St Petersburg official admits to $850k stadium scam
November 10 – A former deputy governor of St Petersburg has admitted to his involvement in an embezzlement scheme related to the construction of the city’s World Cup stadium.
World Cup
Billion dollar play-off. Peru playing for big stakes in 2018 qualification decider
November 9 – The 2018 World Cup play off between Peru and New Zealand could be worth at least $1.3 billion to the South American country if they are successful.
384 Russian hooligans now on ban-list ahead of 2018 FIFA World Cup
By Mark Baber
November 8 – Russia has banned 384 citizens from attending sports events, according to Deputy Department Head of the Russian Interior Ministry’s Main Directorate for Countering Extremism Sergei Pershenkov, who was speaking at a roundtable discussion in the State Duma on Tuesday.
ILO backs ‘positive change’ of Qatari reforms and closes complaint procedure
November 8 – The International Labour Organization has halted a potential investigation into Qatar’s employment practises after the government in Doha introduced legislation to protect foreign workers and pledged further reforms.
Al-Thawadi says no white elephants, plan B is strong and blockade is illegal
By Andrew Warshaw
November 3 – Hassan Al-Thawadi, the public face of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, has shrugged off suggestions that the diplomatic and trade blockade of his country by Gulf neighbours could undermine the hosting of the tournament.
Qatari labour reforms of wages and ‘kafala’ win support of hard-hitting ITUC
October 26 – Under the global spotlight over its treatment of foreign workers, Qatari authorities have agreed a range of labour reforms including the introduction of a minimum wage and the abolition of the controversial kafala system under which foreign workers must get their employer’s consent to change jobs or leave the country.
Blatter packs a bag for Russia 2018 World Cup appearance
October 23 – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been invited to next year’s World Cup by Russian president Vladimir Putin and says he will accept even though he is still banned for six years after being found guilty of authorising a “disloyal payment” of $2 million to then UEFA president Michel Platini.
2018 play-offs: Italy draw Sweden in Russian prize fight, Swiss face Northern Irish
October 18 – Sweden have arguably drawn the short straw in the European playoffs for next year’s World Cup with a mouth-watering tie against Italy who last failed to qualify back in 1958.
Honduras coach critical of 5-day Aussie turnaround for final World Cup qualifier
October 17 – The coach of Honduras has accused FIFA of being “inhumane” for scheduling the two legs of the World Cup playoff against Australia within five days of each other.
Toure puts Russia 2018 on frontline of war on racism
October 16 – Former Ivory Coast star Yaya Toure says next year’s World Cup in Russia could be a watershed in FIFA’s efforts to stamp out racism.
World Cup 2018 ticket boost: FIFA says 3.4m requests in first sales window
October 13 – Having initially announced that 2 million tickets had been requested with two days to go before the close of the first 2018 World Cup ticket sales window, FIFA has now confirmed more than 3.4 million requests.
Messi saves Argentina; Chile miss the cut; Portugal in but Dutch ditched
By Andrew Warshaw
October 11 – Cometh the hour, cometh Lionel Messi. Just when the odds were stacked in favour of Argentina failing to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1970, the mercurial maestro struck a superb hat-trick away to Ecuador to haul his country back from the brink of elimination.
The 2014 runners up began the day sixth in their group and needing a top-four place to qualify automatically.
Freak results usher new storm into US as Russia 2018 dreams are shattered
October 11 – The post mortem has just begun and will last all the way to Russia next year. Unthinkably given the weakness of their continental rivals, the United States have failed qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 after losing to tiny Trinidad & Tobago, a hugely embarrassing setback that could have ramifications on and off the pitch.
Iceland warm to Russia 2018 as smallest nation ever to qualify for World Cup finals
By Andrew Warshaw
October 10 – They’ve done it again. All predictions that Iceland would be one-hit wonders after their sensational appearance at Euro 2016 have been well and truly crushed after they became the smallest nation ever to reach a World Cup finals.
World Cup heartache: Irish slay Welsh dragon, Croatia gamble pays off against Ukraine
October 10 – How quickly emotions change in football. Having reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 against all odds, Wales’ 60-year wait for a place at the World Cup continues as they were beaten 1-0 by the Republic of Ireland in a winner-takes-all showdown for a playoff place for Russia.