Steinhaus-Webb to head women’s refereeing at FIFA
October 9 – FIFA has appointed Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb as its new head of women’s refereeing.
FIFA
African officials and member associations warned not to be ‘complicit in the suicide of CAF’
October 7 – A letter sent to members of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and which has been circulated around member associations has caused concern and fear in Africa’s national associations over the ongoing future of CAF, and Africa’s right to govern its own football eco-system within Africa.
Curto given 10-match ban for racially abusing Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan
October 8 – Italian defender Marco Curto has been banned for 10 matches by FIFA, five of them suspended for two years, for racially abusing Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan in a pre-season friendly.
FIFA pushes for expanded Women’s finals at 2028 Olympics and addition of Futsal and Beach Soccer
October 7 – FIFA has announced it will propose expanding the women’s Olympic soccer tournament from 12 teams to 16, as well as the addition of futsal and beach soccer to the games in a mission to further elevate women’s football and diversify the sport’s Olympic offerings.
Palestine FA put their faith in the FIFA’s Ethics bodies to achieve a ‘just outcome’
October 6 – The Palestine Football Association (PFA), which has lost pretty much every political battle with its Israeli neighbours in the football politics arena, have nevertheless ‘welcomed’ the FIFA Council’s decision to refer their case to FIFA’s Ethics bodies.
FIFA kicks potential landmark ruling on Israel’s suspension into the rubble of Gaza
October 4 – Just when it looked like FIFA might finally take a giant courageous leap by siding with the Palestinian cause in the Middle East, procrastination was again the name of the game.
FIFA Council decision expected to rule on Israel’s international football future today
October 3 – Is FIFA finally running out of patience with Israel? Following delay after delay over Palestinian demands for action, a decision on whether or not to suspend Israel from international football is set to be taken by the FIFA Council today.
Swiss prosecutors pursue fraud and forgery probe into key Infantino foot soldier Mosengo-Omba
October 3 – Confederation of African Football (CAF) secretary general Véron Mosengo-Omba is having a bad couple of months. Fribourg prosecutor’s office is investigating a series of suspicious payments made to Swiss bank accounts. The news follows a CAF audit report that called for his suspension.
Human Rights Watch urges FIFA to follow its rules and ban Israel
October 3 – On the eve of its Council meeting today, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his fellow decision makers received yet another demand from Human Rights Watch to “fulfil” the organisation’s responsibilities and stop Israeli clubs organising fixtures in the West Bank, an issue that constantly been kicked down the road by world football’s governing body.
Touts get in early with 2026 tickets being advertised for sale a year ahead of launch
October 3 – FIFA, has issued its first, and surely not last warning to fans prior to the 2026 World Cup urging them to not purchase tickets from ‘unofficial ticketing websites’.
Eto’o banned by FIFA from Cameroon games after U20 Women’s World Cup incident
October 1 – Cameroon’s greatest footballing icon, Samuel Eto’o, president of his country’s FA since 2021, has been banned by FIFA from attending any national team games for six months.
FIFA unveils the 12 host stadiums for expanded Club World Cup 2025
September 30 – FIFA has named the 12 stadiums in the US that will host matches at the expanded 32-team Club World Cup 2025.
Global Citizen to produce first ever World Cup 2026 final half-time show to drive social causes
September 30 – FIFA has partnered with international social issue campaigners, Global Citizen, to produce the first ever World Cup final half-time show in July 2026 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Fury at Futsal World Cup as French accused of rigging match to get easier knockout route
September 26 – The Futsal World Cup has exploded into controversy, with coaches making accusations of match-fixing following a heavy defeat for France against Iran.
FIFA warns Egyptian FA to pay up or face ban from 2026 World Cup qualifiers
September 25 – Egypt’s national team are facing the unlikely possibility of being excluded from the 2026 World Cup due to an unpaid fine according to reports in the country and Switzerland.