By Andrew Warshaw
September 13 – Cornel Borbely (pictured), FIFA’s former ethics investigations chief whose work brought down a string of corrupt officials, has been barred from giving evidence to a British parliamentary committee, blatantly calling into question FIFA’s insistence it has nothing to hide and that the dark days of corruption are over.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 12 – As Miguel Maduro, axed as head of FIFA’s governance committee last May during a purge of senior ethics watchdogs, prepares for his appearance before a British parliamentary committee later today, it has come to light that both of FIFA’s former ethics chiefs are also set to go public to discuss their time at the organisation and the controversial circumstances of their removal.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 11 – Will this be the moment that exposes key ethical questions about Gianni Infantino’s conduct as FIFA president amid his claims that he is persuing meaningful reform?
September 11 – South Africa’s Football Association (SAFA) are holding an emergency committee today “to discuss the way forward” following FIFA’s decision to order a replay of the World Cup qualifier against Senegal over “match manipulation” by the referee.
September 11 – Not for the first time, English champions Chelsea are under the spotlight for anti-semitic chanting that continues to undermine the reputation of their fans.
September 11 – There has been a significant shift in the balance of power in Mexican club football with telecoms billionaire Carlos Slim announcing through his América Móvil that he is selling his 30% stakes first division clubs Pachuca and Club León.
September 8 – South Africa are considering appealing against FIFA’s decision to order a replay of their World Cup qualifier against Senegal 10 months ago over “match manipulation” by the referee.
September 8 – FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli over his middle-finger gesture during England’s World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on Monday.
September 8 – Edwin van der Sar, the former Dutch and Manchester United goalkeeper and now CEO of his beloved Ajax, says something has to be done about the European loan system which, he says, is stifling the first-team development of the brightest young talent.
By Mark Baber
September 7 – The Head of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, has slammed claims that the Iran-Syria game was fixed. Analysis of the game highlights confirms the Iranians made a determined effort to win.
September 7 – Ten months after South Africa beat Senegal in a World Cup qualifier, FIFA has taken the unusual step of ordering the match to be replayed after the official who refereed the game was banned for life.
By Paul Nicholson
September 6 – Olympiacos president Evangelos Marinakis, speaking at the Athens conference ‘Reinforcing, Crossing, and Transcending Borders: Soccer in a Globalized World’ sent a message to the world’s leading clubs saying “it is vital that they now accept their social responsibility towards their communities, and the world, by means of promoting specific actions and initiatives that can change the lives of everyday people.”
By Andrew Warshaw at Soccerex, Manchester
September 5 – The UEFA official in charge of anti-doping procedures has played down alarming figures provided by the notorious Fancy Bears hacking group by insisting professional footballers are clean.
September 4 – German coach Joachim Low and his players have denounced a hardcore section of fans for their disgraceful pro-Nazi chanting during Friday night’s World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic.
September 4 – Today Olympiacos FC is hosting a conference in partnership with Harvard University promoting football’s social responsibility, particularly in relation to refugees and other vulnerable groups. The Greek giants aren’t the only club in the country who believe that football has a social duty and ability to be a great equalizer.