Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

'It's an essential decision' - World Cup will use VARs

Video assistant referees (VARs) will be used at the World Cup for the first time when the finals get underway in Russia in June, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed.

Soccer • 17 Mar 18

Critics say VAR has led to confusion in competitions where it has been used

Video Assistant Referees set to be used at World Cup

Video Assistant Referees are set to be used at this year's World Cup after the system was unanimously approved on a permanent basis at the International Football Association Board's annual general meeting.

Soccer • 03 Mar 18

Gianni Infantino supports the Premier League's transfer window changes

Infantino backs Premier League transfer window

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has backed the Premier League's decision to close the summer transfer window before the start of next season.

Soccer • 15 Feb 18

Infantino: 'Nothing in the way' of VAR use at World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino signalled that he is in favour of introducing video assistant referees (VAR) at next year's World Cup following its success at the Confederations Cup, although he conceded the system needs to be improved.

Soccer • 01 Jul 17

FIFA to review rules on agents in wake of Pogba probe

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said world football's governing body will review the rules related to agents in response to the "perception" the transfer system is broken.

Soccer • 11 May 17

FIFA chief Infantino vows to tackle racist 'idiots'

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he intends to talk with Pescara midfielder Sulley Muntari, the victim of racist abuse in Italian football, and vowed to fight racist "idiots".

Soccer • 09 May 17

Russia World Cup to introduce video referees - FIFA

Video assistant referees will be used at next year's World Cup in Russia, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed.

Soccer • 27 Apr 17

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says the European Club Association are opposed to the World Cup expansion

FIFA World Cup expansion unacceptable -Rummenigge

The decision-making process that led FIFA to increase the number of teams at the World Cup to 48 starting with the tournament in 2026 is unacceptable, according to European Club Association chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Soccer • 28 Mar 17

The World Cup in nine years time could be spread across three or four countries, according to the FIFA chief

FIFA to encourage co-hosting for 2026 World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday he intends to encourage co-hosting for the 2026 soccer World Cup that could divide the tournament up between as many as four countries.

Soccer • 16 Feb 17

FIFA to encourage co-hosting for 2026 World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he wants to encourage co-hosting for the 2026 soccer World Cup that could divide the tournament up between as many as four countries.

Soccer • 16 Feb 17

Kerr critical of 'farcical' World Cup expansion

Money and politics are the main reasons for the FIFA World Cup being expanded from 32 to 48 teams, according to former Ireland manager Brian Kerr.

Soccer • 10 Jan 17

FIFA President Gianni Infantino at today's announcement of an expanded World Cup

Infantino: Expanded World Cup will be truly global

FIFA president Gianni Infantino believes the World Cup will now become a truly global tournament after his revamp to 48 teams was unanimously signed off today.

Soccer • 10 Jan 17

Gianni Infantino at yesterday's FIFA Football Awards ceremony

48-team World Cup: How will it work?

The FIFA Council has unanimously voted to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from the 2026 tournament onwards - take a look at how the new competition will look.

Soccer • 10 Jan 17

Gianni Infantino looks set to deliver on one of the main pledges in his manifesto - and Diego approves

Expanded World Cup likely to get green light

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is set to get his way on expanding the World Cup to 48 teams in 2026, a move which will boost his chances of re-election in 2019.

Soccer • 09 Jan 17

Germany claimed the last World Cup in 2014

Jose Mourinho backs 48-team World Cup

Jose Mourinho has thrown his support behind FIFA president Gianni Infantino's plan to expand the World Cup to 48 teams from 2026, which is expected to be approved next week.

Soccer • 06 Jan 17

Blatter served as FIFA president from 1998 to 2015

Blatter accuses Infantino of disrespect

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has accused his replacement Gianni Infantino of disrespecting him.

Soccer • 09 Dec 16

The World Cup could soon feature 48 teams

Infantino said to favour 48-team World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has changed his mind again over his plans for the future of the World Cup and has now recommended a 48-team tournament with 16 groups of three.

Soccer • 07 Dec 16

Gianni Infantino: 'They are ideas which we put forward to see which one is the best'

FIFA chief Infantino floats 48-team World Cup idea

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, whose election promises included expanding the World Cup to 40 teams, has proposed an even larger tournament with 48 teams.

Soccer • 03 Oct 16

Platini makes defiant farewell to UEFA

Michel Platini opened UEFA's extraordinary congress to find a replacement for him as president in Athens with an emotional farewell and a note of defiance.

Soccer • 14 Sep 16

Gianni Infantino is in favour of an expanded World Cup

Infantino says 40-team World Cup not a certainty

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is not yet certain that the 2026 World Cup finals would feature 40 teams even though he personally favours an expanded tournament.

Soccer • 06 Sep 16

Gianni Infantino is in the clear over possible ethics violations

FIFA president Infantino cleared of wrongdoing

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, elected in February to lead the global soccer body into calmer waters after a series of corruption scandals, was himself been cleared of possible ethics violations.

Soccer • 05 Aug 16

FIFA to quiz Gianni Infantino over ethics breach

FIFA president Gianni Infantino will be interviewed by a senior figure from the world governing body's ethics committee over allegations he breached its code of ethics, it was reported on Thursday.

Soccer • 15 Jul 16

Infantino says his salary is yet to be finalised

Infantino hits back at 'greedy' salary claims

FIFA president Gianni Infantino accused the man who masterminded reforms of soccer's global body of "playground" behaviour and told Swiss newspapers that his salary, still to be confirmed, would be less than 2m Swiss francs (€1.8m).

Soccer • 05 Jun 16

FIFA stay coy over Infantino suspension reports

FIFA has said formal proceedings are yet to be taken against Gianni Infantino despite reports in a German newspaper that he is facing a 90-day suspension.

Soccer • 02 Jun 16

Gianni Infantino: '[Platini] and I did some great things together'

FIFA boss Infantino 'sad' about Platini ban

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has given a mixed reception to the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to uphold his former boss Michel Platini's ban from football.

Soccer • 10 May 16