FIFA auditor KPMG puts Swiss office under the microscope
September 21 – The global auditing firm KPMG has launched an internal review of its Swiss subsidiary that is responsible for the audit of FIFA according to the Swiss media.
FIFA
FIFA stands Valcke down over allegations of World Cup ticket fraud
By Andrew Warshaw
September 18 – Just when you thought the corruption scandal enveloping FIFA could not get any deeper, Jerome Valcke, Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man, was dramatically relieved of his duties today, hours after he was the subject of allegations over a scheme to sell 2014 World Cup tickets above face value.
FIFAgate: Swiss agree to release Figueredo for extradition to US
By Andrew Warshaw
September 17 – Eugenio Figueredo (pictured), one of the seven high-profile figures arrested in Zurich at the end of May accused of receiving bribes worth millions of dollars, could soon be on his way to face trial in the United States after Swiss authorities ruled he can be extradited.
South Asians to follow AFC ‘directive’ and vote for Platini
September 17 – The general secretary of the seven-strong South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), says his members will all tow the party line and vote for Michel Platini in next February’s FIFA presidential election.
‘Platini: Skeletons…’ scribe written out of FIFA script
By Andrew Warshaw
September 17 – The FIFA staffer who penned a 1,400-word document questioning Michel Platini’s credentials for taking over from Sepp Blatter has quit the organisation.
FIFA election: English FA drop Prince Ali in favour Platini’s ‘agenda’
By Andrew Warshaw
September 16 – The English FA has re-iterated that it will support Michel Platini in next year’s FIFA presidential election – even though it nominated Prince Ali bin al-Hussein last time.
Caribbean World Cup rights whip up new storm of denials, and accusations
By Andrew Warshaw
September 16 – The saga of World Cup broadcast rights sold to the Caribbean for the 2010 and 2014 tournaments has taken another twist with FIFA saying it never received its share of any of the TV or ad sales revenue it was due under the agreement.
FIFA-gate: Lynch promises more arrests as US widens investigation
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
September 14 – Declaring that “no individual is above the law”, the US prosecutor whose revelations brought FIFA to its knees and led in part to Sepp Blatter’s decision to step down as president, says more criminal charges are expected to be brought and more arrests made.
Pieth says Blatter should be interviewed over TV rights sale to Warner
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
September 14 – As the world’s media descended on Zurich for the eagerly awaited latest developments in the US and Swiss investigations into alleged widespread malpractise surrounding FIFA, the organisation’s former anti-corruption advisor said Sepp Blatter himself should be questioned over the sale of television rights to disgraced former CONCACAF boss Jack Warner.
Caribbean World Cup TV rights for 2010 and 2014 raise more Warner questions
By Andrew Warshaw
September 14 – As US and Swiss prosecutors prepared to hold an eagerly awaited press conference to update the world’s media on their separate investigations into corruption surrounding FIFA, outgoing president Sepp Blatter found himself unwittingly drawn into the whole murky saga.
Prince Ali back on campaign trail promises ‘virtue’, service and a plan for FIFA
By Andrew Warshaw
September 11 – No sooner had he announced in his native Jordan that he was having a second crack at the FIFA presidency than Prince Ali bin al-Hussein flew into London for his first post-declaration function and urged FIFA members to vote with their hearts next time and not give in to the fear factor.
Chung back on attack, accusing FIFA of covering up electoral fraud
By Andrew Warshaw
September 11 – FIFA presidential candidate Chung Mong-joon is back on the offensive over his claim that his own Asian confederation is guilty of “electoral fraud” in the race to succeed Sepp Blatter, this time all but accusing FIFA, which has refused to support his allegations, of a cover-up.
Scala unveils FIFA reform proposals in 8-point plan
By Andrew Warshaw and Paul Nicholson
September 10 – The man charged with overseeing FIFA’s reform process has released details of a thorough and radical blueprint designed to overhaul the organisation’s powers of responsibility and bring an end to the atmosphere of mistrust and the stench of corruption that has plagued world football’s governing body.
Scala says FIFA is at a ‘watershed’ in reform process
By Andrew Warshaw
September 10 – FIFA is at a “watershed” moment when it comes to the credibility of the organisation according to Domenico Scala, the official overseeing the reform process whose comprehensive eight-point plan for widespread change in the post-Sepp Blatter era was made public today.
It’s official, Prince Ali joins FIFA race ‘to finish what we started’
By Andrew Warshaw
September 9 – Little over three months after being defeated by Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, the young reformer who won’t give in, put himself back in the firing line today as he officially announced he will stand again next February saying he wanted to finish where he left off.