Forget Brexit and hard borders, British politicians would embrace FAI in a joint 2030 bid
October 1 – The British government says it would provide the necessary financial guarantees for a joint UK-Ireland 2030 FIFA World Cup bid.
FIFA
FIFA attacks big club ‘warehousing’ of talent with 6 player loan limit proposal
September 26 – Watch out the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Juventus because FIFA have announced ground-breaking plans to limit the number of players a club can loan out each season to prevent top talent being hoarded.
Valcke hammered by CAS but how far does this ruling really scratch FIFA’s grimy surface?
By Andrew Warshaw and Paul Nicholson
September 25 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued a stunning indictment of the conduct of former FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke in issuing its full written reasons for dismissing his appeal against a 10-year ban from football and a CHF100,000 fine.
Messi and Ronaldo stay home on night of FIFA stars as Modric and Marta put on their Best
By Andrew Warshaw
September 25 – Luka Modric, who captained Croatia to the World Cup final, was crowned world footballer of the year at FIFA’s glittering best awards gala in London on Monday but there were more than a few anomalies and controversies at the lavish, star-studded globally televised ceremony.
FIFA tech conference: Infantino had VAR doubts; Americas and Asia need to step up
September 24 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has admitted for the first time that he had his doubts about the use of video assistant referees at the World Cup but insisted the system was now here to stay.
Island dreams: Corsica to bid for FIFA status looks marooned
September 24 – Corsica wants to become the latest country to join FIFA citing the case of Gibraltar as evidence that it has a right to become an independent footballing nation.
FIFA Ethics issues three life bans but questions raised over right to issue fines
By Paul Nicholson
September 20 – FIFA’s ethics committee has imposed life bans on three individuals who pleaded guilty in the FifaGate corruption scandal. FIFA has also slapped $1.03 million fines on each of them, though their claim of jurisdiction for the fines looks to be on shaky ground and incomplete (if not fabricated) information.
France 2019 Women’s World Cup ticketing launched with 3-match €25 special offer
September 20 – Ticketing for the 2019 Women’s World Cup France was launched in Paris yesterday at the Montparnasse Tower. The 24-team championship, in its eighth edition, will be played from June 7 to July 7.
FIFA report shows small but developing global women’s transfer market
September 19 – FIFA has produced a Women’s Transfer report for the first time, tracking professional female player movement using data from its ITMS (international transfer match system) for the first time.
Summer transfer spend hits $5.44bn with Big 5 Euro leagues accounting for $4.21bn
September 14 – FIFA has completed an analysis of Big 5 league transfers in the summer 2018 window using its International Transfer Matching System (ITMS) which recorded another new record level of global transfer spending at $5.44 billion.
FIFA set to clamp down on big club player loan deals
By Andrew Warshaw
September 13 – FIFA are to put a stop to elite clubs sending unlimited numbers of players out on loan, according to reports from Germany.
World XI shortlist omits France’s World Cup captain Lloris but includes Buffon
September 11 – Legendary Italian Gianluigi Buffon is shortlisted for the goalkeeping award in the 2018 FIFPro World XI despite being second choice at Paris Saint-Germain with France’s World Cup winning captain Hugo Lloris surprisingly missing out.
FIFA lengthens Nyantakyi’s ban as investigation continues
September 6 – FIFA has extended its ban from all football activities on Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi, the second most powerful official in African football, by an additional 45 days.
Griezmann grizzles at being left off FIFA’s Best shortlist, after all, he did win a World Cup
September 6 – French star Antoine Griezmann insists he deserves to be on the podium for this year’s FIFA best player awards after winning the World Cup for France and the Europa League for Atletico Madrid.
Modric aims for double of UEFA and FIFA player of the year awards; Ronaldo to be 2nd again?
By Andrew Warshaw
September 4 – Having recently been named UEFA’s player of the year, prompting some adverse comments by Cristiano Ronaldo’s entourage, Luka Modric has been backed to end the long dominance of Ronaldo and Lionel Messi when it comes to the equivalent FIFA prize that will be announced later this month at a star-studded ceremony in London.