Football confident it is unaffected by Russian sport’s doping culture
December 8 – FIFA says it has “no indications” that football is implicated in the alleged systematic doping culture in Russian sport.
World Cup
Russia 2018: Kaliningrad will not be moved, but stadium might be
By Paul Nicholson
December 3 – Questionmarks over whether the 2018 World Cup hosting would make it to Kaliningrad have been dispelled by Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko who said that matches won’t be transferred to another city from Kaliningrad.
40,000-seat Qatar Foundation Stadium plans unveiled
December 3 – With precision timing exactly four years after they won the vote to stage the 2022 World Cup, Qatar organisers have unveiled designs for their fourth planned venue, the 40,000-seat Qatar Foundation Stadium.
Samara to spend £1.1bn across region readying for Russia 2018
By Paul Nicholson
November 28 – More details of infrastructure build and budgeted spends are emerging for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The Samara region is planning to spend more than RUB 77 billion (£1.1billion) in its preparations. While it has been announced that training bases will be set up in 20 Russian cities for national teams – World Cup matches will be played in 11 cities,
Qataris unveil new design for Khalifa International Stadium
November 25 – As they await further developments in the ongoing saga over the investigation into the World Cup bidding process, 2022 hosts Qatar are pressing ahead with developing their infrastructure. Organisers have now unveiled the design for the renovation of the Khalifa International Stadium, the third venue formally proposed for the finals in the Gulf state.
Mutko reveals 2017 Confederation Cup cities, Kaliningrad decision close
November 23 – The 2017 Confederations Cup, the warm-up and main test event for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, will be played in Moscow, St Petersburg, Sochi and Kazan, said Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko.
Did he didn’t he? Al-Majid keeps finger pointed at Bin Hammam, despite contradictions
By Andrew Warshaw
November 21 – The whistleblower who worked on Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid campaign says there is no doubt that Mohamed Bin Hammam – banned for life from football two years ago – was part of the team despite 2022 officials repeatedly denying he played any role.
Novgorod stadium contract nears signing, FIFA says no to more capacity reductions
November 20 – Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko has said that the construction contract to build the 17 billion ruble ($365 million) stadium in Nizhniy Novgorod will be signed on November 25-26 with 50% of the payment being upfront.
Russia keeps stadium budget fixed at $6.4bn, but Kaliningrad may be dropped
By Paul Nicholson
November 18 – Russia’s first deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov has said that the construction spend on stadia for the 2018 World Cup will remain fixed at 300 billion roubles ($6.4 billion) – the same figure that was set in 2010. Shuvalov made his remarks on a visit to Moscow’s recently complete Okritie-Arena, one of two venues in the capital that will host matches in 2018.
Match’s Whelan in UK but will return to Brazil for court dates
By Paul Nicholson
November 14 – Ray Whelan, the British director of FIFA’s World Cup marketing affiliate Match who was arrested at the World Cup in July, has in the last few days returned to the UK. Whelan was bailed in August from Brazil’s notorious Bangu prison but has only just received his passport.
Qatar says new labour laws coming, but Amnesty says not fast enough
By Andrew Warshaw
November 13 – Qatar is failing to make fast enough progress in dealing with the ill-treatment of migrant workers, Amnesty International has warned in a fresh report. Six months after the 2022 World Cup hosts laid down plans for major reforms, Amnesty says few concrete steps have been taken.
Russia steps up emergency planning with beefed up task forces
By Pail Nicholson
November 12 – As part of its 2018 World Cup planning the Russian emergencies ministry is setting up special task groups in FIFA World Cup host cities.
Russians allocate another £55m to 2018 World Cup build
November 11 – Russia’s government has announced a further RUB 4 billion (£55 million) increase in budget for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The new funds are earmarked for infrastructure and utilities projects.
Qatar’s Supreme Committee commits to Kakuma refugee project in Kenya
November 10 – Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has donated $500,000 to the Kakuma project in Kenya.
ECA clubs claim that May 2022 was a ‘welcomed’ option
By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – Angry European clubs claim their case for staging the 2022 World Cup in May has not been sufficiently publicised by FIFA and insist that a winter tournament in Qatar is by no means a fait accompli.