Guatemala 0-1 Panama:
June 20 – Friday night at Q2 Stadium bore no resemblance to the venue that hosted football just 24 hours earlier. The transformation was complete, and the catalyst was simple: unbridled passion provided by the hordes of Guatemala supporters who descended on Austin. Stark contrast to the lack of interest shown by US fans on Thursday.
By Mark Baber
December 1 – A UNESCO and Juventus-backed report on the fight against discrimination and racism in football has just been published, aiming to give an overview of the challenge of tackling unacceptable racist, xenophobic and intolerant views and making some concrete recommendations for clubs in how to propagate messages of tolerance, respect and inclusion.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 1 – The man running the 2018 World Cup in Russia admits the current corruption scandal that has engulfed FIFA has led to an atmosphere of “universal suspicion” about how his country won the vote but that it must not be allowed to overshadow the tournament.
By Paul Nicholson
December 1 – West Ham United again topped the table of attendance capacities last weekend with just 103 seats at the Boleyn Ground unfilled out of a total of 35,017. Seven Premier League teams reported more than 95% capacity attendances at their stadiums.
December 1 – There were no surprises when FIFA announced the shortlist for the prize of World Player of the Year, at least as far as the men are concerned, with the usual suspects bidding for honours in the New Year.
By Samindra Kunti
December 1 – FC Twente chairman Aldo van der Laan has resigned after the leak of a controversial agreement with club investors Doyen Sports Investments.
Andrew Warshaw
December 1 – The Armenian FA have been quick to clarify previous statements that last month’s 3-0 Euro 2016 qualifying defeat by Albania, which sealed the Balkan country’s first ever appearance in a major finals, may have been fixed.
December 1 – One of India’s most accomplished women footballers is facing deportation from Britain due to strict visa rules that threaten to curtail her progress.
By Paul Nicholson
December 1 – City Football Group (CFG), the Abu Dhabi-owned football investment firm that counts Premier League leaders Manchester City as one of its clubs has announced a $400 million new investment from China, valuing CFG at $3 billion.
By Mark Baber
November 30 – In a report that will be music to the ears of supporters of many clubs, leading European clubs including Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea and others may face a FIFA transfer ban.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 30 – Disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who is trying every tactic he can to avoid being extradited to the United States to face corruption charges, now says the legal process is taking its toll on his finances and has filed an appeal challenging the order.
November 30 – On a glittering Bollywood-style night of entertainment and awards in New Delhi, India, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) honoured their players and federations with a series of awards for a season that AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has taken the region to new levels.
November 30 – The five FIFA Presidential candidates have been asked to nominate their top three priorities if they end up being elected as part of an online survey organised by the pressure group NewFIFANow and run by its co-founder and British parliamentarian Damian Collins.
November 30 – One of Africa’s most notorious footballing figures says he never believed Sepp Blatter would find himself sanctioned by his own ethics committee as part of the ongoing corruption crisis.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 30 – Without a presidential candidate of their own, the South American confederation CONMEBOL says it will back Gianni Infantino (pictured) to succeed Sepp Blatter in February’s ballot, an early indication of the support the current UEFA general secretary may receive in addition to his own European members.
The FIFA Executive Committee decided in its meeting on 20 July 2015 to establish the ‘Task Force 2016 – FIFA Reform Committee’ (Reform Committee) which is currently working on its recommendations on how to change FIFA. The Reform Committee consists of 12 people, two appointed by each of the six FIFA Confederations and is chaired by Dr François Carrard. The Reform Committee will first present its proposal to the Executive Committee which will approve and submit it to the FIFA Congress where the 209 member associations will decide about it in February 2016.