FIFA dump Zimbabwe from 2018 World Cup for unpaid debts
March 12 – No sooner has qualifying for the 2018 World Cup begun in various parts of the world than Zimbabwe have been thrown out for failing to pay former coach Jose Claudinei Georgini.
FIFA
FIFA tune-up agenda for hard-driving exco meet
By Andrew Warshaw
March 12 – The exact dates for the first ever winter World Cup in November and December 2022 leads a packed agenda for next week’s FIFA executive committee meeting.
Prince Ali enlists Bahraini royal help in bid to beat Blatter
By Andrew Warshaw
March 11 – Prince Ali bin al-Hussein’s bid to dethrone Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA has taken an unexpected twist after he appeared to pick up support in arguably the least likely part of Asia.
Talk shop lobbies for quotas to boost female football execs
March 9 – Quotas should be introduced to increase the number of women in top football positions according to panelists who attended the first FIFA Women’s Football and Leadership Conference.
Van Praag calls for one candidate only in Euro-bid to upset Blatter
By Andrew Warshaw
March 9 – FIFA presidential candidate Michael van Praag says he and fellow contender Luis Figo have no chance of dethroning Sepp Blatter unless one of them pulls out of the running in the weeks ahead.
Zwanziger focuses in on Platini with Qatar 2022 criticism
March 9 – Germany’s outgoing FIFA executive committee member Theo Zwanziger is back on the offensive over the award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Borbely takes over FIFA ethics hot seat promising independence and confidentiality
By Andrew Warshaw
March 6 – FIFA’s new chief ethics investigator insists he will not be influenced or sidetracked by anyone within the heirarchy of football’s world governing body when it comes to making independent decisions – including FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
Exclusive: D’Hooghe “relieved” at being cleared, backs winter World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent
March 5 – Michel d’Hooghe, FIFA’s longest-standing executive committee member and head of its medical committee, has expressed his relief at being cleared of any misconduct in the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and says he just wants to get on with what he has been doing for the last 27 years.
FIFA extend Boateng lifetime match-fixing ban worldwide
By Mark Baber
March 4 – Michael Boateng (pictured), the former Crystal Palace youth player who was sentenced to jail for match-fixing last year, has had his lifetime ban from football extended worldwide by FIFA.
Van Praag promises ‘normal’; more cash and more World Cup places
By Andrew Warshaw
March 3 – Dutch FA chief Michael van Praag has become the latest FIFA presidential candidate to unveil his manifesto, parts of it perceptibly similar to that of the other European candidate vying for Sepp Blatter’s crown, Luis Figo.
Football’s lawmakers put video refs on pause, but mistakes keep coming
By Andrew Warshaw
March 2 – The timing could not have been more apt. Just as the custodians of world football decided to delay the advent of video technology to help referees for at least a year, so those in favour of speeding things up pointed to another example of the need for progress with a case of mistaken identity in England’s Premier League.
FIFA pay respect to the inventor of the penalty, William McCrum
March 2 – FIFA has agreed to fund the restoration of the grave of William McCrum, the man responsible for first proposing the penalty kick to football’s lawmakers which was adopted back in 1890.
Now UEFA see red and slam IFAB ruling on triple punishment
By Andrew Warshaw
March 2 – A new FIFA-UEFA spat has emerged, this time over how to resolve the thorny issue of triple punishment – penalty, sending off and suspension – for players who deliberately prevent a goalscoring opportunity.
4th sub, sin-bins and video refs on football rulemakers’ agenda
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – The lawmakers of world football are to consider allowing a fourth substitute in extra time and will at last try to get to grips with the contentious so-called “triple punishment” when they convene in Belfast today and tomorrow.
Van Praag to outline ‘normalisation’ agenda before hitting Conmebol trail
February 27 – FIFA presidential candidate Michael van Praag steps up his campaign bid early next week by unveiling his manifesto on Monday – then flying straight to the Conmebol Congress in Paraguay to lobby for support.