By Andrew Warshaw in Manama, Bahrain
May 11- Football’s long-running Middle East impasse erupted into chaos and confusion today as FIFA decided once again to delay a ruling on Israeli clubs playing in the occupied territories.
May 11 – FIFA’s Congress ratified the decision of the FIFA Council to open up the bidding for the 2026 World Cup and give member associations from CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and the OFC time to express their interest in hosting the tournament. The deadline for submissions is August 17.
By Andrew Warshaw in Manama, Bahrain
May 11 – The Greek official controversially selected by FIFA to become the new lead judge of its ethics committee was nominated by UEFA in the latest twist to the biggest story to emerge in the build-up to Thursday’s 211-member Congress.
By Andrew Warshaw in Manama, Bahrain
May 10 – Whatever spin Gianni Infantino puts on it – and he has promised to give his side of the story at the end of tomorrow’s full Congress – FIFA’s ousted ethics chiefs insist they were given no notice whatsoever of the decision to remove them from office and that the lack of a transition period will set FIFA’s much-touted reform process back several years.
By Andrew Warshaw in Manama, Bahrain
May 10 – FIFA’s entire governance apparatus – or lack of it – has come crashing down after the two men mainly responsible for cleaning up the organisation were ousted from their positions today in what will be regarded by many as the ultimate purge orchestrated by Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
By Andrew Warshaw in Manama, Bahrain
May 10 – FIFA have decided to leave open the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup until August, rejecting an attempt by the United States, Canada and Mexico to fast-track their plans.
By Andrew Warshaw, Manama, Bahrain
May 9 – Last-ditch talks aimed at resolving football’s Israeli-Palestinian impasse broke up amid bitterness and acrimony today, a crushing blow for FIFA and its chief Middle East negotiator Tokyo Sexwale, at the end of his mandate.
By Andrew Warshaw in Manama, Bahrain
May 9 – FIFA’s two top officials waded into the Sulley Muntari racism affair today expressing their solidarity with the player but stopping short of a strong condemnation of the under-fire Italian authorities for their initially insensitive approach.
By Paul Nicholson in Manama, Bahrain
May 8 – The heat on the Palestine-Israel dispute was turned up a notch today prior to FIFA’s Congress on Thursday with Asian Football Confederation president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa telling the AFC Congress in his opening remarks that the AFC stood united with Palestine and urged “FIFA to come up with the best solution as soon as possible”.
By Samindra Kunti
May 8 – Brazil were crowned Beach Soccer World Cup champions for a record fifth time after a 6-0 victory over Tahiti in the final in Nassau, Bahamas. Tahiti finish runners-up for second consecutive time.
May 8 – Lionel Messi is free to represent Argentina in their World Cup qualifiers after his four-match international ban was controversially overturned following an appeal by his federation.
By Andrew Warshaw
May 5 – The pressure on FIFA to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian impasse at next week’s Congress is being racked up – with factions supporting both sides calling for an end to the festering dispute.
May 5 – Nations from four different confederations will compete in the semi-finals of the Beach Soccer World Cup in the Bahamas on Saturday. A pulsating round of quarter-finals saw last gasp wins for Iran and Brazil, while Tahiti flew the flag vigorously for the world’s smallest nations and Italy put on the style for the bigger ones.
By Paul Nicholson
May 4 – The former senior FIFA development officer for Africa challenging for a CAF place on the FIFA Council has hit a roadblock with forces at FIFA and CAF hunting for loopholes in the rules to prevent him standing.
By Andrew Warshaw
May 4 – FIFA’s recently established 37-member ruling Council looks set to have its decision making significantly weakened under controversial proposed changes that are only now seeing the light of day.