FIFA makes Aussie bans on English match-fixers a global sanction
March 19 – Two English players have had life bans extended worldwide by FIFA for fixing matches in Australia’s second-tier Victorian Premier League.
FIFA
Warner still casting a long shadow as Qatari cash linked to his accounts
By Andrew Warshaw
March 18 – Qatar’s winning 2022 World Cup bid has been plunged into renewed controversy – just when FIFA are about to be given an update about the treatment of migrant workers employed on its stadium projects.
AFC President to get automatic place on FIFA Executive Committee
By David Owen
March 17 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is considering electoral reforms that would see the next elected President secure an automatic place on FIFA’s Executive Committee.
Blatter pours cold water on flares and firecrackers
By Andrew Warshaw
March 14 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants clubs to crack down harder on flares and firecrackers in stadiums, describing those who let them off as “arsonists”and “pyromaniacs”.
FIFA opens up bidding for 8 of its its World Cup competitions
March 10 – FIFA has called for expressions of interest in hosting eights of its competitions including the Women’s World Club and four editions of the FIFA Club World Cup.
FIFA meets FIFPro as it gathers human rights info for Exco report
By Andrew Warshaw
March 6 – The human rights issue in Qatar is back in the spotlight following the latest summit hosted by FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Theo Zwanziger, the executive committee member mandated with maintaining the pressure on the 2022 World Cup hosts to reform their employment system and comply with international labour standards.
Blatter positive that 100 days is enough to finish the preparation
March 5 – Despite the myriad of problems facing the Brazil World Cup, FIFA President Sepp Blatter used this week’s 100-day countdown for the start of the tournament to try and accentuate the positive.
IFAB extends rules to allow religious headwear for men and women
March 3 – Football’s rule-making body has given the green light for both male and female players to wear head coverings for religious reasons during games.
IFAB cautious on triple punishment, cold on sinbins and kills video replays
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
March 2 – Those who favour scrapping the so-called triple punishment rule were left disappointed today when football’s lawmakers opted to retain the status quo even though referees badly need some kind of guidance in applying this most controversial of regulations.
Triple punishment and sinbins on IFAB rule-makers’ agenda in Zurich
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Two recent controversial Champions League dismissals have refocused attention on the so-called triple punishment – penalty , sending off and subsequent – that continues to cause so much consternation throughout the game. The rule, which has been hotly debated with referees applying different interpretations as to what constitutes a goal-scoring opportunity, comes up for discussion once again at the annual International FA Board meeting in Zurich on Saturday.
Blatter set to run for fifth term as FIFA President
By Paul Nicholson
February 27 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter looks increasingly certain to run for another term as president of FIFA. Speaking to Swiss Walliser Bote – a daily that appears in Blatter’s home canton of Valais – he confirmed that he will run for President again in 2015 “if the FIFA Congress so decides”.
FIFA extends English and Slovakian player bans worldwide
February 25 – FIFA has extended the bans worldwide to one English and two Slovakian players following allegations of match-fixing. The sanctions are an enforcement of penalties that have already been issued by their national federations.
Champagne outlines manifesto for ‘updating’ transfer rules
By Andrew Warshaw
February 21- FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne has fired his first thematic salvo in his unlikely bid to take over from Sepp Blatter by focussing on the need to reform the current transfer system.
Budweiser breaks with tradition as it launches 2014 World Cup promotion
February 21 – FIFA sponsor Budweiser has launched its 2014 World Cup marketing campaign, Rise As One, aimed at celebrating the moments that unite and captivate fans and nations. The official beer sponsor’s global ad campaign will run on TV and outdoor in the run-up to the summer tournament and launches March 5.with a series of online teasers with a full launch being March 24.
FIFA fines Zambians for breaking player transfer rules
February 20 – Zambia’s football association has been fined SFr50,000 ($56,000) by FIFA for breaching international transfer rules in the latest effort by football’s world governing body to crack down on the irregular movement of players.