By David Owen in Lausanne
December 10 – The bizarre spectacle of a Russian football team qualifying for the 2022 World Cup as Russia, but then being obliged to assume a neutral guise in the finals was conjured up on Monday at a press conference featuring leading figures from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in the bowels of a Swiss hotel.
December 10 – Organisers of the Club World Cup, which kicks off on Wednesday in Qatar, have been left red-faced after being forced to switch the venue for the tournament’s showpiece final because the so-called Education City Stadium is not ready.
By David Owen
December 6 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino is finally set to enter world sport’s most prestigious club. The 49-year-old is one of three new International Olympic Committee (IOC) members proposed for the next IOC Session in Lausanne on January 10.
December 4 – FIFA has banned a third senior Afghanistan football official implicated in a sexual abuse scandal.
December 4 – Concussion substitutes, improving player behaviour and tweaks to VAR were among the topics discussed when the International Football Association Board (IFAB) held its Annual Business Meeting (ABM) in Belfast, Tuesday.
December 3 – The United Kingdom and Ireland may be inching closer towards a joint-bid for the 2030 World Cup after a positive feasibility study.
November 29 – It has taken several years to punish him but although US authorities have not yet been able to, FIFA finally has.
November 29 – Almost a year after French authorities handed leading African football administrator Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona over to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to face war crimes, FIFA have banned him for six years and eight months.
November 28 – Rugby-style temporary substitutions for players suspected of being concussed look like being introduced for the first time at next summer’s Euro 2020.
November 28 – A leading human rights organisation has denounced FIFA for awarding its inaugural expanded Club World Cup to China, saying football’s world governing body has totally ignored “serious human rights violations” in the country and is guilty of double standards by disregarding its own much-trumpeted policy.
By Samindra Kunti in Brasilia
November 18 – Brazil have won the U-17 World Cup on home soil, coming from behind to defeat Mexico 2-1 in dramatic style, a considerable feat as the Brazilians had initially failed to qualify for the tournament. Substitute Lazaro was Brazil’s hero again with a 93rd-minute winner.
November 18 – With debate over the format of the 2021 Club World Cup guaranteed to dominate headlines over the next two years, FIFA hosted the inauguration of a new club organisation in Zurich last week.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 15 – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hit back at Michel Platini’s claim that he voted for Qatar to stage the 2022 World Cup, saying Platini’s recollection of events is “totally untue” and that he backed the losing United States bid.
By Samindra Kunti in Sao Paulo
November 15 – In a dramatic semi-final Brazil upset favourites France 3-2 to reach the final of the U-17 World Cup on home soil against Mexico. The Mexicans eliminated Holland after a penalty shoot-out.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 14 – After all manner of rumour about where he might up next, Arsene Wenger is finally returning to the game, not in dugout as most anticipated but as FIFA’s new chief of global football development.