IFAB rules out 25 min halftime, but 5 subs rolls on
November 26 – Football’s lawmakers have rejected a proposal to increase halftime breaks to 25 minutes to provide the kind of entertainment that exists in US sports.
FIFA
FIFA set Club World Cup 2021 draw for next week, competition dates to come
November 25 – With Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal becoming the sixth team qualified for the Club World Cup UAE 2021 and Conmebol’s representative to be decided by the Copa Libertadores final this weekend, FIFA have announced the draw will take place in Zurich on Monday, 29 November 2021.
FIFA’s biennial World Cup would cost wider world game €8bn in lost revenue, finds report
November 24 – FIFA’s biennial World Cup revolution could cost domestic leagues and European governing body UEFA around €8 billion per season in lost TV rights and commercial revenues, according to a report commissioned by the leagues from KPMG and FTI’s Delta Partners.
Danish players lead nominations for FIFA Fair Play Award
November 24 – The life-saving intervention of Denmark’s players and medical staff after Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 has been nominated for FIFA’s Fair Play Award.
FIFA wraps up 2026 host city inspections with Toronto visit
November 23 – Global governing body FIFA have wrapped up their inspection of candidate host cities for the 2026 World Cup with a final stop in Toronto, Canada. Next year, Zurich will select the final host cities for the tournament, the first global finals to be played in a 48-team format.
Messi and Ronaldo go head-to-head again in FIFA’s annual awards battle
November 23 – FIFA have named their annual nominees for player of the year and it’s no surprise that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are once again in the running for the men’s award despite having a combined age of 70.
Cameroonian club boss slams FIFA and Infantino for ignoring CAS rulings and preventing football development
By Paul Nicholson
November 19 – FIFA has again come under attack for its political maneuvering in Africa, this time from a leading club president in Cameroon who has criticised the world governing body and its president Gianni Infantino for manipulating federation politics, and ignoring rulings made at CAS.
No change in Kenya despite FIFA reporting ‘excellent’ meetings with government
November 18 – The Kenyan government says the disbanding of the country’s FA remains intact despite positive initial talks with FIFA over the crisis.
FIFA tells Kenyan government to reinstate Mwendwa or face football ban
November 16 – The Kenyan government has been directed by FIFA to immediately reinstate embattled Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa who has been arrested following last week’s disbanding of the federation by the government.
FIFA keeps its Awards night virtual; voting for world’s Best to open this month
November 10 – FIFA will hold its annual awards ceremony virtually for the second year in succession. A decision that follows and current public health measures preventing the spread of covid.
Ooredoo answers FIFA call with regional deal for Qatar 2022 and Arab Cup 2021
November 8 – Qatari telecommunications operator Ooredoo has taken a tournament regional sponsorship with FIFA becoming the Official Middle East & Africa Telecommunications Operator for the World Cup Qatar 2022 and the Arab Cup Qatar 2021, to be held in December.
Playmaking the Wenger way: Integrity questions swirl around FIFA and its development chief
November 8 – FIFA’s chief of global football development Arsene Wenger, has come under renewed questions regarding his personal integrity over his involvement with sports technology startup PlayerMaker.
Cool your jets Gianni, we’ve just gone green
November 4 – FIFA has committed to new climate change targets at the COP26 climate conference, committing to reduce their carbon emissions and reach NetZero by 2040. Those pledges collide with FIFA’s plans for a biennial World Cup and the carbon footprint of the organisation’s own supremo Gianni Infantino.
Blatter and Platini to face Swiss fraud trial over CHF2m payment
By Andrew Warshaw
November 3 – After an investigation lasting almost six years, the former heads of FIFA and UEFA, Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, have been charged with fraud over the infamous “disloyal payment” that brought the careers of both powerbrokers crashing down.
FIFA sanctions repeat offenders Hungary and Mexico
November 2 – Hungary and Mexico have been sanctioned by FIFA over persistent fan disorder at their World Cup qualification matches following the October international window.