By Andrew Warshaw
March 14 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants clubs to crack down harder on flares and firecrackers in stadiums, describing those who let them off as “arsonists”and “pyromaniacs”.
March 10 – FIFA has called for expressions of interest in hosting eights of its competitions including the Women’s World Club and four editions of the FIFA Club World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 6 – The human rights issue in Qatar is back in the spotlight following the latest summit hosted by FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Theo Zwanziger, the executive committee member mandated with maintaining the pressure on the 2022 World Cup hosts to reform their employment system and comply with international labour standards.
March 5 – Despite the myriad of problems facing the Brazil World Cup, FIFA President Sepp Blatter used this week’s 100-day countdown for the start of the tournament to try and accentuate the positive.
March 3 – Football’s rule-making body has given the green light for both male and female players to wear head coverings for religious reasons during games.
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
March 2 – Those who favour scrapping the so-called triple punishment rule were left disappointed today when football’s lawmakers opted to retain the status quo even though referees badly need some kind of guidance in applying this most controversial of regulations.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Two recent controversial Champions League dismissals have refocused attention on the so-called triple punishment – penalty , sending off and subsequent – that continues to cause so much consternation throughout the game. The rule, which has been hotly debated with referees applying different interpretations as to what constitutes a goal-scoring opportunity, comes up for discussion once again at the annual International FA Board meeting in Zurich on Saturday.
By Paul Nicholson
February 27 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter looks increasingly certain to run for another term as president of FIFA. Speaking to Swiss Walliser Bote – a daily that appears in Blatter’s home canton of Valais – he confirmed that he will run for President again in 2015 “if the FIFA Congress so decides”.
February 25 – FIFA has extended the bans worldwide to one English and two Slovakian players following allegations of match-fixing. The sanctions are an enforcement of penalties that have already been issued by their national federations.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 21- FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne has fired his first thematic salvo in his unlikely bid to take over from Sepp Blatter by focussing on the need to reform the current transfer system.
February 21 – FIFA sponsor Budweiser has launched its 2014 World Cup marketing campaign, Rise As One, aimed at celebrating the moments that unite and captivate fans and nations. The official beer sponsor’s global ad campaign will run on TV and outdoor in the run-up to the summer tournament and launches March 5.with a series of online teasers with a full launch being March 24.
February 20 – Zambia’s football association has been fined SFr50,000 ($56,000) by FIFA for breaching international transfer rules in the latest effort by football’s world governing body to crack down on the irregular movement of players.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 18 – For the first time ever, FIFA are planning impromptu precautionary dope tests ahead of the World Cup despite the tournament having no history of persistent drug-related issues.
February 17 – The controversial “triple punishment” of penalty, sending-off and suspension for offences that prevent a goalscoring opportunity could be eased if referees used more intuition and sensitivity, according to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
February 14 – The eagerly awaited report into whether any of the contenders for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were involved in corruption and broke bidding rules is expected to be released later this year according to a senior FIFA official.