Tag Archives: FIFA

The Associated Press reports: Russia’s request to freeze a FIFA ban on its soccer teams ahead of next week’s World Cup qualifying playoffs was denied Friday. FIFA said the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed the Russian soccer federation’s bid for an urgent interim ruling to freeze the ban pending a full appeal, which could come within weeks. The CAS …

Politico Europe reports: World football’s governing body, FIFA, announced Monday that it would suspend Russia indefinitely from international tournaments — expelling it from the World Cup 2022 playoffs one month before the final qualification matches. FIFA had come under fire Sunday night for its initial proposed sanctions on Russia, which proposed only a temporary ban on its name, flag and …

ESPN reports: FIFA backed away from immediately expelling Russia from World Cup qualifying on Sunday but said it remained an option, deciding instead the squad can play using the “RFU” acronym of its football federation, the Russian Football Union. The unanimous ruling by the Bureau of the FIFA Council, which includes the six regional football confederation presidents, was also that …

ESPN reports: The CONCACAF Nations League final in Denver between the United States and Mexico was marred by unruly fan behavior that included objects thrown onto the field and a brief pause in the game because of fans using an anti-gay chant. The pause occurred during the final moments of the second half before the game went to extra time …

Reuters reports: The Euro 2020 qualifier between Bulgaria and England was twice halted by the match referee in the first half on Monday under a three-step UEFA protocol to tackle racist abuse from the crowd. Britain’s Sky Sports television said racist chanting was heard from the stands and reported by England players to manager Gareth Southgate, with the referee informed …

Sports Illustrated reports: Know your audience. Megan Rapinoe has always had an uncanny ability to pick the right tone and the right words when she speaks in public, and she did it again on Monday in Milan as she received the FIFA award for the women’s world player of the year. On this occasion, Rapinoe realized that the audience she …

Fox News chortles: President Donald Trump met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro at the White House on Tuesday to commemorate North America winning its bid for the 2026 World Cup. Cordeiro and Infantino both gifted Trump commemorative soccer jerseys, but near the end of the photo op, Infantino reached off camera to get one …

The New York Times reports: A combined bid from the United States, Mexico and Canada won the hosting rights for soccer’s 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, bringing the tournament to North America for the first time since the 1994 event on a pledge of record crowds, record revenues and, perhaps crucially, a record $11 billion in profits for FIFA, world …

USA Today reports: President Donald Trump waded into the campaign aimed at bringing the 2026 FIFA World Cup to the United States on Thursday, tweeting out a veiled threat to withdraw political support from nations who vote against the bid. In a wildly surprising development, Trump, who previously has shown little appetite for soccer, appeared to throw his full backing …

The Associated Press reports: FIFA’s anti-discrimination advisers are warning gay soccer fans going to the 2018 World Cup in Russia that displays of affection could be met with an aggressive response from intolerant locals. As fans prepare their trips after Friday’s World Cup draw, the FARE network said it will produce a guide spelling out the threats to be prepared …

The Associated Press reports: FIFA fined Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay on Wednesday for anti-gay chants by their national team’s fans. The “insulting and discriminatory chants” came during qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup, FIFA said. Chile’s fine is the biggest at 70,000 Swiss francs ($70,000) over cases at four different matches. The governing body imposed fines of …

Last week John Oliver vowed to sample the products of major FIFA sponsors if its president were to step down. Last night he kept that pledge, despite his opinion that Bud Light Lime tastes like “the Jolly Green Giant’s ejaculate.”

Judging by Twitter, many of the nation’s offices have suspended work to watch the USA vs Germany match. If you’re among those folks, here’s an open thread to weigh in, at least on the hotness of the players. UPDATE: The USA has lost.

Martina Navratilova and Jason Collins yesterday called on international sporting groups to respect LGBT rights. The pair spoke at a United Nations event marking International Human Rights Day. They focused in part on the upcoming Winter Olympics in Russia, which passed a law this summer banning homosexual “propaganda.” The law has drawn international condemnation and sparked calls for a boycott, …