FIFA turns Slovak match-fixing sanctions into global bans
January 30 – Four Slovakian league players have been given worldwide bans by FIFA for their involvement in match-fixing this season.
FIFA
Blatter calls for no political ‘grandstanding’ and no Sochi boycotts
By Andrew Warshaw
January 20 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter says neither the World Cup nor the upcoming winter Olympics in Sochi should be targeted for political purposes. He also reiterated the importance of the fight against social exclusion but that boycotting Sochi would be a “surrender” on this issue.
Champagne fizzes in to FIFA presidential race, but will he fizzle out?
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
January 20 – The first battle lines in the bid to become the next president of FIFA were drawn today when Jerome Champagne, one of the organisation’s most senior former administrators, officially announced his intention to run for the top job in world football.
Heading for the start line: Blatter will decide on whether to run pre-World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
January 17 – In the latest move of an intriguing guessing game, FIFA president Sepp Blatter says he will decide before the World Cup whether to stand for a fifth term as head of football’s world governing body.
Women’s Club World Cup takes step nearer as Task Force begins manoeuvres
January 16 – The prospect of a women’s Club World Cup to mirror the men’s event has reportedly moved a step following the first session of the FIFA Task Force for Women’s Football, chaired by Moya Dodd, the Australian co-opted member of FIFA’s Executive Committee.
Blatter emerges as IOC’s top Tweeter
By David Owen
January 16 – Joseph Blatter, it is fair to say, has on occasion been slow to warm to new technology. When it comes to social media, however, the FIFA President is very much down with the kids.
Visa renews FIFA main sponsorship with 8-year deal
January 15 – FIFA have extended their top-level sponsorship deal with credit card provider Visa until 2022. Visa will retain exclusive global rights in the Financial Services product category.
Mutschke warns match-fixers will target Brazil World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – FIFA’s main corruption-buster has warned that match-fixing criminals may try to target World Cup matches this summer. But says Ralf Mutschke, football’s world governing body will do all it can to make sure the tournament remains clean.
FIFA names its official teams for Brazil 2014
January 15 – FIFA has named an elite group to officiate in Brazil this summer. Included in the list is English referee Howard Webb, who took charge of the bad-tempered 2010 World Cup final, but has had an indifferent season in the English Premier League.
IFAB reform sees set-up of expert panels to take advisory lead on rule changes
By Andrew Warshaw
January 14 – Two new panels, one of ex-players and coaches and the other comprising officials and other experts, are to advise football’s lawmakers on proposed changes to the game. The two bodies are part of the reform structure being made to the International FA Board, the guardians of the rules of the game comprising FIFA and the four British associations.
Ronaldo stars; Angerer, Heynckes and Pele honoured at Ballon d’Or
By Andrew Warshaw
January 14 – There were tears all round and heaps of respect as FIFA’s annual world player of the year award as expected went to Christiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid’s Portuguese star ending arch rival Lionel Messi’s four-year stranglehold on the prestigious prize.
Ronaldo closes in on Ballon d’Or as greats gather for Zurich Gala
By Andrew Warshaw
January 13 – After consistently losing out to Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo is favourite to clinch FIFA’s prestigious Ballon d’Or award later today. Real Madrid’s Portugal captain is named on a three-man shortlist to be crowned world player of the year at the annual gala in Zurich, along with Barcelona’s Messi and Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich.
Platini goes on attack over ‘early’ winter 2022 comments
By Andrew Warshaw
January 10 – UEFA president Michel Platini has turned up the heat over the timing of FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke’s much-publicised remarks about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Blatter takes plunge by dropping a bomb on ‘preposterous’ divers
By Andrew Warshaw
January 3 – In his first public pronouncement of 2014 on the game’s ills, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has denounced the “deeply irritating” practice of diving and has urged referees to take stronger action. In his latest column in FIFA Weekly magazine, Blatter doesn’t hold back on the subject of simulation which continues to infuriate fans and which he clearly would like to stamp out ahead of this year’s World Cup.
Valcke reflects on a challenging 2013 and ‘recharges’ for a big 2014
By Andrew Warshaw
December 23 – FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke says it’s time to “recharge the batteries” over the Christmas period after what he has described as a “momentous” year – in part related to trying to organise next year’s World Cup in Brazil where half the stadiums will not be ready by FIFA’s end-of-year deadline.