March 24 – The World Football Forum 2017 held their official launch in Changsha, China yesterday. Their timing could not have been better as later in the day at the Changsha stadium, the Chinese national team stunned Asia with a 1-0 win over South Korea in World Cup qualifying – the first time the Chinese have beaten the South Koreans in more than 40 years.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 23 – The new leader of African football held a senior political role at the time he was elected last week, throwing into question whether FIFA should have allowed him to stand against Issa Hayatou.
March 16 – The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) is developing a mobile app for athletes that will alert them to any potential doping issues in medication they are taking.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 14 – Several months after upholding a six-year ban on Sepp Blatter, bringing an inglorious end to the colourful and controversial career of the former FIFA president, the Court of Arbitration has rubbed salt in his wounds with an unwanted belated 81st birthday present.
March 13 – The EU Sport Forum in Malta last week was another opportunity for the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) to drive forward its programme of sports governance and integrity recommendations for sport, as well as increase its own credentials as an independent coalition of sports organisation.
March 13 – Concerns that football’s worst ever corruption crisis may no longer be a priority under the Trump administration have been heightened by the resignation of Robert L Capers, among 46 United States Attorneys who have stepped down on the orders of new Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
March 10 – FIFA have welcomed the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to uphold a recruitment ban on Belgian club RFC Seraing during four transfer windows imposed back in September 2015 for breaches relating to third party ownership.
March 7 – The English Football Association has agreed a set of reform proposals which chairman Greg Clarke believes represent a “once-in-a-lifetime” chance to change how the national game is run.
March 7 – The former president of El Salvador’s football federation (FESFUT), who is wanted in the United States for alleged corruption, has been sentenced to eight years in jail for labour fraud.
March 2 – World players’ union FIFPro is advising foreign players against joining two of the 12 clubs in Malta’s Premier League after evidence emerged of poor treatment, including youngsters from Nigeria and the United States.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 2 – Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the FIFA-appointed official who led the inspection team that evaluated the credentials of all 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding candidates, is going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a last-ditch attempt to clear his name and overturn a three-year ban for seeking unpaid intern work in Qatar for relatives.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 1 – Amos Adamu (pictured), one of Africa’s most notorious footballing figures, has been banned for a second time by FIFA’s Ethics Committee for unethical conduct, almost certainly bringing the curtain down on a career that has long been shrouded in controversy.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Jerome Valcke (pictured), former number two to Sepp Blatter who spectacularly fell from grace after spending years as the organisation’s go-to troubleshooter, is taking his 10-year ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
February 23 – A total of 53 footballers in Britain have been reported over potential breaches of betting rules according to the BBC.
February 22 – It was the biggest night in tiny Sutton United’s history: a fifth-round FA cup tie against 12-time winners Arsenal – four divisions higher – with the eyes of the world on the most romantic fixture in this season’s competition.