FIFA plans big hike in 2018 World Cup prize money
By David Owen
March 27 – FIFA, world football’s governing body, has paved the way for a big increase in prize money at the 2018 World Cup, to be staged in Russia.
FIFA
Exclusive: European clubs take 98% of injury compensation cash
By David Owen
March 26 – European clubs have hoovered up nearly all the €27 million in compensation money paid out over the first 18 months of FIFA’s Club Protection Programme (CPP).
Plot to remove Garcia is halted in its tracks
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 25 – FIFA has side-stepped a potential new storm after it emerged that tentative moves were taken last week by senior figures to try and shut down the probe into the voting procedure for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and remove chief prosecutor Michael Garcia from the process.
Valcke heads for Rio as heat builds up for a fast finish
March 25 – FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke is back in Brazil for another series of trouble-shooting World Cup meetings, this time focussing on Sao Paulo, which stages the opening game.
FIFA earmarks extra $70 million for 2014 World Cup
By David Owen
March 25 – Unexpected costs last year forced FIFA to earmark an extra $70 million for the problem-plagued 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
FIFA banks a record year with more to come in 2014
March 24 – FIFA’s 2013 annual financial report has been released showing the governing body managed a surplus of $72 million on revenue of $1.386 million. 2013 was a record year for FIFA with income of $1.386 billion in the third year of a four-year commercial cycle linked to the 2014 World Cup.
FIFA seek to extend women’s terms at its ExCo top table
By Andrew Warshaw
March 24 – The two women co-opted on to the FIFA executive committee last year seem certain to stay on for another year – but what happens after that remains open to question.
FIFA’s ExCo holds firm on Qatar 2022 as Garcia investigates and workers rights issues top agenda
By Andrew Warshaw
March 21 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter today sidestepped repeated attempts to force him to take a stand over whether Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup was in jeopardy following the publication of fresh corruption allegations.
Webb calls for ‘deep change’ in anti-discrimination statement
March 21 – Jeffrey Webb, the chairman of the FIFA Anti-Racism and Discrimination Task Force, has sent a strongly worded message on the importance of embracing diversity and fighting discrimination. He also said that the Brazil 2014 World Cup is the perfect platform to make a powerful anti-discrimination statement and that the quarter finals will be dedicated to the fight against discrimination.
Simunic loses appeal and will miss World Cup
March 20 – Australian-born Croatian international Josip Simunic will definitely miss the World Cup after losing his appeal against a 10-match ban imposed by FIFA for discriminatory behaviour.
FIFA’s ExCo gathers in Zurich with agenda packed full of issues
By Andrew Warshaw
March 19 – A key meeting of FIFA’s executive committee (exco) opens on Thursday with the latest on Brazil’s troubled World Cup preparations high on the agenda along with the thorny issues of Israeli-Palestine relations and workers’ rights in Qatar.
FIFA makes Aussie bans on English match-fixers a global sanction
March 19 – Two English players have had life bans extended worldwide by FIFA for fixing matches in Australia’s second-tier Victorian Premier League.
Warner still casting a long shadow as Qatari cash linked to his accounts
By Andrew Warshaw
March 18 – Qatar’s winning 2022 World Cup bid has been plunged into renewed controversy – just when FIFA are about to be given an update about the treatment of migrant workers employed on its stadium projects.
AFC President to get automatic place on FIFA Executive Committee
By David Owen
March 17 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is considering electoral reforms that would see the next elected President secure an automatic place on FIFA’s Executive Committee.
Blatter pours cold water on flares and firecrackers
By Andrew Warshaw
March 14 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants clubs to crack down harder on flares and firecrackers in stadiums, describing those who let them off as “arsonists”and “pyromaniacs”.