FIFA opens new Qatar 2022 ticket window on first-come, first-served basis
March 23 – FIFA has opened up another ticket buying window for the Qatar 2022 World Cup ahead of the Final Draw next week.
FIFA
FIFA earmarks $1m of relief for Ukraine humanitarian crisis
March 21 – FIFA has sent medical supplies to the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) and allocated $1 million to the FIFA Foundation for humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
Fifa-gate felon Del Nero loses appeal in Swiss court to overturn 20-year ban
March 15 – Disgraced former Brazilian powerbroker Marco Polo del Nero has lost his final appeal, this time at Switzerland’s highest court, in his attempt to try and overturn a 20-year FIFA ban for taking bribes worth millions of dollars.
Migrant worker issues in focus as FIFA meet Amnesty to discuss Qatar 2022 progress
March 14 – FIFA are back in discussion with Amnesty International over the conditions for migrant workers in Qatar in connection with the World Cup. This time the discussion is not focussed on construction workers by on those in the service and hospitality sector.
Al-Khelaifi lawyers claim slander and ask how record $450m World Cup TV deal needs a bribe
By Andrew Warshaw
March 10 – Lawyers for Nasser Al-Khelaifi (pictured), the Qatari head of broadcaster beIN Sport and boss of Paris St Germain, have demanded a full acquittal of their client over bribery allegations relating to the sale of media rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cup.
From Sardinian villa to Swiss prison cell: prosecutor demands long stretches for Al-Khelaifi and Valcke
March 9 – Switzerland’s public prosecutor has called for hefty prison sentences for Paris Saint-Germain and beIN Sport boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi and FIFA’s former number two Jerome Valcke (pictured) over alleged bribery relating to a World Cup TV rights deal.
FIFA allow foreign players to leave Russia and its clubs, but not terminate contracts
March 8 – Foreign players based in Russia are being allowed to leave their clubs for the rest of the season without being punished.
Russians demand fast-track ban appeal at CAS and ‘compensation for damage’
March 4 – The Russian Football Union has confirmed it is going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to appeal against its ban from international competitions imposed by FIFA and UEFA as punishment for the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia consider appealing FIFA ban at CAS
By Andrew Warshaw
March 1 – The blanket ban on Russia in FIFA and UEFA competitions may not end there, with reports emerging that the Russian Football Union may take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
World football forces FIFA into u-turn and a total ban on Russian teams
By Paul Nicholson
February 28 – Less than 24 hours after announcing a set of ‘soft’ sanctions against the Russian national team and the country’s clubs, FIFA and UEFA have bowed to overwhelming pressure from the football community, fans and media and suspended all teams from the country from participation in their competitions “until further notice”.
FIFA keep Russia’s door to Qatar 2022 open, but Poles, Czechs and Swedes say sanctions are not enough
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – FIFA is refusing to kick Russia out of the World Cup despite finally imposing a string of sanctions in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Infantino sits on fence over his old pal Putin
February 25 – Choosing his words carefully, FIFA president Gianni Infantino failed to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, instead saying his organisation was “very worried” about the escalating crisis.
Poles, Swedes and Czechs tell FIFA they will not play Qatar 2022 qualifiers in Russia
February 24 – The national associations of Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic have issued a joint statement refusing to play any World Cup playoffs in Russia in response to the military assault on Ukraine.
FIFA cracks down on political influence and suspends Zimbabwe and Kenya
February 25 – FIFA have suspended Zimbabwe and Kenya from all international competition as a result of government interference in the running of their affairs.
FIFA to propose 26-man squads and 5 subs rule for Qatar 2022
February 18 – FIFA is reported to be considering increasing the number of players in World Cup squads from 23 to 26 because of the effects of Covid-19 pandemic.