By Andrew Warshaw
August 31 – The Scottish and Welsh FAs have confirmed that exploratory talks are under way for a UK bid for the 2030 World Cup – even though South America would probably be regarded as favourites.
August 31 – Ghana is the latest country to see its football affairs come under the temporary control of FIFA after world football’s governing body set up one of its trademark normalisation committees in the wake of ongoing crisis.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 30 – Morocco, it seems, is stopping at nothing and devising every possible scenario in its bid to finally land the World Cup.
By Paul Nicholson
August 29 – It was a moment worthy of the reality show star that he is and the global leader he wants to be seen as. US president Donald Trump met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the White House yesterday to bang the drum for the 2026 World Cup to be hosted in North America.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 28 – The head of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, has rejected his one-year ban by FIFA and says he will appeal against what his federation described as a sanction that was “disproportionate, absurd, and lacking in evidence.”
August 28 -The six candidates for the vacant African seat on the FIFA Council will undergo integrity checks by FIFA before their participation in next month’s poll is confirmed according to the BBC.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 24 – In a hard-hitting ruling that could well enflame tension in the region but will be viewed by others as a logical move, FIFA has handed outspoken Palestinian FA leader Jibril Rajoub a one-year match ban and fined him 20,000 Swiss francs for inflammatory remarks made against Lionel Messi.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 24b – The idea of turning the FIFA presidency into a rotating arrangement on a Continental basis is being mooted in the higher echelons of global football administration according to a German publication.
By Andrew Warshaw and Paul Nicholson
August 22 – Did he jump, was he pushed or was his departure actually entirely mutual? Whatever the real story behind Marco Villiger’s exit from FIFA immediately after his summer vacation, questions are inevitably being asked about how the organisation could afford to lose its most astute legal brain.
August 22 – In another blow to the reputation of South American football administration, FIFA have intervened to take control of the Uruguayan federation after it was plunged into chaos following the sudden resignation of president Wilmar Valdez (pictured) last month.
August 21 – Spain and Japan reached their maiden U-20 Womens World Cup final after eliminating hosts France and England respectively. The tournament will culminate on Friday in Vannes with the final showdown.
August 20 – Marco Villiger, the brains behind much of FIFA’s decision-making for over a decade, parted company with the organisation today as Gianni Infantino’s regime completed a clean sweep of the old guard that served under Sepp Blatter.
August 20 – The long-awaited sentencing of former Brazilian supremo Jose Maria Marin (pictured right) is scheduled for Wednesday (August 22) in Brooklyn, New York, with federal prosecutors reportedly pushing for a 10-year jail term for the 85-year-old.
August 17 – Authorities in Ghana finally appear to have backed down in their determination to snub a FIFA directive ordering them to stop interfering in football or risk a global ban.
August 16 – The Women’s U-20 World Cup has reached the business end of the competition with heavyweight quarter-finals set to decide the last four. Hosts France take on reigning champions Korea DPR, Spain meet Nigeria and Germany face Japan. Debutants the Netherlands play England in the last quarter-final.