Fifa

Alexander Djordjadze, deputy CEO of the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia, has said the country is struggling to improve its accommodation ahead of hosting the event.

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) vice-president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has revealed talks are underway for a possible joint bid from the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has backtracked on comments that Sao Paulo could be stripped of World Cup host city status by guaranteeing that it will retain its key position at next year’s tournament.

The Swiss government is proposing to tighten anti-corruption laws, citing international sporting federations based in the country as targets of the suggested changes.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has admitted that hosting the 2022 World Cup in the heat of a Qatari summer is not “rational or reasonable”.

The president of Rio de Janeiro’s Court of Justice, Leila Mariano, has overturned the suspension of the awarding of the operating rights of the Maracana stadium to sports and entertainment company IMX.

Brazilian football club Corinthians have hit out at FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke’s warning that stadium construction work in Sao Paulo needs to “speed up” ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

FIFA has suspended eight Estonian footballers and has handed a lifetime ban to a Lebanese player following their involvement in match-fixing.

FIFA President SEPP BLATTER tells Kevin Roberts why he wants to save the game from the forces of globalisation and harness its undoubted power to good causes worldwide.