News for 'Sepp Blatter'

Elections over. Now hard work begins for new FIFA boss

Elections over. Now hard work begins for new FIFA boss

Rediff.com27 Feb 2016

Gianni Infantino's election as FIFA president should give football's governing body the time it needs to begin tackling the corruption and other problems that have dragged it into the worst crisis in its 112-year history, current and former officials said.

Iraq to back Prince Ali in FIFA election

Iraq to back Prince Ali in FIFA election

Rediff.com20 Jan 2016

The Iraq Football Association (IFA) pledged their support for Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein in next month's FIFA presidential election.

Sports Shorts: Vela gets Mexico call-up despite years of refusals

Sports Shorts: Vela gets Mexico call-up despite years of refusals

Rediff.com29 Oct 2014

Real Sociedad midfielder Carlos Vela was called up by Mexico for November tour friendlies on Tuesday after turning his back on his country since March 2011.

Six officials arrested and detained in Zurich over FIFA graft

Six officials arrested and detained in Zurich over FIFA graft

Rediff.com27 May 2015

Six soccer officials were arrested in Zurich on Wednesday and detained pending extradition to the United States over suspected corruption at soccer's governing body FIFA, the Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FCOJ) said in a statement.

Now, Prince William dabbles into FIFA scandal

Now, Prince William dabbles into FIFA scandal

Rediff.com31 May 2015

English FA president Prince William called on FIFA to reform and show that "it can represent the interests of fair play" in a speech at the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Comparing FIFA to the Mafia is 'almost insulting to the Mafia': US Senator

Comparing FIFA to the Mafia is 'almost insulting to the Mafia': US Senator

Rediff.com16 Jul 2015

Senators call for reforms of US soccer body at FIFA corruption hearing

They picked on me because of my skin colour, says Paris racism victim

They picked on me because of my skin colour, says Paris racism victim

Rediff.com19 Feb 2015

"It was clear to me they were picking on me because of the colour of my skin," the victim, identified by Le Parisien as Souleymane, 33, said.

' Awarding football World Cup to Qatar a blatant mistake'

' Awarding football World Cup to Qatar a blatant mistake'

Rediff.com24 Jul 2013

Awarding the 2022 football World Cup to Qatar's desert state was a "blatant mistake" FIFA executive committee member Theo Zwanziger said on Wednesday, adding that staging the tournament in winter would be just as big a problem.

FIFA chief Infantino moots 48-team football World Cup

FIFA chief Infantino moots 48-team football World Cup

Rediff.com4 Oct 2016

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, whose election promises included expanding the World Cup finals to 40 countries, on Monday proposed an even larger tournament involving 48 teams.

Sports Shorts: Bayern Munich set to sign Alonso from Real Madrid

Sports Shorts: Bayern Munich set to sign Alonso from Real Madrid

Rediff.com28 Aug 2014

German champions Bayern Munich are close to signing former World and European champion Xabi Alonso from Champions League winners Real Madrid.

Mayne-Nicholls still undecided about FIFA presidency bid

Mayne-Nicholls still undecided about FIFA presidency bid

Rediff.com28 Nov 2014

Prospective FIFA presidential candidate Harold Mayne-Nicholls will decide whether to run against embattled incumbent Sepp Blatter in the New Year, the Chilean said on Thursday.

No transparent voting booths at FIFA election

No transparent voting booths at FIFA election

Rediff.com20 Feb 2016

FIFA has rejected a demand from a presidential candidate to use transparent voting booths at next week's election to ensure delegates do not photograph their ballot papers when they choose the head of football's world ruling body.

Can Figo pull off upset win in FIFA presidentilal polls?

Can Figo pull off upset win in FIFA presidentilal polls?

Rediff.com21 May 2015

Luis Figo was one of the most talented, successful and exciting players of his generation, leading Portugal to a series of impressive performances which put many bigger countries to shame.

Athletics scandal worse than FIFA crisis: Johnson

Athletics scandal worse than FIFA crisis: Johnson

Rediff.com19 Jan 2016

The corruption scandal that has rocked athletics is worse than the one that has plunged soccer body FIFA into crisis because it punished clean athletes, four-times Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson said on Tuesday. "With athletics, if you think about the victims, it is absolutely worse," the 400 metres world record holder told BBC radio. "The victims here are those (clean) athletes. They never had the opportunity to stand on the podium and they should have," added the American sprinter. An independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has stated in a damning report that "corruption was embedded" at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

FIFA elections: Who is saying what...

FIFA elections: Who is saying what...

Rediff.com23 Feb 2016

FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne has protested to football's world governing body about the number of observers allowed into the hall for Friday's election, saying he believed they were working for his rivals.

Boycott of FIFA could splinter soccer

Boycott of FIFA could splinter soccer

Rediff.com5 Dec 2014

A European-led boycott of FIFA or the World Cup is unrealistic.

It's time to eradicate diving on the football field: Martinez

It's time to eradicate diving on the football field: Martinez

Rediff.com3 Jan 2014

Diving or "simulation" is becoming a growing problem and everyone involved in football has a responsibility to make it stop, Everton manager Roberto Martinez said on Friday.

Swiss open criminal proceedings tied to 2018, 2022 World Cup bids

Swiss open criminal proceedings tied to 2018, 2022 World Cup bids

Rediff.com27 May 2015

Swiss authorities have opened criminal proceedings against individuals on suspicion of mismanagement and money laundering related to the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA soccer World Cups in Russia and Qatar.

Iran President Rouhani promises to allow women to attend football matches: FIFA

Iran President Rouhani promises to allow women to attend football matches: FIFA

Rediff.com2 Mar 2018

The Iranian group OpenStadiums, which is campaigning for the right of women to attend sports fixtures in the Islamic Republic, said that some women were arrested near Azadi stadium on Thursday during the Esteghlal-Persepolis match.

Palestine mulls asking FIFA to expel Israel for barring delegates

Palestine mulls asking FIFA to expel Israel for barring delegates

Rediff.com16 Aug 2013

Palestinian sports supremo Jibril Rajoub has threatened to call for Israel's expulsion from world soccer's governing body after it denied a number of officials entry to the West Bank for a youth tournament on security grounds

FIFA chief's radical proposal to popularise Club World Cup

FIFA chief's radical proposal to popularise Club World Cup

Rediff.com18 Nov 2016

'That's what we're trying to do, by creating a tournament that is much more attractive than the current one, with more quality among participants and more clubs. That will attract more sponsors and television companies from around the world'

Union slams FIFA and demands player involvement in reforms

Union slams FIFA and demands player involvement in reforms

Rediff.com4 Jul 2015

The general secretary of the world players' union FIFPro has blasted FIFA.

Luis Figo to tempt CONCACAF voters with cash boost plan

Luis Figo to tempt CONCACAF voters with cash boost plan

Rediff.com13 Apr 2015

FIFA presidential hopeful Luis Figo will travel to the Caribbean this week hoping to tempt voters in the CONCACAF region with a plan to distribute more funds, $2.5 billion (1.7 billion pounds) over four years, to national associations.

Follow Japan... Rivaldo tells 'sleeping giant' India

Follow Japan... Rivaldo tells 'sleeping giant' India

Rediff.com21 Oct 2016

He is certainly not the first to say this but World Cup and Ballon d'Or winner Rivaldo too feels India should follow the 'Japan model' in order to improve the standard of football in the country.

Barca president slams FIFA rules over transfer ban

Barca president slams FIFA rules over transfer ban

Rediff.com28 Jan 2015

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu believes FIFA regulations concerning under-age player transfers needs to be revised and that current rules would have prevented Lionel Messi from joining the club.

FIFA agreeing to hold 2022 Qatar World Cup in winter?

FIFA agreeing to hold 2022 Qatar World Cup in winter?

Rediff.com4 Nov 2014

FIFA has reportedly raised objections of holding the 2022 Qatar World Cup in the summer in light of health risks and speculations are that the tournament would be held in winter.

Scandal hit FIFA suspends bidding for 2026 World Cup

Scandal hit FIFA suspends bidding for 2026 World Cup

Rediff.com11 Jun 2015

Scandal-plagued FIFA postponed the bidding for the right to host the 2026 World Cup.

Two Americas football bosses arrested as FIFA corruption scandal deepens

Two Americas football bosses arrested as FIFA corruption scandal deepens

Rediff.com3 Dec 2015

Switzerland's Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) named the men as Alfredo Hawit of Honduras, acting president of the CONCACAF federation and a FIFA vice-president, and Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay, head of the South American football federation CONMEBOL. CONCACAF administers football in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Did SA govt bribe FIFA's ex-official Warner to get 2010 World Cup hosting rights?

Did SA govt bribe FIFA's ex-official Warner to get 2010 World Cup hosting rights?

Rediff.com5 Jun 2015

According to reports across media, then president Thabo Mbeki and foreign minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma approved the payment which the authorities again insisted on Friday was for a legitimate development project in the Caribbean.

Platini calls for sin bins to replace yellow cards

Platini calls for sin bins to replace yellow cards

Rediff.com6 Dec 2013

European soccer chief Michel Platini wants yellow cards to be replaced by a rugby-style system of sin bins.

Figo hopes World Cup expansion plan can gain Asia support

Figo hopes World Cup expansion plan can gain Asia support

Rediff.com28 Apr 2015

FIFA presidential candidate Luis Figo will hope to convince delegates at this week's Asian Football Confederation Congress that a vote for him would boost the region's chances of more places in future World Cup finals.

We did not block FIFA reforms: UEFA

We did not block FIFA reforms: UEFA

Rediff.com30 Jun 2015

UEFA has hit back at suggestions that it and other continental confederations have been responsible for blocking reforms.

2022 World Cup final to be played on December 18

2022 World Cup final to be played on December 18

Rediff.com20 Mar 2015

FIFA ended more than four years of uncertainty over the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by announcing on Thursday that it would be played in November and December with the final on December 18.

FIFA announces new sponsorship deal, says more on the way

FIFA announces new sponsorship deal, says more on the way

Rediff.com19 Mar 2016

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said a wind of change was blowing through football's scandal-plagued world governing body after announcing a sponsorship deal with China's Wanda Group on Friday.

Ex-France winger Ginola throws his hat in ring for FIFA presidency

Ex-France winger Ginola throws his hat in ring for FIFA presidency

Rediff.com16 Jan 2015

Former France winger David Ginola will announce on Friday that he is entering the race to become president of world soccer's governing body FIFA, The Sun reported on Thursday.

'Women can help solve FIFA's problems'

'Women can help solve FIFA's problems'

Rediff.com8 Mar 2016

Recently-elected FIFA president Gianni Infantino was told on Monday that 'women are part of the solution' to the problems that have plagued football's scandal-plagued world governing body.

Spitting was a normal reaction: Saudi striker Al Shamrani

Spitting was a normal reaction: Saudi striker Al Shamrani

Rediff.com29 Nov 2014

Al Hilal striker Nasser Al Shamrani said it was a normal reaction to spit at Western Sydney Wanderers defender Matthew Spiranovic at the end of the AFC Champions League final earlier this month after claiming to be verbally abused by the Australian.

FIFA secretary general Valcke all but says he's leaving

FIFA secretary general Valcke all but says he's leaving

Rediff.com24 Jul 2015

Jerome Valcke, FIFA's often-outspoken secretary general, all but confirmed on Friday that he will be leaving his job when Sepp Blatter is replaced as president of world soccer's governing body next February.

'Next FIFA boss should be outsider with good human rights record'

'Next FIFA boss should be outsider with good human rights record'

Rediff.com23 Oct 2015

"A clean break from the past is essential for FIFA to climb out of the toxic pit which continues to produce serious accusations of corrupt behaviour on almost a daily basis," FIFPro said in a statement.

Swiss open criminal probe into ex-FIFA official Valcke, Qatar businessman

Swiss open criminal probe into ex-FIFA official Valcke, Qatar businessman

Rediff.com13 Oct 2017

Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Jerome Valcke, the banned former FIFA secretary general, and Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the chief executive of Qatar's beIN Media, over World Cup broadcasting deals.