Past has a future. FIFA re-jigs Museum project to keep doors open
May 30 – FIFA is keeping faith with its much-troubled world football museum in Zurich despite a swathe of redundancies at the loss-making venue.
FIFA
France show class as England build and Argentina crash in South Korea U20 finals
By Samindra Kunti
May 30 – Six-time champions Argentina suffered a shock group stage exit from the U20 World Cup in South Korea. Favourites France marched undefeated into the round of 16, with both Venezuela and Zambia impressing in the group games.
‘Minor figure’ Takkas changes plea to guilty over transfer of Webb’s bribe money
By Andrew Warshaw
May 25 – Costas Takkas, close associate of disgraced ex-CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb and like Webb one of the original ‘Zurich Seven’ arrested two years ago in that infamous hotel swoop that plunged FIFA into unprecedented crisis, has changed his plea to guilty to money laundering conspiracy as his trial gets closer.
Middle East: UEFA insist Council decision kept Israeli West Bank ultimatum off FIFA agenda
By Andrew Warshaw
May 24 – In the latest twist to one of the most contentious issues at the FIFA Congress earlier this month, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is reported to have played a crucial role in thwarting a Palestinian vote against Israel. Sources close to Ceferin insisted to Insideworldfootball he did not influence the decision on Palestine and that it was a unanimous agreement among Council members not to allow a vote as there were not adequate enough reports for a decision to be taken at that time.
Sorokin looks set for FIFA Council to fill seat left by Mutko
May 23 – Alexey Sorokin, the public face of next year’s World Cup in Russia, seems almost certain to be nominated for a place on the FIFA Council in place of the barred Vitaly Mutko in order to ensure his country retains a powerful voice at FIFA’s top table.
Morocco remain in the frame for 2026 World Cup bid, perhaps jointly with Ivory Coast
By Andrew Warshaw
May 21 – Morocco has not ruled out bidding for the 2026 World Cup with a fellow African nation – or two – now that it has been made clear that Europe will not be allowed to bid.
Venezuela and England headline U20 World Cup kick off with early wins
By Samindra Kunti
May 21 – Venezuela won the opening match at the FIFA U20 World Cup in South Korea with a 2-0 victory over Germany. England got their campaign underway with a 3-0 win against Argentina.
OFC chief Chung underfire in PNG as rivals claim he rigged election and form new FA
By Paul Nicholson
May 19 – David Chung, president of the Oceania Football Confederation as well as the Papua New Guinea FA, is facing a revolution in his home country where a rival faction has established its own federation, is playing its own matches and has more members than the FIFA-recognised federation Chung leads.
China eye World Cup bid but non-committal on whether 2030 or 2034
May 19 – Zhang Jian, China’s newly elected FIFA council member, says a World Cup bid from his country will come “sooner or later” but has declined to specify when.
South Korea set for U-20 World Cup kick off with France and Uruguay favourites
By Samindra Kunti
May 19 – This Saturday the FIFA U20 World Cup kicks off with Germany and Venezuela playing the opening match in Daejeon, South Korea, thought the tournament favourites are a two other teams from Europe and South America – France and Uruguay.
FIFA to roll out video refs at U20 World Cup in South Korea
May 19 – The Under-20 World Cup, which runs from this Saturday to June 11 in six South Korean cities, will be the first FIFA youth tournament to employ video assistant referees but the world governing body’s head of refereeing has cautioned against its over-use.
Two more FIFA Ethics bigwigs quit in protest over Maduro firing
By Andrew Warshaw
May 18 – Two more highly respected members of FIFA’s governance committee have resigned in protest at the removal the body’s chairman, Miguel Maduro, axed in last week’s purge of senior ethics watchdogs.
Eckert bemoans ‘lack of respect’, end of independence, and points out Greece is in Europe
By Andrew Warshaw
May 15 – Germany’s jettisoned FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert has spoken of his personal hurt at being targeted in Gianni Infantino’s purge of senior judicial personnel.
FIFA beware, Michael Garcia may be back, and this time with real FBI teeth
By Paul Nicholson
May 15 – Timing is everything in football and there would have been a few ironic smiles at the weekend when it was announced in the US that Judge Michael J. Garcia of the New York Court of Appeals was one of four candidates being interviewed for the role of FBI Director to replace the ousted James Comey.
FIFA’s clean up turns dirty. Samoura pays for home cleaning from FIFA’s funds
By Paul Nicholson
May 13 – FIFA secretary general, Fatma Samoura, in the job for barely a year, has been caught paying over CHF28,000 to a cleaning company for the servicing of her own private living quarters.