IrishCentral FIFA - b5cc3275d518416eacb61d676e8d84d1

After disgraceful scenes at under 21 football match Serbia must be banned by UEFA and FIFA (IrishCentral)

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 07:45:23 PDT

First things first, apologies if any normal, polite and reasonable Serbian football fan or regular Serbian Joe Punter person takes offence to the below, this is not directed at you, this is directed at your brethren who can’t contain themselves, and your football federation, who won’t contain themOn to the matter at hand Our American readers are going to find the pictures and videos on this piece shocking You just don’t see this level of hate and violence in organised sport in the USA READ MORE

The NFL cares, FIFA doesn’t: Rex Ryan facing hefty fine while FIFA basically ignores rampant racism in its sport (IrishCentral)

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:45:16 PST

Interesting incidents across two diverse sports this week In the NFL, noted fat-mouth Rex Ryan verbally abused a fan at a game with a torrent of expletives that would have made Chuck Norris blush Meanwhile, FIFA basically slapped the Bulgarian football federations hands after their fans were found guilty of racially abusing several English players during September's Euro 2012 qualifier in SofiaReally fascinating to see how the two sports have handled their issues READ MORE

Snow-Induced Boredom, FIFA and Stephen Ireland (IrishCentral)

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 03:30:08 PST

You've got to feel sorry for certain people and not yourself, hard as that may be, when cabin fever sets in as the snow mounts and the road outside your house resembles an ice skating rinkI’ve been on holiday from my hard life as a sports reporter with the Sunday Star for the past 10 days, an end of year break after all those exertions at the World Cup and the likesNormally, two weeks off at this time of year allows the exhausted reporter time for a little Christmas shopping with the wife and a little golf with the few friends I have left in the worldNot this time READ MORE

FIFA, the U.K, Russia and the World Cup bids: $25 million doesn't get you much these days (IrishCentral)

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 09:00:20 PST

It has been a few days now since FIFA’s considerably shocking decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia over, amongst others, England and a joint Spanish/Portuguese bidWith the smoke clearing and the dust settling, what stands out most is the incredible arrogance FIFA is displaying in light of the overwhelming evidence against it in terms of serious corruptionFirst off, the below is only going to tackle the 2018 World Cup in detail, don’t even get us started on 2022, which was awarded to Qatar How FIFA came to the decision to award this hallowed tournament to a country that has serious questions to answer in terms of human rights abuses is a mystery (slavery, for example, is pretty much encouraged amongst the Qatari elite) READ MORE

FIFA's unsporting message: money trumps principle (IrishCentral)

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 05:50:13 PST

Yesterday’s announcement that FIFA has selected Russia and Qatar as the next two host nations of the World Cup may be an unfolding public relations disaster of the first magnitude FIFA delegates awarded Russia and Qatar the right to host World Cup tournaments in 2018 and 2022 respectively, ending a drawn out process that has been marred by accusations of vote riggingBut those accusations won't exactly be silenced by the choice of two nations were backhanders and corruption are almost a way of life Although on the surface it looks like these choices were made to extend the popularity of the sport, something’s amiss READ MORE

FIFA Ranks Ireland 36th in World (IrishCentral)

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:12:29 PDT

By: BRYAN FITZGERALD

Ireland is the 36th best football team in the world according to the latest FIFA rankings released today. The country gained 5 spots since May and enjoys its best standing since 2009. This places Ireland higher than many teams that participated in the 2010 World Cup including Cameroon (40), South Korea (44) and Honduras (46). In recent friendlies the republic bested both high-ranking Paraguay (16) 2-1 and Algeria (33) 3-0.

Hopefully, FIFA puts end to Henrygate affair (IrishCentral)

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:35:25 PST

Finally, now that FIFA have not punished Thierry Henry over the handball incident during the playoff with the Republic of Ireland on November 18, the issue can be put to bed and we can all move on"There is no other legal text that would allow the committee to impose sanctions for any incidents missed by match officials," said football world's governing body in a statement on the issue on MondayHenry was castigated in the press and the FAI first asked for a replay and then to be installed as the 33rd teamWe lost, maybe not fair and square, but we lost nonetheless READ MORE

Thierry Henry to face the music from FIFA over Irish handball incident (IrishCentral)

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:17:22 PST

By: KENNETH HAYNES

Thierry Henry is to appear before a FIFA hearing today over the infamous handball during the World Cup playoff second leg against the Republic of Ireland in Paris on November 18 that sent his team to the World Cup.

Finally, some Irish players with enough balls to stick it to FIFA (IrishCentral)

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:00:18 PST

10/7/2009 10:02 AMFor every John Delaney (Chief Executive of the FAI) there is a Shay Given or a Kevin Kilbane) And that is some comfortLast week FIFA decided to seed the European section of World Cup qualifying playoffs, thus giving the big teams with the large TV markets (France and Germany to name but two) as easy a ride as possible to the World Cup, and ensuring that these ‘money” teams had every chance of making the finals in South AfricaI likened it the football equivalent of a government bailout to the big boys of football who couldn't win their group READ MORE

FIFA's decision to seed playoffs makes Irish quest tor World Cup qualification all the harder (IrishCentral)

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:00:16 PST

09/30/2009 10:26 AMFIFA's decision to seed the European section of World Cup qualifying playoffs will have a major impact on Ireland's chances of making the World Cup finals in South Africa next yearFIFA President Sepp Blatter was quoted in The Guardian newspaper as saying that they two-leg playoff would be seeded"We have decided on seeding the teams into two groups of four, taking the FIFA world rankings into account, with the top four in one pot and the others in another pot," he said "There will be a separate draw to decide home and away READ MORE

FIFA shock as Charlize Theron picks Ireland as first team in World Cup draw (IrishCentral)

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:47:45 PST

By: SEAN O'SHEA

Hollywood star Charlize Theron has endeared herself to the entire Irish nation after selecting Ireland in the draw for the World Cup.

Liam Brady calls Sepp Blatter "an embarrassment to FIFA" (IrishCentral)

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:25:00 PST

By: SEAN O' SHEA

News / FIFA confirm that Ireland asked for World Cup spot / Click here

FIFA confirm that Ireland asked for World Cup spot (IrishCentral)

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:36:34 PST

By: SEAN O' SHEA

News / Liam Brady calls Sepp Blatter "an embarrassment to FIFA" / Click here

FIFA ban Chelsea from transfer market until 2011 (IrishCentral)

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:56:44 PDT

By:

The circumstances around the transfer of French teenager Gael Kakuta from Lens to Chelsea has landed the Premier League club a hefty ban from FIFA.