By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – As FIFA’s executive committee prepares to meet in emergency session to consider the fallout from Sepp Blatter’s 90-day suspension, its Australian member Moya Dodd says cleaning up the organisation after the worst corruption crisis in sporting history is far more important than whoever takes over as president.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – For the first time since being sensationally suspended by FIFA’s ethics committee, beleaguered UEFA president Michel Platini has gone public by admitting he had no written contract over the infamous SFr2 million payment he received from FIFA in 2011 but has issued a staunch defence of his reputation and conduct.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – Franz Beckenbauer and Wolfgang Niersbach, the two men at the centre of the explosive cash for votes allegations over the 2006 World Cup, have both vehemently denied any wrongdoing as FIFA admitted it was examining the claims made by Der Spiegel.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 16 – Sepp Blatter has admitted that the SFr2 million franc payment made to Michel Platini which led to them both being suspended by FIFA’s ethics committee was “a gentleman’s agreement”.
October 16 – Concerns over yet another possible FIFA cash-for-votes scandal have been dismissed by the German Football Association (DFB) which says it has found no indication of wrongdoing in the bid process for the 2006 World Cup which it hosted.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 16 – The FIFA presidential race has taken another decisive twist with Asian football chief Sheik Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa staging a u-turn to stand to take over from Sepp Blatter in February. The Bahraini had originally given his backing to Michel Platini but has taken a timely strategic gamble to run himself following Platini’s suspension and the likelihood that Europe will have no other credible candidate who Asia could get behind.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 15 – With precision strategic timing, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein has formally submitted his candidature to take over from Sepp Blatter as FIFA president – 11 days before the deadline for nominations.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 14 – With potentially everything to lose if the FIFA presidential election is delayed, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan has seized the initiative by calling for the vote to take place as scheduled on February 26.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 13 – No candidates from outside football will be eligible under current regulations to become the next FIFA president despite growing calls, including from International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, for an external contender to be put in place to herald a fresh start after the worst corruption crisis in sporting history.
By Mihir Bose
October 13 – Sepp Blatter’s payment to Michel Platini of £1.35 million for alleged work for FIFA which is being investigated by the Swiss authorities was never declared to the executive committees of either FIFA or UEFA.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 12 – Former executive committee member Worawi Makudi has become the latest victim of FIFA’s anti-corruption crackdown after being suspended for 90 days by the ethics committee pending a full investigation.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 12 – Claims that Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini did not get a fair hearing when provisionally suspended last week have been totally rejected amid growing speculation that they could both end up being thrown out of world football for years rather than months.
October 12 – Sepp Blatter may not be able to take part in any footballing matters while under suspension by FIFA’s ethics committee but he says he is proud of his achievements, according to a Swiss newspaper.
October 9 – Another of the seven FIFA executives arrested at their hotels in Zurich on May 27 has had US extradition requests approved by the Swiss Federal Office of Justice.
FIFABy David Owen
October 9 – The most powerful administrator in world sport has added his voice to the mounting clamour for far-reaching reform at FIFA.