January 20 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter, in Russia at the weekend for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Cup youth championship in St Petersburg, said that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin who had assured him that the World Cup was not in jeopardy despite the country’s economic difficulties.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 19 – A group of US senators has written to FIFA president Sepp Blatter in support of the elite female players who have been protesting against the decision to stage this summer’s women’s World Cup in Canada on artificial turf.
By David Owen
January 17 – FIFA has revealed that almost €40 million was paid to clubs under its inaugural Club Protection Programme (CPP) running from 1 September 2012 to 31 December 2014. All told, 126 cases were settled and €39.3 million paid out under the scheme, which compensates clubs when their players are injured on international duty.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 16 – It was always possible that a left-field candidate would put his name forward for FIFA president but few expected it to be a former left-sided international midfielder with little or no experience in football administration.
January 14 – Expert legal opinion commissioned by FIFA to review Michael Garcia’s report into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 world Cup, with specific reference to Russia and Qatar, has cleared both countries of any wrongdoing but warns of lawsuits.
January 14 – The stone base of the original Jules Rimet World Cup trophy has been miraculously discovered in a basement storage unit at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 13 – Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the forgotten potential candidate in the FIFA presidential election campaign, says he will not make up his mind whether to stand until the last moment.
By Andrew Warshaw
Jnauary 13 – Players at this year’s women’s World Cup in Canada appear close to conceding that they will lose their battle to compete on natural grass.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 13 – As usual there were a few bizarre voting patterns but in the end the favourite won hands down as Christiano Ronaldo was crowned world player of the year for the second straight time and the third time in his career on Monday night.
January 12 – Lothar Matthäus was the last German to win the World Player of the Year award -in 1991 title in front of Jean-Pierre Papin and Gary Lineker. Tonight Manuel Neuer, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo will be crowned. Matthäus spoke to SPORT1. By Reinhard Franke
By Andrew Warshaw
January 12 – Are the cracks beginning to show in Jerome Champagne’s bid for the FIFA presidency? Champagne, the former FIFA deputy general secretary regarded as an outsider even before Prince Ali bin al-Hussein announced his bid to enter the fray – even though he is the only candidate to have issued a firm election manifesto – has admitted for the first time that he may not be able to fulfil the criteria for standing.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 12 – FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein says he will launch a 10-year programme of reform and change if he manages to unseat Sepp Blatter in May.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 7 – FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne insists he will not pull out of the contest as a result of Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein’s decision to run – and has called on the Jordanian to reveal the actual changes he wants to implement.
By Mark Baber
January 6 – On the eve of Palestine’s participation in the Asian Cup finals, a FIFA delegation arrived in Gaza on Monday to witness at first hand the long struggle of Palestinians to realise their right to play football, in the face of the conflicts with Israel and the bombing of playing fields and stadiums.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 6 – After months of speculation, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan has announced he will stand against Sepp Blatter for the presidency of FIFA in May, bringing to three the number of candidates vying for the top job in world football. His likely challenge was first revealed by Insideworldfootball last October.