By Andrew Warshaw
March 20 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has again issued a firm assurance that Brazil will be ready to host the 2014 World Cup. On the eve of one of FIFA’s most far-reaching executive committee meetings, Blatter met Brazil’s sports minister and FIFA’s World Cup organizing committee on Tuesday.
March 20 – Two FIFA films have been shortlisted for the International Visual Communications Associations Awards (IVCA). The 2013 IVCA awards ceremony take place on March 22 in London.
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent, in Doha
March 20 – One of the candidates bidding to become president of the Asian Football Confederation has said for the first time that he might pull out of the race.
By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent, in Doha
March 19 – Chris Eaton (pictured), one of the world’s leading experts on match-fixing, has warned that the recent investigation into possible rigging at lower-league English level could be the start of something far more sinister.
By Mark Baber
March 19 – Michel D’Hooghe, chairman of FIFA’s medical committee and President of the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre, has said that the abuse of anti-inflammatory medicine by football players is a bigger problem facing the sport than doping.
Exclusive: by Osasu Obayiuwana
March 19 – In what can be regarded as a tacit admission that elections into leading football positions lack robust contests, which do little for public confidence, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has confessed that the prevailing situation is far from ideal.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 19 – Almost three months after making worldwide headlines by walking off the pitch in protest at racism, AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng will meet with FIFA president Sepp Blatter this week to discuss the best ways to fight discrimination and abuse.
Sadly, the AFC presidential and FIFA Executive Committee elections in Asia promise to deliver another battle-field of smear and grime. Some of the protagonists are set to disappear into their self-made trenches of libel and slander, while one (or two) others are quietly watching from the side-lines at present, but ready to hit the unsuspecting contenders at the opportune moment.
Sri Lankan Vernon Manilal Fernando has been eliminated from proceedings. Temporarily, they say.
By Mark Baber
March 19 – John Riccitiello is resigning as CEO of Electronic Arts after six years in the job, taking responsibility for what are expected to be disappointing quarterly results, despite record breaking numbers for its FIFA games.
March 19 – As anticipated, UEFA has charged Inter Milan over the racist behaviour of their fans during the recent Europa League game at home to Tottenham Hotspur last week.
By Mark Baber
March 19 – Hull City has expressed frustration with the police and solidarity with its fans in advance of its away game against Huddersfield Town.
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
March 19 – The Greek footballer who made a Nazi gesture after scoring a goal at the weekend has come under fresh condemnation – this time from a leading United Nations adviser.
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
March 19 – Speaking at the Securing Sport 2013 conference in Doha, Palestine’s leading women’s football pioneer has added her name to those who believe UEFA were fundamentally wrong to award this summer’s European under-21 championship to Israel.
By Paul Nicholson
March 18 – The Russian ban on selling alcohol in stadiums looks to have been lifted, with drinks companies saying they have bought licenses to sell beer in stadiums from 2018, in time for the FIFA World Cup 2018.
By Mark Baber
March 18 – The revelation that the head of the Nigeria Women Professional League (NPWL) has been actively discriminating against suspected lesbian footballers has unleashed a storm of protest including a petition to FIFA which has so far gathered nearly 50,000 signatures.