Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Gianni Infantino: 'The health of persons is much more important than any football game'

FIFA refuse to rule out postponing matches due to virus

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has not ruled out postponing international matches as the coronavirus outbreak continues to escalate.

Coronavirus • 28 Feb 20

FIFA's Infantino proposed as IOC member

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been proposed for International Olympic Committee membership, but World Athletics head Sebastian Coe will have to wait due to a conflict of interest, IOC President Thomas Bach said.

Paris 2024 • 05 Dec 19

Qatar World Cup will be discrimination free - Infantino

Gianni Infantino is confident Qatar will deliver a "discrimination-free" World Cup when it gets under way in three years' time.

Soccer • 21 Nov 19

Gianni Infantino: 'FIFA will have zero out of this because we will reinvest this in football'

China to host expanded Club World Cup in 2021

China will host the first edition of the new, expanded 24-team Club World Cup in 2021, FIFA president Gianni Infantino told reporters on Thursday following a meeting of FIFA's decision-making council in Shanghai.

Soccer • 24 Oct 19

A section of Bulgarian supporters disturbed Monday's game against England

Infantino wants 'stronger' measures to tackle racism

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has demanded "new, stronger and more effective ways to eradicate racism in football" in the wake of the abuse suffered by England players during their Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria.

Soccer • 16 Oct 19

FIFA air intention to expand Women's World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino wants to expand the women's World Cup to 32 teams from 24 for the next edition in 2023 along with doubling the prize money to $60m, he said on Friday.

Soccer • 05 Jul 19

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he hoped the rules could be changed to facilitate China's entry to 2030 bid race

British-Irish 2030 bid in doubt amid China speculation

British and Irish hopes of hosting the 2030 World Cup were plunged into doubt on Wednesday when FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he hoped the rules would be changed to let China bid, too.

Soccer • 05 Jun 19

Gianni Infantino will run FIFA for four more years

Infantino re-elected as head of FIFA

Gianni Infantino will run football's world governing body FIFA for four more years after being elected for a second term as president by acclamation in Paris on Wednesday.

Soccer • 05 Jun 19

Gianna Infantino and FIFA have abandoned plans for an expanded World Cup

FIFA abandon plans for expanded 2022 World Cup

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be held with 32 participating teams and not an expanded 48 teams, organisers FIFA said.

Soccer • 22 May 19

Gianni Infantino wants 48 teams at the 2022 World Cup

World Cup increase to 48 teams is 50/50, says Infantino

The chances of FIFA increasing the number of teams at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar from 32 to 48 is 50/50, the president of soccer's governing body Gianni Infantino said.

Soccer • 10 Apr 19

Gianni Infantino, speaking at a news conference, said FIFA had made the decision at its council meeting on Friday.

FIFA on collision course with Europe's big guns

FIFA will go ahead with a new 24-team Club World Cup starting in 2021, according to the ruling body's President Gianni Infantino.

Soccer • 15 Mar 19

Gianni Infantino's plans for Worldwide Nations League appear to be dead

FIFA back away from vote on Club Nations League

FIFA has backed away from a vote on a planned new 'Worldwide Nations League' tournament after the governing body's task force reported that it was unable to find consensus on a format for the potential money-spinner.

Soccer • 14 Mar 19

Gianni Infantino's club football proposals have been rounded rejected by UEFA

UEFA reject Infantino's Nations League plans

FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to revamp the Club World Cup and launch a global Nations League in 2021 is in tatters after Europe's professional football strategy council emphatically rejected the idea.

Soccer • 18 Feb 19

Infantino set to be re-elected as FIFA president

FIFA president Gianni Infantino will not face a challenger in June's elections to the head of world soccer's governing body.

Soccer • 06 Feb 19

Doubts persist over Quatar's ability to host the 2022 World Cup

UAE open to co-hosting World Cup if Qatar rift resolved

United Arab Emirates sports chief Mohammed Khalfan al-Romaithi believes the Gulf nation would welcome an approach to co-host the 2022 World Cup if its deep political rift with Qatar is resolved.

Soccer • 22 Jan 19

Gianni Infantino is hoping to expand the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

Infantino wants 48 teams at 2022 World Cup

FIFA should if possible increase the size of the soccer World Cup in Qatar in 2022 to 48 from 32 teams, the global governing body's president Gianni Infantino said.

Soccer • 02 Jan 19

Qatar officials deny holding talks over sharing matches at the 2022 World Cup

Qatar deny holding talks about sharing World Cup

Qatar has not held talks with any other countries to share football matches at the 2022 World Cup, a senior tournament organiser in Doha said.

Soccer • 05 Dec 18

Gianni Infantino is not backing down from his plans to expand the World Cup

Infantino hints at Saudi Arabia hosting 2022 games

FIFA president Gianni Infantino claims that spreading matches at a larger 2022 World Cup in Qatar to neighbouring countries could help bring peace to the Middle East.

Soccer • 22 Nov 18

Disgraced former FIFA President Sepp Blatter announces Qatar as World Cup 2022 hosts

Four years to kick-off in most controversial World Cup

The 2022 World Cup kicks off in four years' time, with the host country remaining shrouded in controversy.

Soccer • 20 Nov 18

Infantino: Euro Super Lge players could face FIFA bans

Players involved in any European Super League would be barred from playing international football, according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Soccer • 07 Nov 18

Gianni Infantino is keen to speed the transition to a 48-team World Cup

FIFA keen to proceed with 48-team World Cup in 2022

Gianni Infantino wants an expanded World Cup in four years, despite the required regional cooperation being complicated by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt cutting diplomatic, transport and trade ties with Qatar last year.

Soccer • 31 Oct 18

Gianni Infantino will bring his plans for two new competitions to a vote

FIFA to press ahead with Club World Cup vote

FIFA president Gianni Infantino will put his controversial plans for two new international soccer tournaments to a vote at Friday's meeting of the body's ruling council.

Soccer • 24 Oct 18

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said he has concerns over plans to play a La Liga game in North America

Infantino concerned over La Liga games in North America

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has voiced his objection to leagues playing competitive games abroad, an idea long considered by Premier League clubs and now planned by La Liga.

Soccer • 18 Sep 18

Galway ask FIFA to move World Cup final kick-off time

Galway have penned a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino requesting that the kick-off time for the World Cup final on Sunday week is moved to avoid a clash with the Tribesmen's All-Ireland SFC clash with Kerry.

GAA • 07 Jul 18

Fans inside the stadium are often left scratching their head when it comes to VAR

VAR not ready for the World Cup, claims Given

Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given revealed that he has major reservations about video assistant referees and he believes that it's still too untested to for this summer's World Cup.

Soccer • 29 Mar 18