US urges Switzerland to extradite arrested Fifa officials suspected of bribery July 2, 2015 The US has formally requested Switzerland extradites seven Fifa officials arrested in May on suspicion of taking bribes worth over $100m (£64.4m). Read more: Fifa slam Nobel Peace Centre in handshake row Formal extradition requests have been submitted by US embassy to Switzerland's Federal Office of Justice (FoJ) who will make a ruling on whether or [...]
Fifa presidency: Bookies favour Blatter to be Fifa president at Christmas June 26, 2015 Given his 17-year reign, Sepp Blatter was never likely to give up his presidency easily. And following his about-turn today, Bookies are now saying he is favourite to be Fifa president at Christmas, with odds of 5/6 at bookmaker PaddyPower, suggesting that a vote for new president won't happen until next year. However, they are [...]
Sepp Blatter hints he could stay on as Fifa president June 26, 2015 Fifa president Sepp Blatter has channeled the spirit of a post-election Nigel Farage by hinting he is not yet ready to stand down as Fifa president. Read more: Swiss authorities ready to quiz Sepp Blatter over Fifa World Cup bids The 79-year-old was expected to call time on his 17-year reign at the head of football's [...]
Swiss authorities ready to quiz Sepp Blatter over Fifa World Cup bids June 17, 2015 BESIEGED Fifa president Sepp Blatter and other senior officials at football’s world governing body could be quizzed over World Cup bid corruption claims, say Swiss authorities. The country’s attorney general elaborated on the investigation – separate to the FBI’s – for the first time yesterday, revealing that Swiss banks had flagged up 53 suspicious transactions. [...]
Fifa crisis: Swiss banks told authorities of “suspicious” activity connected to Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 World Cup bidding June 17, 2015 The heat has intensified on the future Russia and Qatar World Cups after Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber revealed he had evidence of over 50 "suspicious" banking relations connected to Fifa. Lauber, the head of the Swiss investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, declared he was not afraid if [...]
Fifa slam Nobel Peace Centre in handshake row June 16, 2015 EMBATTLED football world governing body Fifa has criticised the Nobel Peace Centre for ending a co-operation agreement over their Handshake for Peace joint initiative. Fifa said it was not given advance notice of the Norway-based organisation’s decision, adding that the move impeded efforts towards fair play, peace and fighting discrimination. The Nobel Peace Centre, which [...]
Fifa crisis: Sepp Blatter “considering” remaining President after receiving supportive messages June 14, 2015 Sepp Blatter might try and stay on as Fifa's President, according to a source who spoke to Swiss newspaper Schweiz am Sonntag. The anonymous source, who is reportedly close to Blatter, said he had been honoured by the support received from African and Asian football associations, asking him to reconsider his resignation. Read [...]
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 [...]