July 9 – One of the big success stories of the World Cup so far has been the welcome the Russians have given to visitors regardless of nationality, colour or religion.
July 6 – FIFA has slapped St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation president Venold Coombs with a two-year ban and a hefty fine after finding him guilty on corruption charges.
July 6 – After describing Colombia’s World Cup loss to England as a “monumental theft” and being wrapped over the knuckles by FIFA, for whom he is a well-paid ambassador, Diego Maradona has apologised for the comments he made about the refereeing during the last-16 tie.
By Andrew Warshaw
July 3 – No sooner has the national team returned from the World Cup after exiting at the group stage than Nigerian football has been plunged into crisis off the field over the presidency of the federation (NFF).
June 29 – FIFA’s strict rules on government interference in the affairs of its member federations has been called into question in Ghana where reports suggest only government representatives – and not footballing officials – were called to today’s meeting in Zurich to discuss the corruption crisis in the African country.
June 28 – Former Ghana Football Association chairman Nana Sam Brew-Butler has pulled out of crisis talks with FIFA over the future of the game in the African country.
June 27 – The fallout over the ban of disgraced Ghanaian football boss Kwesi Nyantakyi has intensified with FIFA reportedly inviting four members of the Ghanaian FA for crisis talks even though the federation has been dissolved by the government.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 26 – FIFA is to consider tightening up its concussion protocol following the World Cup in order discourage teams and players from taking unilateral decisions in defiance of strict guidelines.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 22 – Gianni Infantino may have emerged unscathed from the corruption scandal that brought FIFA to its knees before he took over as president, but that has not prevented continuing scrutiny of the way he is running the organisation.
June 22 – A meeting between FIFA and Ghanaian officials, scheduled for today and aimed at restructuring the national FA after it was dissolved in the wake of the Kwesi Nyantakyi scandal, has been postponed indefinitely.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 21 – As Morocco continues to digest being crushed in its bid to stage the 2026 World Cup (as well being the unluckiest team at the World Cup), Gianni Infantino has given the biggest hint yet that he supported the winning north American bid.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 19 – Having been trounced in their bid to stage the 2026 World cup, a record fifth loss, Morocco are coming back for yet more – by order of the king.
By Andrew Warshaw in Moscow
June 15 – Palestinian football has suffered a second off-the-field blow in a matter of days after FIFA announced it is taking disciplinary action against Jibril Rajoub (pictured), the federation’s tub-thumping leader, for threatening Lionel Messi.
By Mark Baber
June 13 – The dispute between authorities in Egypt and FIFA over the latter’s sale of exclusive World Cup broadcast rights in Egypt to Qatar-owned beIN sports has intensified with Egypt’s Competition Authority (ECA) saying it will oblige FIFA to allow the state broadcaster to broadcast 22 matches, including those of the Egyptian national team.
By Andrew Warshaw in Moscow
June 13 – Gianni Infantino claimed personal credit today for turning round FIFA’s fortunes since becoming its president just over two years ago – both from a financial and transparency standpoint.