Lebanese ‘sex-for-goals’ refs have ban made global
June 26 – FIFA has imposed a worldwide ban on two Lebanese assistant referees who were jailed in Singapore this month for accepting sexual favours to fix a match.
FIFA
Brazil wobbles but there is no Plan B for World Cup, says Valcke
By Andrew Warshaw
June 25 – FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke insists there is no Plan B for next year’s World Cup and no chance of stripping Brazil of hosting rights as a result of the anti-government protests that have swept through the country for the past fortnight.
U-20 World Cup refs draw the line at free kick encroachment
By Andrew Warshaw
June 24 – For the first time in FIFA competitions, vanishing spray to prevent players encroaching at free kicks is being used at the under-20 World Cup in Turkey, the latest move to aid referees following the introduction of goalline technology at the Confederations Cup.
TV audiences build for Confederations Cup early rounds
June 24 – Worldwide television audiences for the Confederations Cup continue to grow despite the adverse publicity generated by the widespread protests in Brazil. In the second round of matches, markets including Japan, Spain, Germany and the UK – the last two of which don’t have a team in the competition – all witnessed increases in viewing figures.
Blatter calls on Brazilians to stop using football to make their demands
By Andrew Warshaw
June 20 – As a wave of social unrest continues to sweep through Brazil, FIFA President Sepp Blatter has urged the public to stop using football as a means of expressing their anger and says they can only benefit from the tournament returning to the country next year for the first time in over half a century. The protests, timed to co-incide with the ongoing Confederations Cup, has cast a shadow over the World Cup dry run event that has produced several exhilarating games in full stadia.
More hints Blatter may stand again, this time from Valcke
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
June 19 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter may still not have confirmed publicly whether he intends to remain in the job when his current four-year mandate expires in 2015 but his number two has added to growing indications that the veteran Swiss may yet try to carry on into a fifth term.
Putin signs off on FIFA’s ‘World Cup Law’ as Russia readies for 2018
June 11 – Russia’s preparations for the 2018 World Cup have taken another step forward after President Vladimir Putin signed off on the so-called ‘World Cup Law’ that has caused so much debate.
Women footballers had higher London 2012 injury rate than men
By David Owen
June 8 – An in-depth study of injuries across all sports at the London 2012 Olympics has found that women footballers faced a substantially greater risk of getting hurt than their male counterparts. The International Olympic Committee study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, recorded 99 injuries among the 220 women who participated – a rate of 45%.
Aksa and Hyundai sign up for U-20 World Cup in Turkey later this month
By Mark Baber
June 7 – Ahead of the kick off of the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup on June 21, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) has agreed sponsorship deals with Aksa Jenerator to provide energy and with Hyundai to provide 112 official cars.
Tahiti prepares its world football coming out party with Beach Soccer draw
June 4 – When the official draw for September’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Tahiti 2013 is streamed lived tomorrow on FIFA.com, the Pacific islanders will take another significant step in the world of international football, putting hosting credentials alongside a growing list of playing achievements.
Nsekera wins post, Dodd fans cry foul but women get a stronger voice
By Andrew Warshaw in Mauritius
May 31 – Lydia Nsekera of Burundi became the first ever elected female member of FIFA’s executive committee today but her victory was shrouded in alleged politics despite football’s world governing body striving for new transparency and openness.
FIFA passes reforms but not before Pieth and the Europeans demand more
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent, in Mauritius
May 31 – FIFA’s much-trumpeted reform measures, designed to improve the battered image of world football’s governing body and herald in a new era of transparency, were approved by a landslide majority of members today – but not before Mark Pieth, the governance advisor charged with drawing up the original proposals, caused a huge stir by challenging Sepp Blatter and his colleagues to reveal their salaries.
FIFA Congress: Blatter calls on delegates to make football history
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent, in Mauritius
May 31 – In one of the most direct speeches of his 15-year FIFA presidency, Sepp Blatter today launched a tough-talking and passionate defence of his organisation’s efforts to eliminate corruption whilst attacking the scourge of racism in football in similar fashion.
FIFA Congress preview: reforms and women dominate the political jostling
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent, in Mauritius
May 30 – “Nobody loves us, we don’t care” is the mantra of one of England’s less popular football teams. Barring one word in that phrase, one could argue FIFA is adopting pretty much the same mentality as they approach the climax of Sepp Blatter’s two-campaign to rid his organisation of slease and corruption.
Zhang is back! China’s top football official takes FIFA exco seat
By Andrew Warshaw in Mauritius
May 30 – Zhang Jilong (pictured), the Chinese official who ran Asian football as interim president for two years yet opted not to apply for the job full-time, is back at the top table of FIFA. Zhang has been unexpectedly parachuted back on to the FIFA executive committee in place of Sri Lankan’s Fernando Manilal.