Blatter calls for unity, as rumour mill grinds ahead of the vote
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 29 – Sepp Blatter looked poised to win a fifth term as FIFA president today – but perhaps not with the landslide victory many have predicted.
Brazil’s Del Nero flees Zurich ahead of Congress
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 28 – The most dramatic election build-up in FIFA history has taken yet another unexpected twist when the head of Brazil’s national federation and a senior FIFA official fled Switzerland a few hours before the ballot.
Kenya: leaks, sponsor problems and grassroots rebellion
By Mark Baber
May 29 – As Sam Nyamweya, whose survival as head of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is something of a miracle, prepares to vote in the FIFA Presidential election, he faces growing problems at home where letters to and from commercial rights agency MP & Silva are being published in the local press and a mounting campaign to put an end to his controversial reign appears to be gathering steam.
KGHM put Zaglebie Lubin on sale after Ekstraklasa promotion
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
May 28 – Poland’s copper and silver miner KGHM has sais it plans to put Zaglebie Lubin up for sale following the club’s promotion to the country’s top tier Ekstraklasa.
New boy Gill says he won’t come out to play if Blatter re-elected
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 28 – Britain’s incoming FIFA vice-president David Gill will refuse to take up his new position if Sepp Blatter is re-elected FIFA president on Friday in the latest startling development to envelop world football’s governing body.
Blatter pledges to put FIFA right, Platini promises FBI help
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 28 – A defiant Sepp Blatter opened arguably the most tension-filled congress of his 17 years in charge of FIFA with a rallying cry clearly designed to sway any wavering voters his way after a tumultuous 48 hours in the history or world football’s governing body.
Greek match-fixing crisis escalates with 41 now charged
By Mark Baber
May 28 – The match-fixing crisis in Greek football rumbles on with a further six players facing additional charges (making a total of 41 players, managers and referees to date), with the owner of Olympiakos being questioned and the vice-president of the Central Refereeing Committee resigning.
CONCACAF put the wheels back on and call for FIFA elections to go-ahead
By Paul Nicholson in Zurich
May 28 – CONCACAF have said that they want the election for FIFA president to go ahead tomorrow, and have set up their own Special Committee to manage the affairs of the confederation after the tumultuous events of yesterday that saw their president Jeffrey Webb and Costa Rican president and newly elected FIFA executive member Eduardo Li arrested in their Zurich hotels by Swiss police.
Revolving doors and missed appointments stall FIFA politicking
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 28 – In the face of the worst crisis to hit FIFA under his leadership, Sepp Blatter called a meeting of his emergency committee today and came face to face with his nemesis, UEFA boss Michel Platini.
KV Mechelen could complete their rebuild with Europa Cup ticket
By Samindra Kunti
May 28 – Belgian club KV Mechelen are gunning for European qualification again as they take on Charleroi in the playoffs. A refurbished stadium must revive a club that went nearly bankrupt in 2003.
Exclusive: Africa backs Blatter, a vote against would be ‘blasphemy’
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 28 – Western-led calls for Sepp Blatter to resign as FIFA president in the wake of the gravest corruption crisis to hit his organisation were described today as “blasphemy” by one of Africa’s federation presidents who said his continent was more firmly behind the veteran Swiss than ever.
Sponsors pile pressure on FIFA to clean-up its act
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 28 – Visa has issued the most critical statement yet from any major World Cup sponsor in response to the spate of arrests of past and present FIFA officials on racketeering and bribery charges that have made worldwide headlines.
Blatter backs investigations as UEFA move in for the kill and threaten pull out
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 28 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter has broken his silence over the stunning corruption claims that have sent shockwaves through the sport by claiming that he personally welcomed efforts taken to clean up the sport.
US law enforcers lay bare web of deceit and corruption in Americas
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 28 – Accusing FIFA of indulging for two generations in a “World Cup of Fraud”, US justice authorities today laid bare the full and sensational extent of corruption at the heart of football’s world governing body in the Americas. Those indicted by the US authorities are accused of accepting bribes and kickbacks estimated at more than $150m over a 24-year period.
US prosecutor reveals names and charges as it chases down tax dollars
By Paul Nicholson in Zurich
May 27 – More details surrounding the seven arrests in Zurich this morning have been releasesd by US law authorities who have stepped up their assault on CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, its executives and associated marketing parties. The information details the nine FIFA officials and five company executives who have been “indicted for racketeering, conspiracy and corruption”.