FIFA confirms defected Cuban footballers
By Andrew Warshaw
October 15 – Three Cuban footballers who vanished just before a World Cup qualifying match against Canada have defected, FIFA has confirmed.
Canada throws support behind Sinclair after she receives ban
By Andrew Warshaw
October 15 – The Canadian Government has waded into the dispute over the country’s women’s team skipper Christine Sinclair after she was banned by FIFA for unsporting behaviour.
Riot stops Senegal-Ivory Coast match
By Andrew Warshaw
October 14 – A crucial Africa Cup of Nations showdown between arch-rivals Senegal and Ivory Coast was dramatically abandoned on Saturday (October 13) after home fans rioted in the stadium.
Independent inquiry into Hillsborough cover-up to go ahead
By Andrew Warshaw
October 12 – An independent inquiry into police wrongdoing is to be carried out following the recently released report that highlighted a shocking cover-up relating to the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster.
I hate off-season loaning, says MLS Commissioner Garber
By Andrew Warshaw at the Leaders in Football conference at Stamford Bridge in London
October 12 – Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber says he disapproves of loaning players to European clubs in the off-season as he tries to enhance the credibility of the game in the United States.
FIFA vice-president Villar Llona says no to goal-line technology
By Andrew Warshaw at the Leaders in Football conference at Stamford Bridge in London
October 12 – The head of FIFA’s Referees Committee says he is completely against goal-line technology – in direct opposition to FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s stance.
Warner accused of cutting off Trinidad football’s funding
By Andrew Warshaw
October 12 – Disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who resigned from football in the wake of last year’s cash-for-votes scandal but is still a prominent politician in his native Trinidad and Tobago as National Security Minister, is once again under the spotlight – this time for allegedly exploiting his country’s own federation.
Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein pushes for more to be done to stop match-fixing
By Andrew Warshaw
October 12 – FIFA Executive Committee vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan is pushing for a revolutionary corruption ranking system among FIFA members to make them more accountable when it comes to match-fixing and illegal betting.
CONCACAF President Webb pulls out of Leaders in Football conference
By Andrew Warshaw
October 11 – Jeffrey Webb, President of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), was forced to pull out of the Leaders in Football conference in London when he fell ill on his transatlantic flight.
Singapore to use lie detectors to cut down on match-fixing
By Andrew Warshaw at the Leaders in Football conference at Stamford Bridge in London
October 11 – Singapore is using lie detector tests to try to cut down on match-fixing, according to the head of the country’s football federation.
Agnelli wades in to Terry racism row
By Andrew Warshaw at the Leaders in Football Conference at Stamford Bridge in London
October 10 – One of Italy’s most influential football officials, Juventus President Andrea Agnelli, waded into the John Terry racism row today by saying he didn’t understand why the former England captain had to face two separate hearings.
De Boer backs Qatar winter World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw at the Leaders in Football Conference at Stamford Bridge in London
October 11 – The controversy over whether to switch the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar to the winter to avoid the searing June-July desert temperatures was reignited today – this time by one of Qatar’s very own ambassadors.
Wales backs multi-country Euro 2020
By Andrew Warshaw
October 10 – The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has expressed its support for UEFA President Michel Platini’s plan to push the 2020 European Championship finals across the entire continent.
FIFA to avoid empty seats at World Cup with new ticketing system
By Andrew Warshaw at the Leaders in Football Conference at Stamford Bridge in London
October 10 – FIFA is to implement a new ticketing resale system for the 2014 World Cup designed to avoid the large swathes of empty seats that plagued the London 2012 Olympics, and the 2012 UEFA European Championship finals in Poland and Ukraine.
Construction of first Qatar 2022 World Cup stadium to start next year
By Andrew Warshaw
October 10 – Construction of Qatar’s first stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament will start next year, it has been confirmed.