April 16 – The United States remain at the top of the FIFA Women’s World Ranking, cementing their dominance of the game further, with European champions the Netherlands moving into third position.
By Paul Nicholson
April 13 – Former FIFA financial director and acting general secretary Markus Kattner (pictured) has lost his appeal against unfair dismissal in the Swiss labour courts.
April 12 – Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development since 2019, says the game would be considerably improved if marginal offside calls are decided automatically and hopes it will happen in time for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, using Artificial Intelligence to make instant decisions.
April 9 – Laura McAllister, the Football Association of Wales nominee for Europe’s female place on the FIFA Council, has launched her manifesto ahead of the election on April 20, highlighting her experience in football and how that, along with her professional skills, make her the ideal candidate to represent UEFA’s 55 member nations at the top table of world football.
April 9 – Having banned Pakistan earlier this week for third party interference in the national federation’s affairs, FIFA have also kicked out Chad because of government interference.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 7 – Not for the first time, Pakistan football has been plunged into disarray after the country was handed an international ban by FIFA for ‘third-party interference’ following a coup by former leaders of the national federation (PFF).
April 7 – Just days after the nine hosts cities for the 2023 Women’s World Cup were announced, FIFA has opened invitations to tender for the media rights to the tournament in both host markets, Australia and New Zealand.
By David Owen
April 5 – FIFA doled out not far off $50 million of interest-free loans to national associations during the first six months when its covid-19 relief plan was in operation.
April 1 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressed the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group on the final day of its video conferencing summit outlining FIFA’s battle troops in the area and offering the co-operation of the organisation.
April 1 – FIFA has announced the nine host cities for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with Sydney and Stadium Australia staging the final. Auckland in New Zealand will host the tournament’s curtain raiser.
March 31 – Pakistan football is veering further towards an international ban after FIFA urged former federation leaders to immediately hand back control to a FIFA-installed normalisation committee.
By Andrew Warshaw and Paul Nicholson
March 24 – FIFA’s efforts to distance the regime of Gianni Infantino from the previous administration of Sepp Blatter and Jerome Valcke have taken another significant step with both former powerbrokers suffering fresh bans at the hands of the organisation’s ethics apparatus.
March 24 – Kenny Jean-Marie is FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, replacing Veron Mosengo-Omba who has just joined the Confederation of African Football as its general secretary.
By David Owen
March 22 – FIFA has secured insurance for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. The disclosure comes in the small print of the governing body’s newly-published 2020 financial statements. FIFA said the “maximum insurance volume” was $900 million.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 22 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he wants as many bids as possible for the 2030 World Cup and has not ruled out China even though South America is an early favourite to land the tournament.