Fifa embroiled in further turmoil as communications boss departs June 11, 2015 BESIEGED world governing body Fifa were last night embroiled in further turmoil following the abrupt departure of communications director Walter de Gregorio. The 50-year-old left his position suddenly amid suggestions of a falling-out over a joke he told on Swiss television earlier this week. De Gregorio had quipped: “The Fifa president, secretary general and communications [...]
Fifa crisis: Director of communications Walter De Gregorio stands down June 11, 2015 Walter De Gregorio, Fifa's director of communications, will step down from his role "with immediate effect" according to the football governing body. This comes a fortnight after he described the FBI-led arrests of senior figures as "a good day" for Fifa. He was appointed to the role four years ago and acted as a [...]
Fifa crisis: World Cup 2026 bidding process suspended, says general secretary Jerome Valcke June 10, 2015 Fifa has suspended the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup, according to secretary general Jerome Valcke. The bidding process for the 2026 tournament which is due to be awarded at the 2017 Fifa Congress in Kuala Lumpur, will now be postponed as Fifa wrestles with the fallout of the US Department of Justice investigation [...]
Fifa film United Passions flops as it takes just $607 at US box office June 8, 2015 After arrests, resignations and allegations, Fifa's hellish fortnight got even worse this weekend with a box office bomb. United Passions, the Fifa-financed film which tells the story of the governing body and the World Cup, made a measly $607 on its opening weekend in the US – a pathetic return that looks even worse in [...]
FIFA bribery scandal: David Cameron to bring corruption into centre stage at G7 summit June 6, 2015 David Cameron will tell other G7 leaders the FIFA scandal is evidence of a need for international and co-ordinated action on corruption. Read more: Disgraced Fifa exec Chuck Blazer showed off meeting Vladimir Putin and Miss Universe in a weird and wonderful blog Cameron will say that there has been an air of taboo around accusing [...]
Fifa imploded and Morrisons bumbled through: Here’s what got us talking this week June 5, 2015 Fifa imploded. Greek talks went on (and on) and on. And somewhere in the Surrey hills, even more oil was found. Here's what got us talking this week 1. Working nine to five… but not if you're at the top If your office starts to look a bit thin on the ground [...]
Besieged Fifa in cash row over Henry handball June 4, 2015 CRISIS-HIT world governing body Fifa were last night at the centre of a fresh cash row over payments made to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to drop a legal case over striker Thierry Henry’s infamous World Cup handball. Former Arsenal forward Henry handled the ball in the build-up to a William Gallas strike in [...]
England ready to host 2022 World Cup if stripped from Qatar, says culture secretary John Whittingdale June 4, 2015 Culture secretary John Whittingdale has said England is ready to host the 2022 World Cup if Qatar is stripped of the tournament over corruption claims. Read more: Dyke urges Platini to lead World Cup boycott Answering a culture question the commons, the Conservative MP said England would be ready to host the tournament in seven years' [...]
Fifa’s sponsors will welcome corruption scrutiny – but only for so long June 4, 2015 Corruption allegations aside, Sepp Blatter’s decision to resign was the right move for Fifa, its sponsors and football. Fifa is now faced with the challenge of rebuilding its reputation. Had it not had the monopoly on international football, the organisation would be dead in the water by now. However, responsibility for reshaping the [...]
Disgraced Fifa exec Chuck Blazer showed off meeting Vladimir Putin and Miss Universe in a weird and wonderful blog June 4, 2015 Chuck Blazer, the former Fifa official who admitted accepting bribes to vote for World Cup bids, wasn't exactly shy of showing off his jet-setting, cake-eating, Vladimir Putin-high fiving lifestyle during his time in office. Read more: Chuck Blazer admits accepting bribes for World Cup bids The details of the eccentric American's guilty plea to 10 charges [...]