaments has taken another twist with FIFA saying it never received its share of any of the TV or ad sales revenue it was due under the agreement.
FIFA-gate: Lynch promises more arrests as US widens investigation
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
September 14 – Declaring that “no individual is above the law”, the US prosecutor whose revelations brought FIFA to its knees and led in part to Sepp Blatter’s decision to step down as president, says more criminal charges are expected to be brought and more arrests made.
Pieth says Blatter should be interviewed over TV rights sale to Warner
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
September 14 – As the world’s media descended on Zurich for the eagerly awaited latest developments in the US and Swiss investigations into alleged widespread malpractise surrounding FIFA, the organisation’s former anti-corruption advisor said Sepp Blatter himself should be questioned over the sale of television rights to disgraced former CONCACAF boss Jack Warner.
Caribbean World Cup TV rights for 2010 and 2014 raise more Warner questions
By Andrew Warshaw
September 14 – As US and Swiss prosecutors prepared to hold an eagerly awaited press conference to update the world’s media on their separate investigations into corruption surrounding FIFA, outgoing president Sepp Blatter found himself unwittingly drawn into the whole murky saga.
Prince Ali back on campaign trail promises ‘virtue’, service and a plan for FIFA
By Andrew Warshaw
September 11 – No sooner had he announced in his native Jordan that he was having a second crack at the FIFA presidency than Prince Ali bin al-Hussein flew into London for his first post-declaration function and urged FIFA members to vote with their hearts next time and not give in to the fear factor.