By Andrew Warshaw
January 27 – In what can only be described as a state of utter confusion, a planned debate on the future of FIFA, which had already descended into farce, was watered down still further today just hours before it was due to take place.
By Mark Baber
January 27 – Alejandro Dominguez of Paraguay was elected unopposed as president of CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, after Wilmar Valdez of Uruguay withdrew his candidacy.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 27 – In an unusual case that once again highlights the sensitivity surrounding Qatar winning the right to stage the 2022 World Cup, officials of the Gulf state are suing former FIFA executive committee member Theo Zwanziger for referring to them as a “cancerous growth on world football” .
January 27 – Doyen Sports, one of the main companies cited as practising Third Party Ownership (TPO), which is banned by FIFA and UEFA, has attempted to justify its conduct by rejecting that it in any way owns players and insisting it uses an alternative model of TPI (third party investment) that ensures financial transparency.
By Paul Nicholson
January 26 – CONCACAF has released details of its proposed reform measures to its member federations, at the centre of which would be the replacement of the executive committee with a CONCACAF Council.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 26 – Amid confusion, contradictions and hints of buck-passing and election games, a planned televised debate involving three of the five FIFA presidential candidates has been scrapped after two of them withdrew with just 48 hours’ notice.
January 26 – Amidst burgeoning scandals in both football and athletics, the role of the International Centre for Sport Security in combating the scourge of corruption has been given further recognition by the Commonwealth Games Federation in order to enhance good governance across its various sports.
By Samindra Kunti
January 26 – Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam are restricting their spending during the transfer window to minimise the risks of a financial pitfall, despite the club’s finances being in a good position.
January 26 – Gianni Infantino’s bid to squeeze over the line in next month’s FIFA presidential election has been given impetus after he received the bloc support of the central American Football Union (UNCAF), which carries seven votes in next month’s ballot.
By Mark Baber
January 26 – Jack Warner’s solicitors have won a victory in their battle to prevent, or at least delay, their client’s extradition from Trinidad and Tobago to face charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money-laundering in the US.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 25 – A number of European federations want more time before committing themselves to UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino’s bid to succeed Sepp Blatter at next month’s FIFA presidential election, Insideworldfootball has learned.
By Paul Nicholson
January 25 – The president of the Bermuda FA and chair of FIFA’s appeals committee, Larry Mussenden, has announced that he will run for the vacant CONCACAF presidency. The president will be elected at a congress in May.
January 25 – In another illustration of growing tensions in the region, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has decided to amend the schedule for the AFC Champions League involving matches between clubs from Saudi Arabia and Iran but has stopped short, pending further checks, of upholding a Saudi request to play fixtures on neutral ground because of safety concerns.
By Samindra Kunti
January 25 – When wealthy Chinese businessman Wang Hui (pictured) took over Dutch club Ado Den Haag last year there were promises of substantial investment and new sporting glory. But the promises have gone unfulfilled.
January 25 – Bulgarian club Litex Lovech’s entire results for the season have been scrapped as punishment for its players walking off in protest at refereeing decisions in a match at Levski Sofia last month.