Maradona tantrum referred upward as he tells Infantino he’s quitting
March 23 – Diego Maradona has reportedly threatened to resign as a FIFA global ambassador unless an Argentine rival is removed from his post in the national federation.
South America
Brasileirão Feminino kicks off with new two-tier format but old issues of money
By Samindra Kunti
March 14 – This weekend the Brazilian women’s league kicked off in an expanded format, despite financial constraints and a talent drain that has cast a shadow over the 2017 season with many of the top players signed for foreign clubs.
Player strike is latest block to resumption of Argentine league
By Samindra Kunti
March 6 – This weekend’s matches in Argentina’s top three divisions were all postponed following a players’s strike over salaries. With professional football on hold, the institutional crisis in Argentinean football is deepening.
Argentinian chaos is a tale of corruption and FIFA presidential intrigue
By Paul Nicholson
March 2 – Argentinian football is in a mess and it doesn’t look to be clearing up despite the efforts of a FIFA normalisation committee parachuted in last July to take over the running of the federation and attempt to bring order to the chaos.
Brazil league ban on clubs playing out of state hits World Cup stadia legacy
By Samindra Kunti
March 1 – The Brazilian FA (CBF) has prohibited domestic clubs from playing top flight and division one games outside their state of origin. The ruling will have a dramatic impact on the struggling World Cup stadiums in Manuas, Natal, Cuiaba and Brasilia that have been battling to maintain operations.
Brazil state championships prove to be the drag on progress of club game
By Samindra Kunti
February 28 – This weekend Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo and Fluminense will dispute the final of the Taça Guanabara. It is but a footnote in the drawn-out and archaic state championships, which are increasingly holding back Brazilian football.
Maracana thrown a lifeline but is it too little too late for the world’s most iconic stadium?
By Samindra Kunti
February 24 – The Maracana stadium will reopen in March with Rio club Flamengo hosting a Copa Libertadores match, but the future of the venue remains in doubt as bidders appear to be getting cold feet over taking on the management challenge of the iconic stadium.
Brazil’s Rio 2016 alchemist Micale falls from favour over U20 failure
February 16 – The CBF, the Brazilian Football Confederation, and coach Rogerio Micale are poised to part ways following Brazil’s failure to qualify for the U20 World Cup in South Korea. Micale coached the Brazilians to the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Brazil miss out on U20 World Cup as seniors head for Aussie for Argentina fixture
By Samindra Kunti
February 13 – For the second time in three competitions, Brazil have failed to qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup to be played in Korea later this year. Meanwhile, the senior team have announced a friendly against Argentina in Melbourne in June.
Journalists’ families to sue Chapecoense over crash flight compensation
February 8 – The families of seven journalists killed in the Chapecoense air disaster are suing the club over the chartering arrangements.
FIFA turn down Bolivia World Cup points appeal
February 6 – Bolivia’s appeal against being docked points for fielding an ineligible player in two World Cup qualifiers has been rejected by FIFA’s appeals panel.
Argentines play season opening Super Cup under cloud of financial uncertainty
By Samindra Kunti
February 3 – This weekend Lanus and River Plate will play in the Argentine Super Cup, but the start of the domestic season has been overshadowed by financial turmoil in the country that is ranked number one in the world by FIFA.
Brazil’s World Cup beacon Maracana stadium plunged into darkness
By Samindra Kunti
January 27 – Rio de Janeiro’s famous Maracana stadium, which hosted the 2014 World Cup final and the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics and is one of football’s spiritual homes, was plunged into darkness on Thursday after Light, the energy provider for the stadium, cut off the electricity supply due to unpaid bills that reach back to October last year.
Expanded Copa Libertadores kicks off without Mexican clubs and a long route to the final
By Samindra Kunti
January 24 – The revamped Copa Libertadores kicked off yesterday with qualifying across South America, but question marks remain over the tournament’s expanded new format.
Chapecoense start emotional return to play with Palmeiras friendly
January 23 – In emotional scenes, some 20,000 fans, including families of the victims, turned out last Saturday as Brazil’s Chapecoense played their first match since most of their players were killed in that tragic air crash in Colombia in late November.