Mbappé vs Messi again as FIFA announce final list of nominees for Best awards
February 14 – Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi are going head-to-head again in a FIFA competition, this time it is for the 2022 Best Player of the Year Award.
FIFA
Real Madrid win 5th CWC in goalfest final in Morocco
By Samindra Kunti in Rabat
February 11 – Spearheaded by Vinicius Junior and Frederico Valverde, Real Madrid defeated the Asian champions 5-3 to win a record fifth Club World Cup crown and reconfirm European dominance of the competition.
Flamengo fans threaten legal action against FIFA after last-minute CWC venue switch
By Samindra Kunti
February 10 – Incensed by FIFA’s last-minute shift of the Club World Cup third place play-off to Tangier from Rabat, Flamengo fans want to sue the world federation because of the extra costs they now face.
FIFA transfer ‘snapshot’ confirms record spending and all-time high in number of deals
February 10 – The January 2023 transfer window saw a record-breaking 4,728 transfers made across men’s and women’s football. 4,378 of the transfers were completed in men’s football.
US star Morgan adds to criticism of proposed Visit Saudi sponsorship of WWC 2023
February 9 – Two-time World Cup winner Alex Morgan is the latest figure to speak out against the proposed Saudi sponsorship of this summer’s tournament, urging FIFA to scrap the plan.
Real Madrid brush off Al Ahly to set up Club World Cup final against Al Hilal
February 9 – A depleted Real Madrid still breezed past African champions Al Ahly 4-1 to set up a Club World Cup final against Saudi club Al Hilal on Saturday in Morocco.
Saudi’s Al Hilal shock Brazil’s Flamengo to qualify for Club World Cup final
February 8 – In one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal stunned 10-man Flamengo to reach the Club World Cup final with a 3-2 victory over South America’s Copa Libertadores champions on Tuesday.
FIFAgate trial of former Fox execs stalled after Judge Chen tests positive for covid
By Samindra Kunti in New York
February 7 – The latest FIFA trial in Brooklyn has been paused after federal judge Pamela Chen reportedly tested positive for Covid-19.
Real Madrid face Al Ahly, Flamengo meet Al Hilal in Club World Cup semis
February 5 – Al Ahly and Al Hilal have completed the lineup of the Club World Cup semi-finals where the African champions will play Real Madrid and the Asian champions Flamengo of Brazil.
FIFA revises Disciplinary and Ethics codes with a focus on sexual abuse and match-fixing
February 3 – FIFA has beefed up its integrity regulations with new editions of its Disciplinary Code and Code of Ethics. Although the new rules were passed by the FIFA Council on December 20, they only came into force on February 1.
FIFA under fire over proposed Saudi state tourist board sponsorship of WWC 2023
February 2 – On the same day that Saudi Arabia were confirmed as hosts of the 2027 Asian Cup, the Arab Kingdom faced criticism over rumours of the country’s tourism body’s sponsorship of the 2023 Women’s World Cup by human rights groups, who called it “a textbook case of sportswashing”.
Kiwi’s argue proposed Visit Saudi WWC 2023 sponsorship sends ‘disempowering’ message
February 2 – Former New Zealand international Maia Jackman has added her voice to the mounting discontent over the proposed Saudi sponsorship of the Women’s World Cup.
Club World Cup kicks off in Morocco with Al Ahly vs Auckland City
February 1 – African powerhouse Al Ahly of Egypt and OFC champions Auckland City will today kick off the 2022 Club World Cup, with Real Madrid, the European representative, once again the big favourites to win the competition.
FIFA finds that some things old are worth respecting, as Museum boasts record visitors
January 26 – FIFA is reporting almost 400,000 visitors from more than 135 different countries visited its museum in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2022and internationally.
Man Utd top league of big spenders as transfers hit record numbers in 2022
January 26 – FIFA’s new Global Transfer Report “with all-time record-setting” numbers has unsurprisingly revealed the dominance and power of the English top flight in the market. The 2022 outlay on player transfers stood at $6.5 billion, still below the pre-covid 2019 record of $7.35 billion.