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☆ Ambani's wedding kicks off in India this weekend. Here's who will be at the star-studded event
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | In Charmainemariajacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Anant Ambani fiancée Radhika Merchant pose for a photo on the red carpet during their sangeet ceremony at Jio World Centre in Mumbai. All eyes are on this weekend's mega wedding in India, where the youngest son of Asia's wealthiest man prepares to tie the knot with his long-time sweetheart after months of lavish pre-wedding celebrations. Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani — the country's richest man and the billionaire chairman of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries — is throwing a three-day wedding bash for his son that kicks off on Friday. The groom is his 29-year-old son Anant Ambani and 29-year-old Radhika Merchant, the daughter of Viren Merchant, owner of Encore Healthcare. The Ambani family has stayed mum about the star-studded guest list, but multiple media reports have said 16-time Grammy award winner Adele could be one of the main performers.

Persons: Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant, Mukesh Ambani, Viren Merchant, Ambani, Adele, Drake, Mike Tyson, Kim Kardashian, Ram Nath Kovind, Boris Johnson, Tony Blair, Mark Tucker, Jay Lee, Morgan Stanley's Michael Grimes, Gianni Infantino Organizations: Reliance Industries, Encore Healthcare, Wall Street, CNBC, Business, HSBC Holdings, Samsung Electronics Co, FIFA Locations: Mumbai, India, Hollywood, Bandra

☆ Soccer union launches legal action against FIFA over fixture congestion
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Sammy Mncwabe | Samuel Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —FIFA is facing a legal challenge over the world governing body’s “unilateral” decision to set the international match calendar – notably an expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup – unions representing soccer players said in a statement on Thursday. CNN has reached out to FIFA for comment on the legal action. As their union, we have a duty to intervene and to enforce their legal rights as employees. Manchester City lift the Club World Cup trophy in 2023 - the competition is set to expand from seven teams to 32 in 2025. Francois Nel/Getty ImagesIn addition to the larger Club World Cup, all three European club competitions will be expanded to 36 teams for the 2024/2025 season.

Persons: –, ”, David Terrier, “ It’s, Maheta Molango, “, Molango, Gianni Infantino, ” Infantino, Francois Nel, Vinícius Júnior, Ballon d’Or, Ronaldinho, Vinícius Jr, Jude Bellingham, Wayne Rooney –, David Beckham Organizations: CNN, FIFA, FIFA Club, English, ’ Association, des, FIFPRO, European Court of Justice, of Fundamental, Commerce, PFA, World League, of Football, FIFA Congress, Manchester City, Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, Manchester United Locations: FIFPRO Europe, Europe, United States, Brussels, FIFPRO, Bangkok, Manchester, Real Madrid, Brazil, Madrid, England, Bellingham

☆ Vinícius Jr.: Spanish court orders prison time for soccer fans over racist abuse toward Real Madrid star
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Kevin Dotson | Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Thank you to La Liga and Real Madrid for helping with this historic conviction.”The Brazilian vowed to keep using his platform to fight racism. “The three defendants acknowledged their criminal liability and have released an apology letter addressed to our player Vinícius Jr., to Real Madrid C.F. and to everyone else who felt offended and degraded by their behavior,” Real Madrid said in a statement. “La Liga will identify them, report them and there will be criminal consequences for them.”Global soccer’s governing body FIFA also praised the news. “I am pleased to see the firm action and sentencing taken by the Spanish authorities in relation to the racist abuse directed at Vinícius Jr in a Spanish La Liga match in May 2023.

Persons: CNN —, Vinícius, Vinícius Jr, “, I’ve, I’m, ”, Pierre, Philippe Marcou, Javier Tebas, Gianni Infantino, Infantino Organizations: CNN, Real Madrid, La Liga, Valencia CF, Spanish, LaLiga, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Liga, Getty, ” Real, ”, FIFA Locations: Valencia, Spain, Real, Real Madrid, AFP, ” Real Madrid, Spanish

CNN —The Women’s World Cup will be held in South America for the first time after Brazil won the right to host the 2027 tournament, soccer’s governing body FIFA announced on Thursday. Brazil’s bid won 119 votes, FIFA said, while a joint bid from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany (‘BNG’) received 78. “Congratulations to Brazil,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said. “We will have the best World Cup in Brazil.”Brazil has hosted the men’s World Cup in 1950 and 2014. “You can be sure, with no vanity, we will accomplish the best World Cup for women.”The 2027 World Cup will be the 10th edition of the tournament.

Persons: Brazil’s, “, Gianni Infantino, ”, Ednaldo Rodrigues, Catherine Ivill, Marta Organizations: CNN, Brazil, FIFA, FIFA Congress, ” FIFA, South, Brazilian Football Confederation, Spain, England, Spanish, Force Locations: South America, Bangkok, Thailand, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, United States, Mexico, Brazil, ” Brazil, –, States, Australia, New Zealand

☆ FIFA to take legal advice on calls to suspend Israel Football Association
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Zayn Nabbi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) had called for a vote to ban Israel before Infantino made the announcement over accusations that the IFA had violated FIFA rules during the continued war in Gaza. “Due to the obvious sensitivity of these matters, FIFA will mandate, as of now, independent legal expertise to analyse and assess the three requests made by the Palestinian Football Association and ensure that the statutes and regulations of FIFA are applied in the correct way,” Infantino said. “As I speak to you today, the Palestinian people, including the Palestinian football family, are enduring an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty ImagesRajoub went on to call for FIFA “to temporarily suspend the IFA as a member of FIFA with immediate effect.”Jordan Football Association general secretary Samar Nassar backed Rajoub, saying: “We are not here to deliberate on the human tragedy. And like anyone else, I was extremely, extremely shocked, and am extremely shocked at what’s happening in Gaza.”“I pray for all those people who suffer the unimaginable … and I want, like all of you, just one thing: peace.”

Persons: Gianni Infantino, Infantino, ” Infantino, “, Jibril Rajoub, ” Rajoub, Shino Moshe Zuares, Manan Vatsyayana, Rajoub, ”, Samar Nassar, ” Nassar Organizations: CNN, FIFA, Israel Football Association, IFA, Palestinian Football Association, Israel, FIFA Council, PFA, Getty, FIFA “, ” Jordan Football Association, “, Palestinian Association, UEFA Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Gaza, AFP, Yugoslavia, Russia, Africa, Israel

☆ Scandal Brought Reforms to Soccer. Its Leaders Are Rolling Them Back.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The 12-page report was intended to save soccer’s governing body, FIFA, in its moment of existential crisis. Filled with reform proposals and drawn up by more than a dozen soccer insiders in December 2015, the report was FIFA’s best chance to show business partners, U.S. investigators and billions of fans that it could be trusted again after one of the biggest corruption scandals in sports history. In bullet points and numbered sections, the report championed high-minded ideas like accountability and humility. It also proposed concrete and, for FIFA, revolutionary changes: transparency in how major decisions were reached; term limits for top leaders and new limits on presidential power; and the abolition of well-funded committees widely viewed as a system of institutional graft. And there on the report’s final page, deep down a list of its authors, was the name of the man positioning himself as FIFA’s savior: Gianni Infantino.

Persons: Gianni Infantino Organizations: FIFA

☆ Jude Bellingham wants ‘more extreme consequences’ for fans who racially abuse players
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Amanda Davies | Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham said players should have greater involvement in how decisions are made to tackle racism in soccer. “I do think there’s got to be more extreme consequences,” said Bellingham. In 2023, La Liga told CNN Sport that it cannot impose punishments on clubs or fans itself. European soccer’s governing body UEFA told CNN Sport that it has continued to publicly denounce racism and has launched multiple campaigns to try tackle the issue. Real Madrid superstarBellingham has flourished since joining Real Madrid from German side Borussia Dortmund at the start of the season, settling in much more quickly than many had expected.

Persons: Jude Bellingham, CNN’s Amanda Davies, Vinícius Júnior, there’s, ”, “, Vinícius Jr, Vinícius, Jose Breton, Gianni Infantino, Bellingham, he’s, El, Gareth Southgate’s, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN — Real Madrid, CNN, Black, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Valencia, Osasuna, Real, Bellingham, Getty Images, ” CNN, La Liga, Royal Spanish Football Federation, CNN Sport, FIFA, FIFA Congress, UEFA, Borussia Dortmund, League, England Locations: Bellingham, Madrid, Spain, Mallorca, Real Valladolid, Atlético, Getty Images Bellingham, “, German, England

☆ FIFA Said to Be Close to TV Deal With Apple for New Tournament
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, is close to an agreement with Apple that would give the tech company worldwide television rights for a major new tournament, a monthlong, World Cup-style competition for top teams that will be played for the first time in the United States next summer. The value of the deal might be as little as a quarter of the $4 billion FIFA had first estimated, the people said. It is unclear if the deal with Apple will include any free-to-air rights, meaning the entire event could be available only to subscribers of Apple TV+, a factor over which senior executives at FIFA have raised concerns. Should the deal go through, it would be the first time that FIFA, which will stage the first expanded 48-team men’s World Cup in the United States in 2026, has agreed to a single worldwide contract. It would also represent the latest foray into soccer for Apple, which in 2022 signed a 10-year, $2.5 billion agreement for the global streaming rights to Major League Soccer.

Persons: Gianni Infantino Organizations: FIFA, Apple, FIFA’s, Major League Soccer Locations: United States, China

☆ Fenerbahçe vs. Trabzonspor: FIFA condemns Turkish league violence after soccer fans storm pitch and attack players
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Sammy Mncwabe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —FIFA President Gianni Infantino has condemned the violence that broke out after Trabzonspor fans stormed the pitch and attacked Fenerbahçe players following a Turkey Süper Lig match Sunday. Security forces tried to shield Fenerbahçe players, as fans stormed the pitch. Trabzonspor fans invade the pitch and clash with Fenerbahçe players and security staff after the match. We need to be tolerant towards each other and have common sense.”This is the latest controversy to engulf Turkish football. In December, Faruk Koca, the president of top-flight Turkish soccer club Ankaragücü resigned, a day after he punched a FIFA-licensed referee in the face.

Persons: Gianni Infantino, ” Infantino, Ali Yerlikaya, “, Fenerbahçe, Abdullah Avci, Ismail Kartal, Faruk Koca, club Ankaragücü Organizations: CNN, FIFA, Trabzonspor, Lig, Security, Turkish, Ihlas News Agency, Reuters, Turkey Football Federation, Trabzonspor A.Ş, Super League, BBC Sport, club Locations: Turkey, Fenerbahçe, Trabzon, Turkish

☆ Sébastien Haller: After recovering from testicular cancer, Ivory Coast striker scores winner in AFCON final
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

In the quarterfinals against Mali, Ivory Coast pulled off yet another great escape, once again scoring a last-minute equalizer before grabbing a winner in extra-time. The team’s uncanny ability to come back from the brink had earned them the nickname ‘Zombie Elephants’ and Ivory Coast lived up to its moniker again in the final. After Nigeria had taken a first-half lead through William Troost-Ekong’s header, the host nation fought its way back into the match. Cheered on from the stands by legendary striker Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast equalized just after the hour mark through Franck Kessié. Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger and FIFA President Gianni Infantino also watched as Ivory Coast claimed its third AFCON title.

Persons: Sébastien Haller, Ouattara, Haller, Les Éléphants, Coast, Jean, Louis Gasset, Emerse Faé, –, Themba, Faé, William Troost, Didier Drogba, Franck Kessié, Simon Adingra’s, “, Ivory Coast’s Adingra, ” Drogba, Arsène Wenger, Gianni Infantino Organizations: CNN, Ivory, Africa, of Nations, German, Borussia Dortmund, Dortmund, Cancer, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Congo, Reuters, Arsenal, FIFA Locations: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory

☆ ‘New York New Jersey’ Got the World Cup Final. Now Comes the Hard Part.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( David Waldstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The governor of New Jersey leaped from his chair and raised his hands high above his head as if he had just scored the winning goal in a World Cup final. Gathered around a TV in a lounge at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., with a group of colleagues, family and friends on Sunday, Gov. Phil Murphy watched as Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, announced that MetLife Stadium would be the site of the 2026 World Cup final. “The significance of a World Cup final dwarfs anything else in global sports. I am just beyond thrilled that we were honored with the final game.”

Persons: Phil Murphy, Gianni Infantino, Murphy, “, Mr, ” Organizations: MetLife, Sunday, Gov, FIFA, New Jersey Meadowlands Locations: New Jersey, East Rutherford, N.J

☆ Mike Maignan: Subjected to racist abuse, AC Milan star now finds himself being kicked around like a political football
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —A leading soccer goalkeeper, who is Black and was subjected to racist abuse during a match in Italy’s top league last month, now finds himself being kicked around like a political football. Maignan received widespread support from the football world and FIFA President Gianni Infantino called for automatic forfeits for teams whose fans have racially abused players. Maignan speaks with referee Fabio Maresca during the match between AC Milan and Udinese. AC Milan players react after Maignan was racially abused by Udinese fans. ‘Simply shameful’The Maignan incident comes 11 years after another AC Milan star – midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng – made history by walking off the pitch during a friendly match after suffering abuse for 25 minutes.

Persons: Mike Maignan, Stefano Pioli, Maignan, Gianni Infantino, Fabio Maresca, Alessandro Sabattini, Alberto Felice De Toni, “, ” De Toni, ”, De Toni, Pietro Fontanini, Matteo Salvini, Maignan didn’t, ” Fontanini, Jennifer Lorenzini, Fontani, Tobias Jones, Jones, “ They’re, ” Jones, Kevin, Prince Boateng –, Carlo Tavecchio, Valerio Pennicino, Tavecchio, ” Boateng, “ There’s, It’s, it’s, ” Kevin, Prince Boateng, Pro Patria Busto Arsizio, Daniele Mascolo, Anne Frank’s, Samuel Umtiti –, Lameck Banda, Lameck, Manuel Lazzari of, Maurizio Lagana, Infantino, Frenchman Organizations: CNN, AC Milan, French national, Udinese, Frenchman, Serie, Milan’s Serie, Bologna, San, Milan, FIFA, AC Monza, Udinese’s, Lega, Reuters, Football, Black, Lazio, Lega Seria, Serie A, Gazzetta dello, Pro Patria Busto, Shutterstock, AS Roma, French, Ligue, Lille –, Lecce, “ Lazio Locations: Italy’s, Udine, Italy, San Siro, Curva, —, Maignan, England, Russia, Italian, Shutterstock Lazio, Rome, Manuel Lazzari of Lazio, Lazio

☆ Amid anguished joy, ‘nothing is impossible’ for the Palestinian national soccer team on its Asian Cup adventure
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Eoin Mcsweeney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —As the echoes of the final whistle rang out around the Abdullah bin Khalifa stadium in Doha, Qatar, Palestinian players celebrated with anguished joy last week. The historic sporting moment for Palestinians comes as Israel’s war against Hamas rages in Gaza, causing widespread destruction and initiating a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The Palestinian Football Association says that, as of December 6, 55 football players are amongst the dead, including amateur and youth members. Some Palestinian national team footballers, like Saleh, have reportedly lost family members or have relatives and friends trapped in Gaza. Palestinian national team players observe the national anthems prior to the AFC Asian Cup Group C match between Iran and Palestine at Education City Stadium on January 14, 2024 in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

Persons: Abdullah, Oday, Israel, Rami Hamada, Mohamed Saleh, Mohammed Rashid, CNN’s Eleni Giokos, “, Hong Kong, ”, “ We’re, Rashid, Mohammed Saleh, Hector Retamal, Saleh, ” Rashid, there’s, “ They’ve, ” Mohammed Rashid of, Mohammad Mohebbi, Masashi Hara, Gianni Infantino, we’re, Robert Cianflone, Monday’s Organizations: CNN, Palestinian national soccer team, AFC Asian, Hong, Qatar, Iran, Palestinian, UAE, Group C, Janoub, Getty, Ministry of Health, Palestinian Football Association, West Bank, Palestinian soccer, Education City, FIFA, UEFA, Russian, Israel, Persib, “, Hamas Locations: Doha, Qatar, Palestinian, Gaza, Hong Kong, Hong, Palestine, Al, AFP, “, Ramallah, Israel, Iran, Al Rayyan, Ukraine, Persib Bandung, refence, Russia

☆ Gigi Riva, Italy’s all-time leading scorer, dies aged 79
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Italian soccer great Luigi ‘Gigi’ Riva died on Monday at the age of 79, according to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). Nicknamed ‘Rombo di Tuono’ (‘Roar of Thunder’) – a nod to his shooting and physical strength – Riva is Italy’s leading all-time national team goalscorer, a title he has held since 1973 after passing Giuseppe Meazza. Have a good trip, beloved Gigi.”Riva made his international debut aged 20 and was part of the side that won Italy’s first ever European Championship. He more than played his part, opening the scoring in the final against Yugoslavia, which Italy won 2-0. He joined the club at the age of 19 after making his professional debut for Serie C team Legnano-Ivrea.

Persons: Luigi ‘ Gigi ’ Riva, Riva, ‘, Tuono, –, – Riva, Giuseppe Meazza, Gianni Infantino, Gigi, ” Riva, Italy’s, ”, Arrigo Sacchi, Legnano, Gigi Riva, Alessandro Sabattini, Marcello Lippi’s Organizations: CNN, Italian Football Federation, ‘, FIFA, Yugoslavia, Italy, West Germany, Cagliari, Serie C, Sardinian, Serie A, France Locations: Italy, Mexico, Italy's, Brazil, Sardinia, Ivrea, Cagliari

MILAN (AP) — AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan says too many people are “complicit” in allowing racism to continue blighting soccer, and urged authorities to take stronger action after he suffered racist abuse on Saturday night. It's not the first time it's happened to me and I'm not the first person it's happened to,” Maignan wrote in French on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The fans in the stands, who saw everything, who heard everything but decided to stay quiet, you are complicit,” Maignan continued on X. Enough is enough.”Maignan, whose brilliant performances helped Milan win the Serie A title in 2022, praised those who helped him to cope. "We reaffirm our aversion to any form of discrimination and express our profound solidarity with the AC Milan player Mike Maignan in light of Saturday’s deplorable incident at our stadium.

Persons: Mike Maignan, Maignan, DAZN, “ It's, It's, I'm, ” Maignan, “ We've, ”, Prince Boateng, Mario Balotelli, Lukaku, Gianni Infantino, Kylian Mbappé, ” Mbappé, “ Organizations: MILAN, — AC Milan, Udinese, Serie, FIFA, Maignan, Milan, AC Milan, ” Udinese, “ Udinese Locations: Italy

☆ Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday condemn ‘racist gesture’ aimed at player during English soccer match
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —English soccer clubs Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday have jointly condemned a “racist gesture” allegedly aimed at Coventry midfielder Kasey Palmer during their match on Saturday. Palmer, who is Black, said it was a “couple” of fans making “monkey chants.”The alleged incident took place during a match in the Championship, English football’s second tier, which Coventry won 2-1 at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium. “Disappointed to even have to come on here & write this,” Palmer said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “They’re ignorant people… You can be booed or whistled when you’re away from home, that’s normal, but what happened today has no place in football,” Maignan said. The match resumed less than 10 minutes later, and Milan would win a dramatic encounter 3-2 in the final minutes.

Persons: Kasey Palmer, Palmer, ”, ” Palmer, I’ve, Doug King, Dejphon Chansiri, Mike Maignan, “, ” Maignan, Maignan, Fabio Maresca, Gianni Infantino, Italy “, – Infantino Organizations: CNN, Coventry City, Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry, Sheffield, Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough, Zuma, AC Milan, Udinese, Sky Sports, Milan, FIFA Locations: Sheffield Wednesday’s, Coventry, Italian, Milan, England, Italy

☆ Pack your jerseys. The era of 'sports tourism' is here
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Randy Mulyanto | Marylou Costa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Sports tourism, as it's called, is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the travel industry, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. "The sport tourism market will continue as long as new opportunities to play and compete exist," she said. Justin Setterfield | Getty Images Sport | Getty ImagesFor some countries, these events are an opportunity to raise their international standing. Patrick Smith | Getty Images Sport | Getty ImagesTravel + Leisure Co. and Sports Illustrated Resorts announced plans to open a network of sports-themed resorts in American college towns. Ryan Pierse | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images

Persons: Lisa Delpy Neirotti, George, Neirotti, Delpy, Justin Setterfield, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dustin Johnson, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Delpy Neirotti, Lewis Hamilton, Kym Illman, Jay Wardle, Narendra Modi, Robert Cianflone, Gianni Infantino, Major League Baseball —, Patrick Smith, GetYourGuide, Ryan Pierse Organizations: Summer, Games, Sports, United Nations World Tourism Organization, George Washington University's, Management, Sport, Padres, NFL, MLB, FIFA, Getty, CNBC Travel, Saudi Crown, Fox News, Adara, ICC Men's Cricket, The Bank of Baroda Economics Research, Narendra, MotoGP, Rugby, Las Vegas, Companies, Major League Baseball, Sports Illustrated Resorts, University of Alabama —, McLaren Technology, U.S ., CNBC, Olympic Games, Olympic Locations: Mexico City, Germany, London, Brisbane, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, Qatar, Singapore, India, New Zealand, Indonesia, France, United States, Tuscaloosa , Alabama, U.S, New York

GENEVA (AP) — The near certainty that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 men's World Cup unites two of the most influential men in world sports: the leader of soccer's governing body and the kingdom's crown prince. In the case of Saudi Arabia, U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi was slain inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The men’s World Cup should earn Switzerland-based FIFA more than $10 billion in almost entirely tax-free revenue. “Mohammed bin Salman wants Saudi Arabia to be a hub of anything and everything,” Middle East expert James Dorsey said. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic and FIFA canceled the planned June 2021 relaunch in China of its Club World Cup event.

Persons: Gianni Infantino, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sportswashing, Jamal Khashoggi, Prince Mohammed, Infantino, King Salman, Prince Mohammed's, “ Abraham, ”, Donald Trump, ” Infantino, Mohammed's, Cristiano Ronaldo, “ Mohammed bin Salman, James Dorsey, Greece —, —, Australia –, they’ve, James Johnson, “, Yasser Al Misehal –, – Organizations: GENEVA, FIFA, Australia, Qatar, White House, “ Abraham Accords, United Arab, Soccer, Newcastle, Russia, Saudi, ” Football Australia, ” FIFA, FIFA Council, Fox News Locations: Saudi Arabia, Persian, Saudi, U.S, Istanbul, Riyadh, Switzerland, Gulf, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Europe, Swiss, China, Qatar, United States, Canada, Mexico, Egypt, Greece, Africa, South America, Asia, Oceania, Saudi Arabian, Australia

GENEVA (AP) — Saudi Arabia is all but certain to host the men's 2034 World Cup after the Australian soccer federation declined to enter the bidding contest. “We have explored the opportunity to bid to host the FIFA World Cup and — having taken all factors into consideration — we have reached the conclusion not to do so for the 2034 competition,” Football Australia said in a statement. Indonesia’s football association initially showed interest in a joint bid with Australia, potentially alongside Malaysia and Singapore, but that faded when Indonesia instead backed Saudi Arabia. Australia and New Zealand successfully co-hosted the Women's World Cup in July and August. Saudi Arabia also will host the men's Asian Cup in 2027 and has started a widespread construction program to build and renovate stadiums that likely also will be used for the World Cup.

Persons: “, LIV, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, Gianni Infantino, Australia —, Minky Worden, ” Worden, ___ Organizations: GENEVA, FIFA, ” Football Australia, Newcastle, Saudi Crown, South America — FIFA, Asian Football Confederation, AFC, Qatar, soccer, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi, Rights Locations: Saudi Arabia, Australian, Saudi, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, South, Asia, Oceania, Australia, Qatar, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, New, Brisbane, Queensland

☆ Luis Rubiales’ unwanted kiss on Jennifer Hermoso ‘derailed’ joy of Spain’s Women’s World Cup success, says FIFA Secretary General
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Zayn Nabbi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —FIFA’s outgoing Secretary General Fatma Samoura said she was encouraged by the global support Jenni Hermoso received after Luis Rubiales’ unwanted kiss on her following Spain’s triumph in the Women’s World Cup final, saying the Spanish football federation president’s actions partly “ruined” the tournament and “derailed” the world champion’s joyous celebrations. Rubiales resigned from his roles as president of the Spanish Football Federation and one of UEFA's vice-presidents. I think we have to have 211 member associations deciding who’s the best for the FIFA president. Samoura shakes hands with Spain's Salma Paralluelo during the award ceremony following the 2023 Women's World Cup final. It takes 1,000 people to organize the World Cup, it takes even more to fight all forms of discrimination in the stadium,” said Samoura.

Persons: CNN —, General Fatma Samoura, Jenni Hermoso, Luis Rubiales, “, ” Samoura, Darren Lewis, Rubiales, Irina R, Hipolito, ”, Samoura, George Floyd, Catherine Ivill, Hermoso, Jorge Vilda, Jenni, you’ve, Shane Anthony SInclair, “ It’s, Gianni Infantino, ” Infantino, FairSquare, Lise Klaveness, Klaveness, Infantino, Spain's Salma Paralluelo, Alex Pantling, Sepp Blatter, Jérôme Valcke Organizations: CNN, Spanish, Spanish Football Federation, Europa Press, UN, FIFA, Samoura, Amnesty, Norway, organisation’s, FIFA Congress, “ Locations: Spanish, Africa, London, Spain, America, Russia, Qatar, Australia, New Zealand, Doha, Kigali

☆ Swiss prosecutors end criminal proceedings against FIFA boss Gianni Infantino
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Criminal proceedings against FIFA President Gianni Infantino over his dealings with former Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber have been closed, Swiss prosecutors said on Thursday, a decision Infantino hailed as a vindication of “the new FIFA.”Infantino was elected in 2016 to clean up world soccer body FIFA after it became embroiled in corruption scandals. However, Swiss authorities launched proceedings against Infantino himself in 2020 on suspicions of secrecy violations, abuse of office and aiding and abetting related to meetings he held with Lauber. In ending the proceedings, prosecutors said their investigations had “invalidated” such suspicions. Swiss authorities had been investigating contacts between Infantino and Lauber, who resigned as Swiss attorney general after a court concluded he covered up a meeting with the FIFA boss and lied to supervisors while his office investigated corruption at the football body. The prosecutors said that their investigation had turned up no evidence that Infantino had “instrumentalized” the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland “into unusual, inexplicable, erroneous or even criminal acts or omissions.”FIFA said they had noted the decision to close the proceedings “with extreme satisfaction.”

Persons: Gianni Infantino, Michael Lauber, ” Infantino, Infantino, Italian Infantino, ” Organizations: CNN, FIFA, Swiss, Lauber, ” FIFA Locations: Italian, Infantino, Switzerland

☆ Swiss prosecutors end proceedings against FIFA boss Infantino
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] FIFA president Gianni Infantino is seen after Spain won the Women's World Cup final, Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia - August 20, 2023. REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - Criminal proceedings against FIFA President Gianni Infantino over his dealings with former Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber have been closed, Swiss prosecutors said on Thursday, a decision Infantino hailed as a vindication of "the new FIFA". Infantino was elected in 2016 to clean up world soccer body FIFA after it became embroiled in corruption scandals. In ending the proceedings, prosecutors said their investigations had "invalidated" such suspicions. Swiss authorities had been investigating contacts between Infantino and Lauber, who resigned as Swiss attorney general after a court concluded he covered up a meeting with the FIFA boss and lied to supervisors while his office investigated corruption at the football body.

Persons: Gianni Infantino, Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, Michael Lauber, Infantino, Italian Infantino, Rohith Nair, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Toby Chopra Organizations: FIFA, Spain, REUTERS, Swiss, Lauber, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney, Italian, Infantino, Switzerland, Bengaluru

☆ Bobby Charlton: English soccer in mourning as tributes paid to country’s ‘greatest’ player
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Emotions ran high in England over the weekend after it was announced that Bobby Charlton, widely regarded as the country’s greatest soccer player, had died on Saturday at the age of 86. “A little bit of England has died,” said The Sunday Times of the man who played a starring role in England’s 1966 World Cup win. Flowers are placed in memory of Bobby Charlton beside the "United Trinity" statue at Old Trafford. On X, formerly known as Twitter, Prince William, who is president of the Football Association, said: “Sir Bobby Charlton. Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesEngland won the 1966 World Cup final with a 4-2 win against West Germany at Wembley Stadium, where Geoff Hurst scored a hat trick.

Persons: Bobby Charlton, David Beckham, Prince William, ”, Sir Bobby, George Best, Denis Law, Beckham, Charlton, United, ” Beckham, Robert, Beckham’s, Ted, Barrington Coombs, Pelé, Bobby Moore, Garrincha, Franz Beckenbauer, Sir Bobby Charlton, Bobby, Jon Super, Gianni Infantino, Gary Lineker, Geoff Hurst, Hurst, ” Hurst, “, Jack Organizations: CNN, Manchester United, Sunday Times, Charlton, English Football Association, United Trinity, England, Trinity, Ballon, United, FA, European, Champions League, Football Association, First, Getty, FIFA, Benfica, Keystone, Hulton, West Germany, Wembley, Premier League, Observer, West Locations: England, Manchester, United Kingdom, Old Trafford, United, AFP, Barcelona, West Germany

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — Soccer officials in Australia and Indonesia have floated the idea of teaming up in a bid to rival Saudi Arabia for the hosting rights to the men’s World Cup in 2034. The Sydney Morning Herald reported comments Wednesday from Indonesia soccer federation president Erick Thohir about ongoing talks that could also include Malaysia and Singapore in a possible bid. Political Cartoons View All 1206 ImagesThohir is an Indonesian government minister who has ties to FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Any opponent to Saudi Arabia in the 2034 World Cup contest has to express official interest by Oct. 31. FIFA has said it will decide which months to play the 2034 World Cup after its members confirm the host at a meeting likely to be held late next year.

Persons: Erick Thohir, Israel, Gianni Infantino, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, ___ Organizations: — Soccer, Sydney Morning Herald, Indonesia, FIFA, Israel, International Olympic Committee, Inter Milan, Italian soccer, Asian Football Confederation, AFC Locations: SYDNEY, Australia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Singapore, Argentina, Indonesian, Italian, Asia, Oceania, United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Africa, South America, Saudi Arabian, Australian

GENEVA (AP) — Saudi Arabia formally informed FIFA of its wish to host the men’s World Cup in 2034 on Monday in a bidding contest that increasingly looks designed for the kingdom to win. That allows the 2034 edition to return to Asia 12 years after Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup. Infantino has built close ties to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on frequent visits to the oil-rich kingdom since before the 2018 World Cup. The Saudi soccer project has seen the sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund buy English club Newcastle in 2021. The FIFA Council which agreed to the 2034 World Cup bidding process included nine delegates from European soccer body UEFA, which now has the 2030 tournament.

Persons: “, ”, Gianni Infantino, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, PIF, Karim Benzema, ___ Organizations: GENEVA, FIFA, Oceania, Qatar, New Zealand, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Newcastle, FIFA Council, UEFA Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian, Europe, Africa, South America, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, United States, Mexico, Canada, Asia, Australia, Saudi, Qatar, Egypt

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