World Cup referee jailed for match-fixing
By David Gold
February 16 – Former World Cup referee Lu Jun has been sentenced to a five-and-a-half year jail term for involvement in match-fixing in China.
Football News
FIFA withholding Warner $36,000 annual pension
By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – FIFA is withholding the annual pension of its former vice-president Jack Warner (pictured) following last year’s cash-for-votes scandal, according to reports in his native Trinidad.
Hayatou remains as CAF President
By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – Controversial African powerbroker Issa Hayatou (pictured) has been handed a vote of confidence to remain as President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) despite being recently reprimanded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over corruption allegations.
“Good arguments” on both sides says arbitrator as Bin Hammam appeal heard
By Andrew Warshaw
January 23 – Former FIFA Presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam’s campaign to stop the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) from replacing him as its leader was heard by sport’s highest court today.
Warner claims he has written evidence to prove TV rights were given to him by FIFA for votes
By Duncan Mackay
January 13 – FIFA tonight found itself at the centre of more astonishing allegations from former vice-president Jack Warner over the decision to award him World Cup television rights for as little as $1 (£0.65/€0.77), including the Trinidadian claiming he had written evidence that they were given to him in return for votes for Sepp Blatter in his election campaigns.
Exclusive: “FIFA has to give same opportunities to everyone” says Prince Ali in hijab row
By Andrew Warshaw in London
January 13 – FIFA’s newest vice-president, Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan, has fiercely defended his controversial proposal to allow female Muslim footballers to wear the hijab during matches, claiming he has the support of many European experts.
Blatter must “dry out this swamp” or be sacked Hoeness warns
By Duncan Mackay
January 5 – Sepp Blatter has again come under fire from a senior figure at Bayern Munich, this time from Uli Hoeness, the German club’s President.
Video is not for football, insists Platini ahead of goal-line technology decision
By Andrew Warshaw
January 3 – The build up to the eagerly awaited decision in March whether, finally, to introduce goal-line technology is gathering pace with UEFA President Michel Platini, its fiercest high-profile opponent, again rubbishing the idea.
British MP demands investigation into FIFA chief Sepp Blatter
By Andrew Warshaw
December 30 – British MP Damian Collins has renewed his call for a thorough investigation into Sepp Blatter’s own conduct following startling new allegations made by the FIFA President’s former right-hand man and senior vice-president, Jack Warner.
Warner renews Blatter hostilities
By David Gold
December 26 – Former CONCACAF chief Jack Warner has launched a new attack on Sepp Blatter, in which he accuses the FIFA President of “megalomania, covert racism and discrimination”.
Proposal to lift ban on hijab to be put forward to football rule-makers
By Duncan Mackay at the Ritz Carlton in Tokyo
December 18 – A plan to lift a controversial ban on women wearing a hijab, he Islamic headscarf, is set to be put before the International Football Association Board (IFAB) next year.
Former British Attorney General appointed to FIFA Governance Committee
By Duncan Mackay at the Ritz Carlton in Tokyo
December 17 – Britain’s former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith (pictured) has joined FIFA’s new Independent Governance Committee, it was revealed here today.
Michel Platini reiterates goal-line technology stance
By Andrew Warshaw
December 9 – Michel Platini has once again emphasised his opposition to goal-line technology despite the FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, saying it could be in place by the start of next season – and almost certainly by the 2014 World Cup.
FIFA maintain distance from allegations of Hayatou corruption
By Andrew Warshaw
December 9 – FIFA were quick to distance themselves today from African football chief Issa Hayatou’s increasingly insecure position as the fallout continued over the ISL corruption affair.
FIFA vice-president reprimanded for role in ISL corruption scandal
By Duncan Mackay in Lausanne
December 8 – Issa Hayatou, the vice-president of FIFA, has been given a reprimand for his involvement in an alleged corruption affair, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge (pictured) revealed here today.