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.
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.
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.
By Paul Nicholson
June 6 – The privileged and protected world of African confederation president Ahmad Ahmad has come crashing down with his arrest at the Berri Hotel in Paris this morning where he has been staying during the FIFA Congress and in the run-up to the opening of the Women’s World Cup this weekend.
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 6 – Everything seemed to be running so smoothly for the FIFA administration. A trouble-free election victory for Gianni Infantino, the shortest of Congresses, a first ever women’s football convention extolling the sporting virtues of female players and the eagerly anticipated opening of the Women’s World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 5 – Admitting that he had made mistakes, Gianni Infantino nevertheless gave himself and FIFA’s collective membership a comprehensive – and at times Blatter-esque – pat on the back today as he reviewed his first three years as FIFA president and looked forward to the next four.
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 4 – It’s a fait accompli as they say in France. Gianni Infantino will be re-elected FIFA president in the French capital on Wednesday.
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 4 – World Cup hosts Qatar have been handed the next two Club World Cups in December this year and in 2020 – the last before the tournament is controversially overhauled – in an apparent move by FIFA to test the tiny Gulf state’s capability and infrastructure.
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 3 – With precision timing to generate the maximum impact 48 hours before Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president, Michel Platini has launched an astonishing broadside at his former UEFA number two who, he believes, seized the most powerful position in world football at his own expense.
May 28 – Former Brazilian football strongman Marco Polo Del Nero (pictured) has lost his appeal against a life ban for bribery and corruption.
May 24 – Eight countries, including a potential three country bid from the Gulf states, have expressed interest in the U-20 World Cup in 2021. The 2019 edition has just kicked off in Poland.
May 24 – Amid the disappointment of seeing his hopes of expanding the Qatar World Cup to 48 dashed, Gianni Infantino can at least turn to Vladimir Putin to re-inforce his status at world football’s most powerful official.
By Andrew Warshaw
May 22 – Gianni Infantino’s hopes of expanding the Qatar World Cup to 48 teams have been dealt a crushing blow with FIFA announcing it has ditched the idea – exactly two weeks before it was due to be debated by the organisation’s entire global membership.
By Andrew Warshaw
May 23 – Is the noose starting to tighten around the neck of controversial African football supremo Ahmad Ahmad?
May 23 – Poland will launch the U-20 World Cup against Colombia on home soil today as tomorrow’s stars compete for the world crown. Defending champions England failed to qualify for the tournament.