Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Sepp Blatter, waves as he leaves the building of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland

Platini was worth what he was paid, Blatter tells court

Michel Platini "was worth his million" Swiss francs a year, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter insisted Thursday, telling a Swiss court he could not understand why the pair were answering fraud charges.

Soccer • 09 Jun 22

Sepp Blatter speaks to a journalist as he arrives at the Federal Criminal Court

Blatter and Platini go on trial in Switzerland

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the chiefs of world and European football, have gone on trial in Switzerland over a suspected fraudulent payment.

Soccer • 08 Jun 22

The pair are charged with defrauding the world soccer body

Blatter and Platini to face FIFA fraud trial

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and ex-UEFA President Michel Platini are due to appear in a Swiss court on Wednesday facing corruption charges which triggered their downfall from the summit of global football.

Soccer • 07 Jun 22

Of the 12 clubs that originally backed the breakaway Super League only Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona remain.

Spanish court ends protection for Super League rebels

A Spanish judge has lifted measures that prevented UEFA and FIFA from taking action against clubs that wanted to create a European Super League.

Soccer • 21 Apr 22

Date set for Blatter and Platini corruption trial

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and ex-UEFA President Michel Platini will go on trial in June to face Swiss corruption charges over a $2 million payment that world soccer's governing body made to Platini, the court announced on Tuesday.

Soccer • 12 Apr 22

Russian clubs and national teams are currently suspended by the world governing body

Russia withdraws appeal against FIFA ban

The Russian Football Union has withdrawn its appeal against FIFA's decision to throw Russia out of the World Cup following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Soccer • 05 Apr 22

Lise Klaveness: 'There is no room for employers who do not secure the freedom and safety of World Cup workers.'

Norway football chief slates Qatar World Cup decision

Simmering tensions boiled to the surface at the FIFA Congress on Thursday when Norway's football chief Lise Klaveness hit out at the 2022 World Cup's Qatari hosts over the country's human rights record.

Soccer • 31 Mar 22

Gianni Infantino speaking at the FIFA Congress in Doha, Qatar

Infantino says FIFA never proposed a biennial World Cup

Gianni Infantino has stepped sharply back from hotly contested plans for a biennial World Cup, telling world football's leadership that FIFA had never proposed such an idea.

Soccer • 31 Mar 22

The decision almost certainly means Russia cannot feature at the World Cup in Qatar

Russia lose appeal to delay suspension from World Cup

Russia have failed in their bid to delay their suspension from the World Cup pending the outcome of an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Soccer • 18 Mar 22

FIFA and UEFA are at loggerheads over the World Cup

UEFA: Biennial World Cups are 'off the table'

UEFA is confident FIFA's biennial World Cup idea will soon be "off the table" with a solution set to be reached that could result in this summer's Finalissima becoming a regular occurrence.

Soccer • 03 Mar 22

FIFA holding advanced talks over banning Russia from international football indefinitely uy

Russia banned from World Cup, all UEFA competitions

Russia's national and club football sides have all been suspended "until further notice", UEFA and FIFA have confirmed.

Soccer • 28 Feb 22

No FIFA ban but Russia to play at neutral venues

Russia must play international matches under the name 'Football Union of Russia' in neutral countries without supporters, world governing body FIFA has announced.

Soccer • 27 Feb 22

Conor Gallagher is one of 21 Chelsea players out on loan

FIFA set to cap number of international loan transfers

FIFA is set to implement rules in which clubs will be limited to signing and sending six players on loan internationally from 2024 so that more focus can be given to developing talent.

Soccer • 20 Jan 22

Mo Salah has enjoyed a brilliant year with Liverpool

Mo Salah & Sam Kerr in mix for The Best FIFA awards

Mohamed Salah and Sam Kerr have been shortlisted for The Best FIFA Men's and Women's Player awards respectively.

Soccer • 07 Jan 22

The UEFA chief is adamant the World Cup has to be every four years

Ceferin: Biennial World Cup 'simply a bad idea'

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has reiterated his opposition to FIFA's plans to stage a biennial World Cup, saying the women's tournament or the Olympics would be affected if they were held in the same year as the finals.

Soccer • 30 Dec 21

"If I was going to a vote tomorrow probably the majority would vote in favour of World Cups every two years."

FIFA boss believes majority support biennial World Cup

FIFA president Gianni Infantino believes a majority of countries would be in favour of biennial World Cups if he called a snap vote.

Soccer • 20 Dec 21

Arsene Wenger said national federations were demanding room for up to ten matches per season

FIFA ponders calendar rethink due to financial concerns

FIFA is considering reshaping its international calendar proposals after national federations raised concerns about the financial impact of cutting the number of international qualifying matches.

Soccer • 24 Nov 21

Sepp Blatter (left) and Michel Platini were given six-year bans in 2016

Blatter, Platini charged with fraud over €1.88m payment

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-UEFA president Michel Platini have been indicted over unlawfully arranging a payment of two million Swiss francs (€1.88m), the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) of Switzerland said on Tuesday.

Soccer • 02 Nov 21

Infantino insists he is neutral on biennial World Cup

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says all sides must be "ready to compromise" in the heated debate over football's calendar and biennial World Cups.

Soccer • 20 Oct 21

FIFA will try to create a new calendar for the game as the number of games grow

FIFA plan global summit to agree new calendar

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said a global summit would take place on 20 December with the aim of "presenting an agreed proposal" on football's new men's and women's international calendar.

Soccer • 20 Oct 21

Police intervene to quell trouble at Wembley

FIFA investigating crowd trouble incidents

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings in relation to the disturbances which marred England's World Cup qualifier against Hungary on Tuesday night, and the violent scenes at the Albania versus Poland match in the same group.

Soccer • 13 Oct 21

Thibaut Courtois was competing in the final stages of the Nations League

Courtois hits out at UEFA and FIFA over amount of games

Belgium and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has launched a scathing criticism of UEFA and FIFA for scheduling more and more matches at the expense of player welfare.

Soccer • 11 Oct 21

The respected official has highlighted 'very positive productive discussions between the five associations' in Ireland and the UK

Mooney: 'Time is right' for UK-Ireland World Cup bid

Former interim FAI general manager and now Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney says UEFA would welcome a British and Irish bid for the 2030 World Cup.

Soccer • 27 Sep 21

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has led moves for a World Cup every two years

ECA fear FIFA 'railroading' through biennial World Cup

FIFA's plans for the future of football would have a "direct and destructive impact" on the club game, the European Club Association has warned.

Soccer • 24 Sep 21

FIFA's proposal has been met with opposition from numerous stakeholders

UEFA critique 'dangers' of FIFA biennial World Cup plan

UEFA has criticised FIFA over what it sees as a promotional campaign in support of biennial World Cups before sufficient consultation has taken place and highlighted four key "dangers" within the proposal.

Soccer • 22 Sep 21