By David Owen
March 23 – World Cup ticketing income combined with a bonus from a well-subscribed hospitality programme to enable FIFA to shoulder a number of additional costs in 2014 without slipping into deficit or dipping into its rainy day reserve.
By David Owen
March 23 – Europe is virtually monopolising payments to clubs under FIFA’s Club Protection Programme (CPP). The scheme, which compensates clubs when their players are injured on international duty, made €39.4 million of payments in its first two years and four months of operation. Of this, no less than €38.6 million – 98% – went to clubs in the UEFA region.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
March 20 – A defiant Sepp Blatter laid down the gauntlet to his critics today by insisting his record at the head of FIFA spoke for itself and refusing to say whether or not he will issue a manifesto ahead of the presidential election in May.
By Samindra Kunti
March 20 – Jose Maria Marin, the president of the Brazilian FA, has said that “Brazilian football is going to pass through a very difficult time.”
By Mark Baber
March 20 – The General Secretary of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Musa Amadu (pictured), tendered his resignation on Wednesday after, according to unconfirmed reports in local media, a row with NFF President Amaju Pinnick over money, specifically FIFA grants and a $3.6 million loan from the Federal Government.
By Mark Baber
March 20 – Nigel Wilson, 42, from Nottingham has been summoned to appear before Westminster Magistrates Court on April 16 over allegations he flew a drone over several football grounds during matches, breaching an Air Navigation Order, according to Scotland Yard.
March 20 – Italian crisis club Parma have hit rock bottom after being declared bankrupt by a court in Italy but should be allowed to see out the current season.
March 20 – France has been awarded hosting rights for the 2019 Women’s World Cup, beating off a challenge from South Korea, the only other candidate.
March 20 – UEFA has slapped a mandatory one-match ban on PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic following his sending off in the Champions league victory over Chelsea. But his team mate Serge Aurier was less fortunate, receiving a three-match suspension for his abusive tweets.
March 20 – CONCACAF is holding referee development symposium for its international referees drawn from across the confederation. The four-day Florida event, presented by Comex/Futline, is hosting 50 officials from the FIFA international list.
March 20 – Premier League Liverpool, which earlier this week announced it had added a Malaysian fixture to its 2015 pre-season tour schedule, has announced a further expansion in the south-east Asia region with the launch of a regional partnership with Cobra Energy Drink, which sees the brand become the Official Energy Drink of Liverpool FC in Myanmar.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
March 19 – After more than four years of often heated and fractious debate, FIFA finally confirmed today that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be played in November and December with the final on Sunday, December 18.
By Mark Baber
March 19 – In the wake of Monday’s lifting of the Kenyan Football Federation (FKF) injunction against the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), the KPL has announced new fixtures to make up for the two weekends lost, whilst reports suggest the rival FKF Premier League will be signing a broadcast deal this Friday.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 19 – Michel Platini may be Sepp Blatter’s greatest critic when it comes to the veteran Swiss standing for a fifth term of office as FIFA president but one thing the pair agree on is that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar must be staged in winter.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 19 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter has personally intervened to stop Sierra Leone authorities trying to sweep allegations of match-fixing under the carpet.