English FA to raise concussion issues with FIFA medics
April 11 – The English Football Association wants FIFA to investigate whether there are definitive long-term health hazards from too much heading of the ball.
FIFA
Guest column: ‘Plan U’ – Destroy FIFA, an excuse called Panama Papers
When Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung received a message in spring 2015 that it would be receiving access to – as they say – some 11 million documents hacked out of Panamanian Law Firm Mossack Fonseca, the excitement was tremendous. One of Germany’s leading dailies was an odd target for whoever stole the documents from the large law firm in Panama, a solid US protectorate. The apparent logic was quickly established, considering that Mossack is a German national who chose to seek greener pastures in a land whose president had been kidnapped by the USA,
FIFA opens case into agent Trujillo after he pleads guilty in NY
April 7 – Colombian match agent Miguel Trujillo is the latest official to have formal proceedings opened against him by FIFA’s ethics watchdog after pleading guilty last month in the United States to four counts of wrongdoing, including conspiracy to commit money-laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Damiani quits FIFA ethics role but denies personally dealing with Figueredo
By Andrew Warshaw
April 7 – A member of the FIFA body responsible for rooting out corruption has himself resigned after being placed under investigation over his offshore business dealings exposed in the Panama Papers tax haven leak, heaping damage on the accountability and credibility at the heart of football’s world governing just when it is trying to restore its battered reputation.
South American TV deal drags Infantino into the FIFA corruption scandal
By Andrew Warshaw
April 6 – New FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who came into office just six weeks ago vowing to clean up the discredited organisation, has himself been drawn into the corruption scandal that has brought down a raft of high-profile powerbrokers.
FIFA give Greece 10-day deadline to shape up or ship out
By Andrew Warshaw
April 6 – Greece has been given a 10-day ultimatum by FIFA to stop government interference in its footballing affairs but the threat of a worldwide ban from international competition still hangs over the country.
Bidders line up to host 2020 Futsal World Cup
By Paul Nicholson
April 5 – FIFA have said that 13 member associations from five confederations have expressed an interest in hosting the 2020 Futsal World Cup. The eighth edition of the championship takes place in Colombia, September 10 to October 1 this year.
Platini’s Panama account is legit and was declared to Swiss investigators, says lawyer
April 5 – Banned UEFA President Michel Platini’s Panamanian bank account was declared to the authorities in Switzerland, where he lives, his lawyer insisted in an interview published by French newspaper Le Figaro.
FIFA ethics’ Damiani, Platini, Valcke and Messi all named in Panama Papers
By Andrew Warshaw
March 4 – FIFA is facing fresh crisis right at the heart of the body responsible for rooting out corruption after ethics committee member Juan Pedro Damiani was himself placed under investigation after being caught up in an explosive tax haven scandal dubbed the Panama Papers, one of the biggest leaks of a confidential database ever recorded.
Grexit nears as no deal is found after talks with FIFA and UEFA negotiators
By Andrew Warshaw
March 31 – Greek football’s potentially fatal collision course with FIFA and UEFA has seemingly moved a step closer after the parties failed to resolve their difference over what has been dubbed ‘Grexit’ by the Greek media.
Infantino puts 40-team World Cup on agenda, targeting 2026 finals
March 30 – Gianni Infantino says his plan to expand the World Cup finals to 40 teams could begin in 2026.
FIFA cracks down on TPO with fines for Sevilla, Santos and FC Twente
By Andrew Warshaw
March 30 – FIFA have stepped up the battle against third-party ownership by sanctioning four clubs, including Europa League champions Sevilla, for breaching rules over players’ economic rights.
Infantino promises aid for CONMEBOL and 2030 World Cup bid encouragement
By Andrew Warshaw
March 28 – Gianni Infantino is quickly learning the importance as FIFA president of saying the right things at the right time depending on where he is. Currently on a trip to South America, Infantino gave tentative backing to a joint World Cup bid by Argentina and Uruguay to commemorate the centenary tournament in 2030.
Former Honduran president Callejas admits football bribery charges
March 29 – Like Jeffrey Webb before him, Rafael Callejas, former President of Honduras, has changed his plea to guilty over widespread corruption charges in the ongoing scandal centred around football in the US and Americas.
Danish win as video gamers battle for FIFA Interactive World Cup title in New York
March 24 – Any Americans still smarting from the loss of the 2022 World Cup hosting to Qatar can take solace in the fact that they are still in the international football picture after having hosted the finals of the FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) in New York.
The 2016 Grand Final, the twelfth edition of the tournament, was played out for the first time in New York City at the Apollo Theater .