Fifa

Michael Garcia, chairman of the investigatory chamber of the Fifa Ethics Committee, is investigating three current Executive Committee members of world football’s governing body following his probe into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, according to reports.

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has a global awareness of 94 per cent (men) and 91 per cent (women), making him the most marketable football player in the world ahead of Barcelona's Lionel Messi, according to a report.

Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, a vice-president of Fifa, has refused to respond to reports that suggest he could challenge Sepp Blatter for the presidency of football’s global governing body.

Jerome Valcke, the secretary general of Fifa, has insisted that electronics company Sony and the Emirates airline are not ending their commercial partnership deals with football’s global governing body due to the fall-out of the World Cup bidding controversy.

Qatar has unveiled the design for its third proposed host venue for the 2022 Fifa World Cup, with two more stadiums set to be announced by the end of the year.

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has warned that the city of Kaliningrad could lose the right to stage matches during the country’s hosting of the 2018 Fifa World Cup national football team tournament unless it resolves a dispute over the site of its stadium this week.

FIFA seems to be edging towards a winter date for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. However, investment in stadium-cooling technology continues in the country regardless. Andy Fry looks at the concepts behind the systems.

Once a close confidante of Sepp Blatter, former diplomat Jérôme Champagne is now a challenger to his FIFA presidency. Matt Cutler travelled to Zurich to speak to Champagne and understand why he wants to achieve what many believe is impossible: uprooting the near-untouchable head of world football.

Hans-Joachim Eckert, the head of the Fifa ethics committee’s adjudicatory chamber, and Michael Garcia, the prosecutor in charge of investigating the football governing body’s bidding process for the World Cup, have agreed that the report should be further reviewed.

Fifa has lodged a criminal complaint with the Office of the Attorney  General of Switzerland in Berne as the investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups took another twist today (Tuesday).

Fifa’s investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has come under further fire after the two whistleblowers at the centre of corruption allegations lodged formal complaints that their confidentiality had been breached.

Fifa’s claim that a “degree of closure” has been reached in the investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups was thrown into question this (Thursday) afternoon after Michael Garcia, chairman of the investigatory chamber of Fifa’s Ethics Committee, said that he planned to file an appeal against the report issued on the matter.

Russia and Qatar can continue with their preparations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups after the chairman of Fifa’s adjudicatory chamber, Hans-Joachim Eckert, today (Thursday) cleared the two nations of impropriety in their bids for the events.

Qatari Sports Minister Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali has insisted that the Middle Eastern country will implement labour reforms to tackle the ill-treatment of migrant workers as preparations continue for the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with world football’s governing body Fifa regarding the implementation of the legacy fund for the South American country’s hosting of the 2014 World Cup.

The European Club Association (ECA) has hit back at claims by Fifa that it is closing in on a decision to reschedule Qatar’s 2022 World Cup to become a winter tournament.