Platini arrest: Detail of French investigation and Qatar focus revealed
June 20 – More detail is emerging of the 15-hour interview of Michel Platini by France’s Central Office for Combating Corruption and Financial and Tax Crimes (OCLCIFF).
FIFA
Platini ‘hurt’ by French probe into 2022 World Cup vote corruption
June 19 – Former UEFA chief Michel Platini was released in the early hours of Wednesday after having been questioned by French anti-corruption authorities over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Swiss court rules Lauber and Infantino powwows point to bias and collusion
June 18 – The Swiss investigation into FIFA corruption looks to be collapsing following a ruling by the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona which declared Federal Prosecutor Michael Lauber’s secret meetings with FIFA president Gianni Infantino give the appearance of bias.
Ukraine upset European old guard and South Korea to take U-20 World Cup
June 18 – Ukraine won a maiden U-20 word title after rallying from a goal down to defeat South Korea 3-1 in Poland. Korea’s Kangin Lee won the tournament’s golden ball as best player.
Boban quits FIFA to take job at AC Milan
June 14 – Zvonimir Boban, Gianni Infantino’s personal adviser and a member of the FIFA president’s closely guarded inner circle, has quit after just two years to return to AC Milan as the club’s chief football officer.
Four years and counting, Warner loses his appeal but has 21 days to avoid US extradition
June 13 – Are the US authorities edging closer to snaring the man they want more than anyone else among the powerbrokers snared in the $200 million FIFAGate corruption scandal?
Israelis keep pressure on FIFA to further sanction Palestine’s Rajoub over Messi comments
By Andrew Warshaw
June 13 – FIFA opened an investigation earlier this year into the outspoken head of the Palestinian FA, Jibril Rajoub, for breaching its ethics code according to an Israeli-based media watchdog and widely reported across Israel.
Infantino re-floats concept of a womens’ club World League
By Andrew Warshaw
June 12 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants to resurrect the concept of a ‘world league’ for women in order to generate additional revenue to help address the disparity in prize money compared to the men’s game.
Spain and Portugal buddy up for 2030 World Cup bid but no mention of Morocco
By Andrew Warshaw
June 10 – Battle lines have been drawn in the race to stage the 2030 World Cup with the Spanish FA confirming, after months of speculation, that they and Portugal are seriously considering making a joint bid.
Afghan Karim given life ban and $1m fine for sexual abuse
By Andrew Warshaw
June 10 – In its most significant stance yet to combat sexual abuse of women players, FIFA has banned for life one of the most notorious culprits, former Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) president Keramuudin Karim (pictured), and also fined him one million Swiss francs.
CAF-gate: Bility says Ahmad must now order a forensic audit into CAF finances
By Paul Nicholson
June 8 – Musa Bility, the CAF executive committee member from Liberia who has spoken out against president Ahmad’s management of the African confederation and in particular his handling of commercial partnerships, has called for a forensic audit of CAF’s finances.
Infantino outlines breakdown of $500m for women’s game and revives world league idea
By Samindra Kunti in Paris
June 7 – FIFA and Gianni Infantino have promised to invest $500 million in the women’s game over the next four years, responding to the criticism over the minimal prize money on offer at the Women’s World Cup in France.
All about the money? Infantino sidesteps safeguarding issues saying women’s game is ‘real’
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 7 – Hours before the women’s World Cup was due to kick off in the French capital, Gianni Infantino insisted the tournament would change perceptions about the women’s game for ever. But more importantly the FIFA president missed a vital – some might say essential – opportunity to address the scourge of sexual harassment pervading the game.
FIFA and UN Women sign MoU to push for gender equality
June 7 – World governing body FIFA and the United Nations Women – the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women – have signed a first-ever MoU on Friday to empower girls and women around the world and achieve gender equality.
With Hazard having one foot out the door, Chelsea go to CAS in attempt to lift transfer ban
June 7 – Reportedly about to lose their star player Eden Hazard to Real Madrid, Chelsea have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against being slapped with a two-window transfer ban by FIFA after being found guilty in February of illegally signing no fewer than 29 under-age foreign players.