The ‘mistake’ that is Fifa’s Club World Cup looms large. But will it even happen?
Sponsors and broadcasters are biding their time while the players’ union has filed a lawsuit over plans for 2025 event
Gianni Infantino
Gianni Infantino to avoid spotlight with 2026 World Cup draw held virtually
Controversy remains over decision to give the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia
Irish players get behind letter to Fifa opposing Saudi Aramco’s World Cup sponsorship
Five Irish internationals were among 106 pro players from 24 countries to sign the letter to Fifa president Gianni Infantino
Women’s World Cup failing to make a dent in the TV screens of sports-mad Australians
Brisbane letter: Fifa’s decision to keep matches behind a paywall means locals are missing out as rugby, AFL and cricket dominate
Gianni Infantino confirms Fifa will not directly pay bonuses to players but to associations
All 736 players are expected to be played a minimum of €28k for taking part in the tournament
The crassest leader in global sport - Gianni Infantino’s actions at Fifa remain more dangerous than his words
A lack of proper checks and balances, open debate, or scrutiny from the public or press, is always a recipe for bad things to happen
‘I don’t know why you’d want to play that sport because it’s dreadful to watch’: The sports quotes of the year
From guff-spouting pundits to a party-loving Ronan O’Gara, here are the quips, bloopers and characters who marked the sporting feats of 2022
Doha fever dream: Tales from the protest World Cup
Long before Gianni Infantino’s jaw-dropping opening monologue this was always going to be a troubling celebration of the world game
Michael Walker: Have a great final but let’s not forget how Fifa landed us here
Politics and sport remain inextricably intertwined and the shadow of the Qatar World Cup will linger for a long time
Infantino is further proof that celebrity sporting administrators are never a good thing
The Fifa president’s white runners are a sign that he wants to be known as more than just a dull functionary
Infantino and Greek MEP Eva Kaili have made similar statements in speeches praising Qatar
Both have questioned Europe’s right to dispense ‘moral lessons’ or ‘lectures’ to Qatar
Kevin Kilbane: Football, protests and geo-politics flow downstream together in Doha
It is disappointing that England, unlike Germany and Iran, chose to duck all controversy
The Irish Times view on the latest World Cup controversy
Fifa has shown its true colours in its move to ban the use of OneLove armbands.
Joanne O’Riordan: Dear Gianni Infantino, I too feel disabled – because I actually have a disability
An open letter to the head of Fifa: Before you claim to identify with my struggle, try travelling a mile in my wheelchair
Fifa and EA Sports end two-decade video game partnership
Electronic Arts to rename the hugely popular video game EA Sports FC
Women’s World Cup: Call goes up for qualifier venue switch
September’s crucial game against Finland set for Tallaght, but pressure mounts for Aviva
World Cup 2022: England get favourable draw; Spain paired with Germany
Southgate’s side face USA and Iran with Scotland, Wales or Ukraine clash on cards
Fifa and Qatar criticised as dispute breaks out ahead of World Cup draw
Qatar World Cup chief and Norwegian FA president clash at Fifa Congress
Qatar World Cup soon to be added to Fifa’s dismal and shameless history
Echoes of 1978 tournament could be heard clearly during 2018 World Cup in Russia
Uefa president says plans to hold biennial World Cup a ‘no go’
Ceferin also launches fresh attack on attempts to form European super league
Joanne O’Riordan: Sport too greedy and self-serving to see through wily Putin
World’s sporting bodies have long been used by the Russian leader for his own nefarious ends
Fifa and Uefa suspend Russian teams from international and club game
Uefa also cancels its €40 million a year sponsorship deal with Gazprom
Keith Duggan: Putin has manipulated sport from the outset of his leadership
Folly of granting prestige events to Russia will form vital component in future assessments
Champions League final in May is moved from St Petersburg to Paris
September’s Formula One Russian Grand Prix is cancelled
IOC members fume over plans for biennial soccer World Cup
It would clash with Summer Olympics while also denting the Games’ commercial appeal
Football and the Olympics have become geopolitical bargaining chips
Johnny Watterson: Affronts come so fast that we lose the ability to react accordingly
Biennial World Cup would ‘cannibalise’ women’s game, says Ceferin
Uefa president reiterates his opposition to plans being developed by Fifa
Johnny Watterson: WTA’s stance on China and Peng Shuai is a rare moral victory
Association stands by its founding principles - something unheard of in modern sport
Qatar PR drive ahead of World Cup should be treated with scepticism
Sportswashing benefiting Gulf state’s reputation - but what’s the reality on the ground?
European Leagues reject Fifa’s World Cup proposal
Dissenting organisation includes Premier League, EFL and SPFL among its members
European clubs warn of ‘destructive’ impact of Fifa’s reform plans
Statement hits out at controversial plans which include a World Cup every two years
Premier League opposes biannual World Cup plan
Fifa’s proposal could ‘kill football’, warns Uefa’s president Aleksander Ceferin
A World Cup every two years benefits Fifa - not football or the fans
Such a proposal is about to sneak up on us, without most people realising
Fifa asks clubs to release their players for World Cup qualifiers
Premier League has refused to release players headed to countries on UK’s ‘red list’
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