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Tag: Fifa

FIFA President Infantino Proposes Sanctions For Players Covering Mouths Amid Racism Concerns

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed that players who cover their mouths while speaking on the pitch could face dismissal if their comments lead to allegations of racist abuse. The suggestion follows claims against Gianluca Prestianni during a recent Champions League clash between Benfica and Real Madrid, in which he was accused of racially abusing Vinicius Junior while apparently covering his mouth with his shirt. Prestianni has denied the allegations. Speaking to Sky News after the International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting on Saturday, Infantino said: “If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously. There must be a presumption that he has said something he shouldn’t have said, otherwise he wouldn’t have had to cover his mouth. If you don’t have something to hide, you don’t hide your mouth when you say something. That’s it. As simple as that. And these are actions that we can take and we have to take in order to be serious about our fight against racism.” Infantino added that sanctions could be adjusted if a player offers a public apology, emphasizing the role of cultural change alongside disciplinary measures. The next FIFA Congress, scheduled for next month in Vancouver, may consider formal rules on players covering their mouths, particularly ahead of this year’s World Cup. Prestianni has been provisionally suspended for the return leg of the fixture while UEFA continues its investigation. If found guilty, he could face a 10-match ban.

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FIFA Considers One-Minute Off-Field Rule For Injured Players To Improve Match Flow

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FIFA has proposed a new rule that would require players receiving treatment for injuries to stay off the pitch for one minute, a move aimed at reducing time-wasting, limiting disruptions, and improving the flow of matches. The proposal is expected to be discussed at the Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) on Saturday. If approved, the rule would become part of football’s official Laws of the Game globally. Currently, the Laws of the Game do not specify a mandatory off-field period after treatment, leaving domestic leagues to set their own regulations. For instance, the Premier League has applied a 30-second rule since the 2023‑24 season. FIFA tested a two-minute off-field period during the Arab Cup in December. Pierluigi Collina, head of FIFA referees, explained that the trial aimed to reduce time-wasting while maintaining match tempo. In January, IFAB members agreed that a fixed period should be added to the Laws, but the exact duration sparked debate. The proposed one-minute rule is seen as a compromise, balancing fairness with the need to keep games moving. The concept is similar to Major League Soccer in the United States, where players must leave the field if they remain on the ground for more than 15 seconds while receiving medical attention.

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Infantino Projects Full Stadiums For All 104 Matches At 2026 FIFA World Cup

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has expressed confidence that every one of the 104 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be filled to capacity, even though ticket sales are still ongoing ahead of the June 11 kickoff. In an interview with CNBC conducted at Mar-a-Lago, Infantino pointed to overwhelming global interest in the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. “The demand is there. Every match is sold out.” According to him, FIFA recorded an astonishing 508 million ticket requests within four weeks, competing for approximately seven million available seats. He added that during the main ticket sales window in January, requests were submitted from more than 200 countries. “(We’ve) never see anything like that — incredible.” Infantino disclosed that FIFA intentionally reserved a portion of tickets for a final sales phase set to begin in April and continue until the tournament concludes on July 19. Reacting to criticism from supporters over what many have described as soaring ticket prices — particularly on resale platforms — he explained that market dynamics are playing a significant role. “I think it is because it’s in America, Canada and Mexico. Everybody wants to be part of something special. “Ticket prices have been fixed but you have, in the US in particular, something called dynamic prices, meaning the prices will go up or down. “You are able as well to resell your tickets on official platforms, secondary markets, so the prices as well will go up. “That’s part of the market we are in.” The expanded 48-team tournament is projected to generate more than $11 billion in revenue for FIFA. Infantino emphasized that the proceeds would be reinvested into football development across all 211 member associations worldwide. He also estimated that the competition could inject about $30 billion into the U.S. economy through tourism, hospitality, security, and related sectors. Beyond the anticipated seven million match attendees, he projected between 20 and 30 million visitors overall, along with the creation of approximately 185,000 full-time jobs. “It’s a big impact. I hope this impact will not just be limited to the World Cup but for the future as well.”

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Super Eagles To Face Jordan In March Friendly Ahead Of FIFA World Cup Verdict

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The Nigerian Super Eagles are set to face Jordan in an international friendly in Amman this March. Jordan plans to use the match as part of their preparations ahead of their debut appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Nigeria’s participation, however, hinges on FIFA’s upcoming decision regarding the country’s eligibility protest against the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to the Jordan clash, the Super Eagles are reportedly in discussions to arrange another friendly against Iran later in March. Jordan, coached by Jamal Sellami, will make their first-ever World Cup appearance this summer and have been drawn into a challenging group alongside defending champions Argentina, Algeria, and Austria.

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FIFA to Rule Monday on NFF Petition That Could Restore Super Eagles’ World Cup Hopes

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Nigerian football fans are eagerly awaiting Monday, 16th February, when FIFA is set to rule on a petition filed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) challenging the eligibility of six players fielded by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) during the 2026 World Cup African play-off final. The Super Eagles were eliminated after a tense 4–3 penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in November 2025, ending Nigeria’s hopes of direct qualification for the FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Following the loss, the NFF lodged its formal protest on 15th December 2025, claiming that the DR Congo players were ineligible due to recent nationality changes. Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, NFF General Secretary, expressed confidence ahead of FIFA’s decision: “We have a good case… we do not venture into what would be an exercise in futility.” Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi also shared his cautious optimism, saying, “We are still waiting; hopefully we can go to the World Cup.” If FIFA rules in Nigeria’s favour, the Super Eagles could be reinstated in the qualification process and compete in the intercontinental play-offs in Mexico next month for a chance at one of the final two World Cup berths. Officials from DR Congo have rejected the allegations, citing FIFA’s eligibility rules that allow the players to represent their country. Critics argue that such disputes should be settled on the pitch rather than in legal petitions. With the ruling scheduled for Monday, millions of Nigerian football supporters are closely following developments that could dramatically alter the Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup journey.

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Athletic Bilbao Banned From Signing Players For Three Transfer Windows

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Athletic Bilbao has been banned from signing new players for the next three transfer windows, FIFA has confirmed. The La Liga club has been added to FIFA’s Registration Bans list, which tracks teams temporarily prohibited from registering new players due to issues such as financial disputes or regulatory non-compliance. The ban will affect the summer 2026, winter 2027, and summer 2027 transfer windows, meaning Bilbao will only be able to sign players again in the winter of 2028. FIFA has not revealed the exact reason behind the sanction. Athletic Club, however, downplayed the situation, calling it “a mere formality, a minor matter that will have no further impact.” Club sources added, “It’s a disagreement over some rights to a player that will be resolved in the coming hours.” While the ban poses a temporary obstacle for the club, Athletic Bilbao remains confident that the issue will be quickly settled, allowing them to resume transfer activity in the future.

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Infantino

FIFA President Infantino Apologises Over British Fans Comment

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has apologised for remarks he made about British football supporters while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month. Infantino previously said that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was special because it was “the first time in history no Brit was arrested,” a comment that drew sharp criticism from fan groups and police leaders in the UK, who described it as a “cheap joke” and “neither helpful nor accurate.” In an interview with Sky News, Infantino said he regretted offending fans and clarified that his comment was intended to highlight how peacefully the Qatar tournament unfolded. “I need first to apologise,” he said, explaining that the remark was meant to show that the World Cup was a celebration where “everyone came together in a peaceful way.” He also spoke warmly about English supporters who travel to matches and cheer on their teams. The apology came alongside Infantino’s defence of other controversial decisions, including awarding U.S. President Donald Trump the first-ever FIFA peace prize — a move he said was justified because of Trump’s role in facilitating high-level peace talks — and rejecting calls for a boycott of the upcoming 2026 World Cup. Infantino also reiterated his view that football can help unite people across political divides, and discussed the possibility of lifting Russia’s ban from international competition, a topic that has drawn criticism from officials in Ukraine and elsewhere. Overall, the apology reflects an attempt by FIFA’s president to smooth relations with fans ahead of the next World Cup, even as debates continue over the organisation’s broader political and sporting decisions.

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Spain Set to Host 2030 World Cup Final

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Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Rafael Louzan has said that Spain will stage the final of the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Morocco wants to stage the game in Casablanca at the Grand Stade Hassan II, a huge stadium currently under construction north of the city. “Spain has proven its organisational capacity over many years. It will be the leader of the 2030 World Cup and the final of that World Cup will be held here,” Louzan said late on Monday (local time) at an event organised by the Madrid Sports Press Association. Louzan did not say whether the match would be played at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu or Barcelona’s Camp Nou, the two leading candidates. Once completed in late 2028, the new stadium in Morocco is expected to hold 115,000 spectators. Morocco’s Royal Football Federation (FRMF) President Faouzi Lekjaa last year expressed his wish to see a final against Spain in Casablanca. Louzan also alluded to the challenges Morocco faced during its hosting of the last Africa Cup of Nations, including the chaotic scenes during the final between Senegal and Morocco this month. That match, which Senegal won 1-0, was overshadowed by fan disruptions and player protests that temporarily halted play. “Morocco is really undergoing a transformation in every sense, with magnificent stadiums,” Louzan said. “We must recognise what has been done well. But in the Africa Cup of Nations, we have seen scenes that damage the image of world football.” FIFA and the Portuguese and Moroccan football federations have not responded to requests for comment on the final’s location. FIFA told Reuters last year it was premature to decide the venue for the 2030 final, saying the host city for the 2026 World Cup final was revealed only two years before the tournament. World football’s ruling body has the final say on where the match will be played.   XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX   Former FIFA President Joins Call for U.S. World Cup Boycott Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter joined a growing call for an international boycott of the World Cup matches scheduled to take place in the U.S. this summer. That would include the 6 matches at Levi’s Stadium.   Blatter’s recommendation comes days after former FIFA reform chairman Mark Pieth suggested to a Swiss newspaper that soccer fans should avoid attending games in U.S. cities in light of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the streets and political unrest. The tournament, beginning in June, is playing out in Mexico, Canada and 11 U.S. locations.   “For the fans, there’s only one piece of advice: stay away from the USA!” Blatter posted on X Monday. “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”   Vice presidents of the German soccer federation Oke Göttlich told a Hamburg news outet last week that it’s time for soccer fans and teams to “seriously consider” not visiting the U.S. because of the Trump administration’s foreign and domestic policies. The President has caused concern in Europe by expressing interest in acquiring the island of Greenland from Denmark and questioning NATO’s value to the U.S.   Many fans of Iran and Haiti’s soccer clubs won’t have the option of seeing their teams play live when the World Cup tournament begins in June due to a travel ban imposed by the Trump administration last summer.   Trump has expressed excitement about the World Cup coming to the U.S. since his first administration helped bring the tournament to North America by teaming up with Canada and Mexico in 2017 to make a winning bid. The President shares a warm relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who presented him with the newly invented FIFA Peace Prize in December after Trump unsuccessfully campaigned to win the Nobel Peace Prize.   He called that trophy “truly one of the great honors of my life.”   Team USA men’s squad begins its longshot campaign to win the World Cup with a June 12 match against Paraguay in Southern California. They’ve never won the tournament. Argentina is the defending champion.   The U.S. women’s team, which will compete for the Women’s World Cup in Brazil in 2027, has won its tournament four times.

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