For abuses to workers in Qatar, Amnesty International accuses FIFA

FIFA was accused by Amnesty International of not preventing the abuses that happen to the workers responsible for the construction of the stadiums that will be used at the World Cup 2022 in Qatar. For the human rights group, which revealed on Thursday a full abuse cases report at the Khalifa Stadium and Aspirine Zone, which includes training camps and structures around the field, what is happening is a disgrace to football world.

According to Amnesty International, immigrants working in the works of the Khalifa Stadium (one of 12 being built or refurbished) are delivered absolutely filthy accommodation and have confiscated passports and suffer intimidation of leaders. They receive lower wages than promised, and other irregularities. Among the 234 men interviewed by Amnesty International, only six reported receiving salary previously agreed.

The situation caused the Amnesty condemn FIFA, for human rights abuses in the World Cup host country 2022: "The abuse of immigrant workers is a wound in the conscience of world football," said the secretary general of Amnesty International, Selil Shetty . "For players and fans, a World Cup stadium is a place of dreams. For some of the workers we spoke with, it looks like a living nightmare ".

Contact the Goal , the report's editor, Mustafa Qadri explained how gardeners Khalifa Stadium are cheated by recruitment companies, "the was promised them $ 260 (about US $ 935) per month. Now, $ 260, when you paid a thousand to $ 4.300 as a recruiting fee to get started, it is not a lot of money (...) When you remember, on top of that, the lack of dignity in the way they are treated, it is very shocking ".

"These companies claim ignorance, but ignorance is no excuse for the law and international morality. Moreover, in terms of negligence, one must seriously question it, "Qadri said. "We're saying that for years."

"We said that this was an issue for the Supreme Committee for Qatar authorities and updated regularly to FIFA, either directly or from our publications. So far, nothing was really done. " Both the Qatar Supreme Committee as FIFA said in a statement that continue working to improve the situation of workers.

Gianni Infantino, new FIFA president

The Swiss Gianni Infantino , the right hand of disabled Michel Platini UEFA, is since this afternoon FIFA president after winning the second round of voting, a total of 115 supporters, the Arab Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa , which he brought together 88.

Since the first vote of the day at Hallenstadion, Switzerland became clear that Infantino and Salman were the favorites to fill the position vacated by Sepp Blatter also disabled. However, in the second ballot the Swiss won almost all the votes had achieved in the first Frenchman Jerome Champagne and Prince Ali.

Now, with the head Infantino, FIFA hopes to regain lost credibility in recent months by corruption scandals that forced the resignation of Joseph Blatter.

The candidate who filed the UEFA becomes the ninth president of the institution and the successor to Blatter, just nine months after it obtained its fifth reelection.

The election, nearly six hours after the Congress approve "in full" the changes proposed by the Reform Committee , imposed the new president the task of leading the renewal of an institution that needs to urgently clean up its image to avoid drain sponsors.

The importance of a vote that was expected uncertain until the end spoke movements that made the frontrunners until the last minute.

If both Al Khalifa yesterday as Infantino toured by meetings of all confederations to convince undecided on the morning of the election would not leave anything to chance.

Protests against Salman

In anticipation of protests of human rights groups, who have denounced the presence of Sheikh Salman on the committee identified 15 athletes participating in the demonstrations of 2011, a small number of "fans" with perfectly made banners with the same photo Arab candidate, launched in favor of the Bahraini messages in the moments before.

These replaced them later, a small group of little less than a dozen opponents of the Bahraini regime displayed banners with photos of the tortured, while shouting: " Salman, dictator ."

Then, during the Congress, the decision to take the vote to Kuwait and Indonesia, two Asian federations suspended by government interference, which were supposed to support Al Khalifa- provoked protest Arab Emirates Jordan and asked, unsuccessfully, that that disqualification would vote. It was not a minor issue, because it reduced to a simple majority 104 votes with which one of the candidates should be imposed in the last round.

During the turn of speech of candidates, there were no surprises with Prince Ali and Jerome Champagne, which did not change the speech exposed during his campaign.

Al Khalifa directly attacked his rival, Infantino, without naming who accused him of promising impossible given the financial situation of FIFA. "I will not mortgage the FIFA to get votes , " he said. In response, Infantino displayed his facility for languages ​​, with a message that began in Italian - "the language in which my parents instilled in me values ​​, " he said, and was changing into German, French, Spanish, English, even, a little Portuguese.

Infantino wanted to reach each confederation addressing them in their predominant language. And also he responded to the Khalifa. "During my seven years in the UEFA, UEFA revenues tripled, when I talk about figures, believe me. If FIFA generates 5,000,000,000 why can not be distributed 1.2 billion ?".

The focus, however, stole the South African Tokyo Sexwale , the candidate who did not support nor the African Confederation, after saying he would not withdraw "because a soldier dies with his boots on" consumed 13 minutes of speech explaining their program, before announcing that it would not contest the election.

The other candidates remained after the first election, virtually ruled out Champagne (7 votes) and Prince Ali (27). Infantino rearmed morale to be first with 88 votes, three more than Al Khalifa, who arrived as a favorite to the final day.

And in the game of pacts, Infantino managed followers needed to overcome comfortably simple majority. Meanwhile, Sheikh did not increase more than three votes their expectations, Infantino garnered a total of 27 more.

His arrival to the presidency of FIFA, with 45 years ago to breathe European football, which feared an axle shift to the Asian emergency and you feel good to South America, who bet block by the Swiss candidate, despite doubts end of a federation.

Ninth president in 112 years for FIFA

The Swiss Gianni Infantino became Friday the ninth president of FIFA, during the Extraordinary Congress of the organization held in Zurich, where he won on the second ballot.

Infantino obtained 115 votes against 88 Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa. The third place went to Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, 4, and ultimately concluded Frenchman Jerome Champagne, who did not get any vote.

The relationship of presidents of FIFA since its founding in 1904 is as follows:

- Robert Guerin (FRA) . Elected on May 23, 1904 in Paris, two days after the founding of FIFA with seven federations, France, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain (Madrid FC), Sweden and Switzerland.

- Daniel Burley Woolfall (ING) . Elected in June 1906 in Bern (Switzerland).After his death in 1918 occupied the presidency on an interim basis the Dutchman Carl Anton Hirschmann.

- Jules Rimet (FRA) . Elected in 1920 in the Belgian town of Antwerp (Belgium) on an interim basis until he was confirmed in office on March 1, 1921.

- Rodolphe Seeldrayers (BEL) . Elected on June 21, 1954 in the Swiss city of Bern. After his death the English Arthur Drewry took office temporarily.

- Arthur Drewry (ING) . Elected on June 9, 1956 in Lisbon. After his death Ernst B. Thommen Swiss held the presidency on an interim basis.

- Stanley Rous (ING) . Elected on September 28, 1961 in London.

- Joao Havelange (BRA) . Elected on June 11, 1974 in Frankfurt. He left office in 1998.

- Joseph Blatter (SUI) . Elected on June 8, 1998 in Paris and reelected in 2002, 2007, 2011 and 2015. On June 4, 2015, five days after his last re -election, he announced that it was their position available to meet the FBI for corruption charges against several directors.

Later in October, the camera instruction independent Ethics Committee as FIFA temporarily suspended on December 21 camera resolution it passed him for eight years on the understanding that the payment of two million Swiss francs (1.8 million) made FIFA Platini in February 2011, authorized by Blatter, "he had no legal basis in the agreement signed by the two leaders on August 25, 1999".

On February 24 the appeal committee reduced his punishment to six years.

- Gianni Infantino (SUI) . Elected on February 26, 2015 in Extraordinary Congress in Zurich.

Infantino, a Fellow of the Professional League is the head of world football

The Swiss, polyglot, studied at the LFP and became the UEFA executive; FIFA will lead to the goal of a total reform

A few decades ago it was formed as an intern in our National Football League, which later lost N. The boy promised. He came to Spain , then also the best league in the world, to understand its functioning and to learn Spanish well. He did everything very well. He was ready and destined to be a ruler of football. Gianni Infantino Swiss UEFA subsequently came to a career that has taken him to the principal chair of world football .

He became famous in the draws for the Champions League. The Swiss bald bald reminded us of the national lottery. Lawyer, polyglot, secretary general of the Union of European Football Associations since 2009, was the right hand of Michael Platini. His polite and cordial to conquer the world in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian forms and people skills will he has allowed to take votes from Asia and Africa, which seemed controlled by Sheikh Salman, and get a win that represents the revolution of FIFA from within the bureaucracy football.

Infantino has won a project of cleaning regenerative drive them out of the FIFA all accused of corruption but not dismissed anyone until it is found to have done something wrong. It will not accept resignations by the media firing squad.

His revolution start in the World Cup: increase the participation in the World Cup from 32 to 40 teams . And it will continue with the help of the 209 federations that make up FIFA: there will be five million euros a year for each. Salman, vice president of the agency and defeated in the elections, said that payment will be a ruin for the body and will fight against it.

Think making a total reform from within the bureaucracy of football lives in Switzerland. His presidency will be collegial, controlled by vice presidents and the secretary general, as decided congressmen that, yes, keep all your privilege travel first , consideration of VIP cards and other prerogatives.

Andorra is Investigated paying bribes to FIFA dome

They are meeting the bigwigs of world football in Zurich to try to clean upFIFA . But, in view of the scandals that continue to emerge, it will not suffice with a change of faces in the presidency. Whether or Al-Khalifa Infantino chosen, the surgery will need many hours in the operating room. Especially because corruption is institutionalized since the time of Joao Havelange , the almighty "pharaoh" who ruled with an iron fist from 1974 to 1998. Almost two decades after his retirement, reappears name Havelange. And not a small matter.

US Attorney followed the trail of the corrupt plot to Switzerland, where he made ​​a raid that caused an earthquake in the dome of FIFA and ended the career of its president, Joseph Blatter . They fell most South American leaders, and even the head of UEFA, Michel Platini , but US authorities did not give up its investigations, which have now come to Andorra. There they found evidence that the president of the Brazilian Football ConfederationRicardo Teixeira would have used an Andorran bank account to transfer to FIFA 1.7 million euros with which to try cover up the scandal by the collection of more than 40 million in bribes between 1992 and 2000 the company ISL in return for television rights of the World.

Blatter and Rosell

Andorran plot not only affects Havelange and Teixeira, but also Joseph Blatter , as researchers believe that payment of 1.7 million went to stop to apersonal account of Peter Nobel , particularly lawyer even FIFA president, who then it would have reimbursed to the organization. But to put the icing on the cake of corruption, the Andorran authorities need the cooperation of the Brazilian Justice, the newspaper "O Estado" would be willing to offer now in great detail on the accounts of Teixeira and environment.

As if that were not enough, also appears the name of Sandro Rosell .According to researchers, the Andorran company that performed the operation, Bon Us SL, was linked to a friend of the former president of Barca, exconsejero Andorran Finance Joan Besolí , who was a member of Rosell in the Andorran company counts SL, which was the he processed the residence permit Ricardo Teixeira in the Principality. The president of the Brazilian Football Confederation would have paid half a million euros to complete all the paperwork.

A Rosell was investigated in Brazil for the collection of 8.4 million euros of the Brazilian Confederation as commission for holding friendly selection of that country.

The TAS continues to suspend Platini, which could be expanded to "several years"

Michel Platini , threatened with a lifetime ban by the domestic courts of FIFA, received on Friday a double whammy: the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) maintained its current provisional suspension and spokesman of the Ethics Committee of FIFA predicted for him a sentence of "several years".

The ability to run for the presidential elections of February 26 moments away by Platini, who was considered the favorite to succeed Joseph Blatter, resigned and currently provisionally suspended for a long time.

Platini did not hide his anger at the words of spokesman to the daily L'Equipe on Friday.

When asked by the French sports newspaper, which published the answers on their website, Andreas Bantel, spokesman for the Ethics Committee of FIFA, was confident that there will be a tough sanction against the president of UEFA, "Platini will surely be suspended several years".

"As for Blatter, no difference for him between several years and a lifetime ban," he added Bantel.

- "Anger and dismay" -

In a statement sent to AFP, Platini, UEFA president, and his lawyers expressed their "anger and dismay at the statements of Mr. Andreas Bantel", estimating that constitute "a flagrant violation of the presumption of innocence and demonstrate the political objective They pursued by the Ethics Committee of FIFA, for whom the debate and contradictory statement that she has set for December 18 are clearly not of any use. "

FIFA President, Issa Hayatou Was Caught Sleeping On His First News Conference As Interim

Issa Hayatou seemed to fall asleep on the job in his first news conference as interim FIFA president yesterday, Thursday.

Just three weeks after undergoing a kidney transplant, it was easy to see why the 69-year-old official from Cameroon briefly snoozed during a long-winded slideshow presentation of FIFA’s reform program.

Still, the Confederation of African Football president was sharp and combative minutes later when quizzed on his links to wrongdoing allegations and his fitness for the task of leading FIFA through to the Feb. 26 election.

Issa Hayatou, temporarily replaces Sepp Blatter, the eighth FIFA president who was suspended over scandalous allegations of corruption.

Argentine Minister confirms excellent relationship with FIFA required by case

The Argentine cabinet chief Anibal Fernandez, confirmed today that it has an "excellent relationship" with José Luis Meiszner, former secretary of Conmebol included in the list of persons to request international arrest in the case FIFA corruption, but asked for an investigation "to the bone". "I know José Luis many years and I want to believe that it has nothing to do. Well, he also investigated, have to investigate everything is in the public interest for the state," the head of the outgoing Cabinet said today during their daily contact with the media.

Fernández explained that 35 years who knows Meiszner ago and has been linked with him in politics Quilmes Athletic Club (Fernandez presides but does not exercise control for asking license).

In addition, it specified that the former general secretary of Conmebol "participated" with him in the "management of the Ministry of Labour" because it is a "very knowledgeable about the labor law" man.

Although they are joined by an "excellent relationship" Fernandez insisted that "if they go to investigate, mess knife to the bone" and recalled that the Argentine Treasury has already intervened to demand payment of taxes in the amounts allegedly charged by Meiszner as bribery . "The State has public interest in research, (July) Grondona, who died of Argentine football coach whose name has also been splashed in the scandal, of Meiszner or whoever," he said.

"Come to where you have to get, because if not ending any form getting into the bag to everyone and the reality is that they have to see what happened," he said.

The investigation into alleged corruption in FIFA on Thursday resulted in the arrests of Juan Angel Napout and Alfredo Hawit, highest authorities of the South American Confederation and CONCACAF.

Meiszner, who last week had submitted his resignation as Secretary General of Conmebol he held since 2011, was included in a list of people with international arrest request.

According to information to which EFE had access, Meiszner in Buenos Aires is plunged into a deep depression for three months.

FBI accuses 16 members of FIFA corruption

Police in the US have accused 16 others as part of a corruption investigation of FIFA. The Department of Justice, based in Washington, has published an article detailing the members and former members of the FIFA accused of involvement "in criminal schemes involving $ 200 million in bribes and kickbacks" document.

 The US attorney general Loretta Lynch, confirmed the news at a press conference given on Thursday: "We declare our determination to eradicate corruption and bring the criminals to justice."

"The 16 new defendants are sued for conspiracy and abuse of their positions to achieve financial gain. We are working to secure the arrest of other accused in other countries," he added.

The acting president of FIFA, Issa Hayatou, spoke about his plans for the reform of world football's governing body: "The events that took place this morning highlights the need to complete a program of reform of FIFA."

World Cup 2026 - FIFA thinks up to 40 teams in 2026

FIFA plans to spend 32 teams currently 40 teams qualified for the World Cup 2026, according to a proposal to be discussed Thursday at the Executive Committee, do we learned from a source close to Fifa.

This proposal is part of a vast project of reforms that should be discussed by the Government of FIFA at a time when the institution was rocked by two further arrests of officials intervened at dawn in Zurich.

The proposal, unexpectedly, to spend from 32 to 40 teams from the World Cup-2026, if it is discussed and accepted, will not need to be submitted to the upcoming extraordinary congress of FIFA in February, and will be effective upon adoption by the government of world football, the source said.

Supported by some candidates to succeed the retiring FIFA president Joseph Blatter to 40 teams this passage answers the need of better development of football and is also in a financial perspective, the source close to the Fifa under cover of anonymity.

The award of the World-2026 process was suspended in June due to repeated scandals that shook Fifa, amid widespread allegations of corruption linked in particular to the allocation of the 2018 World Championships in Russia and 2022 in Qatar.

Six months after a first dragnet for suspicion of bribery, two other senior officials were arrested Thursday at dawn in Zurich at the request of the United States, a new replica of an earthquake that never ceases to shake the supreme body of world football.

According to an official Fifa told AFP on condition of anonymity, the arrests had two vice presidents of the proceeding, members of the Executive Committee: the Paraguayan Juan Angel Napout and Honduran Alfredo Hawit Banegas.

FIFA is still in turmoil

Honduran Alfredo Hawit, acting head of the Confederation of North America, Central and Caribbean Tegucigalpa November 5th, 2015 and Paraguayan Juan Angel Napout, president of the South American Confederation Luque July 16, 2015 A senior FIFA Said the official Officials detained This two FIFA in Zurich on December 3, 2015 is suspected of corruption are vice presidents Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay and Alfredo Hawit of Honduras

11:02 - Pots of wine - A total of 14 people, including nine current or former members of FIFA, have so far implicated in the indictment of American justice, which evokes some 150 million (€ 132 million) of bribes and kickbacks since the 1990s.

10:42 - Press conference - A press conference is scheduled at 14:30, after the meeting of the executive committee. Cameroonian Issa Hayatou, Acting President, and Swiss lawyer Francois Carrard, Chairman of the Commission reforms, should participate, but their participation? S not yet fully confirmed.

10:40 - Reforms - The second day of the Executive Committee meeting began as scheduled at 09:00, reports the AFP in Zurich Eric Bernaudeau, citing a spokesman for the organisation. The President of the Commission reforms, the Swiss lawyer Francois Carrard, should present the findings of his commission, which will then be put to vote. If accepted by the Executive Committee, these reforms will be put to the vote of the 209 federations February 26, 2016, at an extraordinary congress in Zurich. 

These reforms provide for a particular limitation to 12 years of accumulated mandates of the President and members of the Executive Committee, a rebalancing of powers of that committee, which would be renamed the board and whose membership would increase, and a strengthened health check Member that advice. The remuneration of senior officials of FIFA, including the president and general secretary, would also be published.

10:39 - World 2022 - The new arrests came a day after the fifth anniversary of the award of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This allocation, tainted by suspicions of corruption at the heart of the scandal that has shaken FIFA for several months.

10:34 - Arrests - The Swiss police operation began at 6:00 am (0500 GMT) and targeted including Baur au Lac in Zurich, which had already been the scene of the first wave of arrests in the seat Fifa. Ironically, the current Executive Committee was expected today to consider the reforms envisaged by the Federation to regain credibility. The Executive Committee will continue "as expected," said FIFA in a statement.

10:31 - Cooperation - "FIFA will continue to cooperate fully with the US justice under Swiss law as well as in the framework of the investigation by the Swiss prosecutor's office," said FIFA.

10:29 - South Americans - Both leaders are arrested vice presidents of FIFA, the Honduran Alfredo Hawit and Paraguayan Juan Angel Napout. Mr. Hawit is the acting head of the Confederation of North America, Central and Caribbean (CONCACAF). Mr. Napout chairs the South American Confederation (Conmebol).

10:28 - Exchange - The two leaders of FIFA were arrested at the request of the United States for their extradition. "These senior executives were paid in exchange for the sale of marketing rights in connection with the distribution of tournaments in Latin America and qualifications for the World Cup," the Swiss Department of Justice.

10:24 - FIFA is still in turmoil six months after a first dragnet for suspicions of corruption within the highest body of world football, two other officials were arrested this morning at dawn in Zurich . These new arrests occurred on the sidelines of an Executive Committee, opened yesterday in the Swiss city, where also seven world football officials were arrested May 27 for suspicions of corruption and money laundering.

FIFA reiterates that "will fully cooperate" with the US investigation

The FIFA said Thursday that "will fully cooperate" with the US in research carried out by the Department of Justice in this country, after learning of the arrest in the last hours upon request thereof, of two of their leaders in Zurich.

 In a brief statement FIFA claims to be aware of these arrests and reiterated that "it will fully cooperate, as permitted by law Switzerland ", with research carried out by the US for alleged corruption within the organisation and with which It performs the Attorney General of Switzerland.

"FIFA will not make further comment on today's events," concludes the text of the organisation, which ends Thursday in Zurich the Executive Committee meeting which began yesterday and attended by the leaders arrested.

According to US media this is the Honduran Alfredo Hawit, president of the Central American Football Confederation (CONCACAF) and FIFA vice-president and Paraguayan Juan Angel Napout, also FIFA vice-president and president of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol).

The US Justice accused of taking bribes rising "millions of dollars" in exchange for the sale of broadcasting rights for football events played in Latin America and qualifying matches for World.

The meeting of the Executive, headed by the Cameroonian Issa Hayatou, president since the time penalty imposed in early October by the own organisation to Sepp Blatter, include in its agenda the presentation of the conclusions of the reform committee, created after learning research of American justice on FIFA.

Last May 27, on the eve of Congress Blatter re-elected as president, a position he has held since 1998, seven other leaders of the organization were also arrested Swiss city.

The incident led to the resignation of Blatter and call new presidential elections scheduled for 26 February.

Two FIFA officials arrested in Switzerland

The Ministry of Justice and Police of Switzerland confirmed the arrest of two leaders of the FIFA occurred this morning in the city of Zurich, where last May seven other senior representatives of the organisation were arrested at the request of the US Justice on charges of corruption.

New detainees will be kept in custody awaiting a decision is taken in relation to respective US extradition requests against them.

The Swiss Ministry did not disclose the names of the two prisoners today, but according to US media one is the Honduran Alfredo Hawit, president of the Central American Football Confederation (CONCACAF) and FIFA vice-president.

The other detainee would Paraguayan Juan Angel Napout, also FIFA vice-president and president of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol).

The US Justice accused of taking bribes rising "millions of dollars" in exchange for the sale of broadcasting rights for football events played in Latin America and qualifying matches for World.

According to information provided by the US authorities to the Swiss Ministry, some of these crimes were agreed and prepared in US territory and the payments would have been made through banks in that country.

Senior officials of FIFA in Zurich on the occasion of the meeting of the Executive Committee which began yesterday.

These circumstances are similar to those that, on 27 May this year, resulted in the arrest of seven senior officials of the sports organisation, who were in the Swiss city to participate in the FIFA Congress and the election of its president .

New arrests of leaders of FIFA in Switzerland morning, according to NYT

The Swiss authorities took place early Thursday a new series of arrests of leaders of the highest governing body of world football, FIFA, in a similar operation to that already it took place in May , as published in the American newspaper The New York Times today.

According to information from the New York newspaper, which was also the first to publish the operation May, it's more than a dozen arrests linked to corruption investigation that the US Justice held open against FIFA.

At the moment it is not known who the detainees, although the newspaper did not specify that each agency president, Sepp Blatter, and several other leaders of world football in Central and South America is.

At least some of the arrests took place in the luxury hotel Baur au Lac in Zurich, the same in which the operation took place in May, and agreed that the Swiss police at 06.00 local time (05.00 GMT) through a door back.

One of those responsible for the hotel then told the visitors that were at the reception had to leave the building because it was producing "an extreme situation".

The arrests were directed against high current and past charges that FIFA is accused of "fraud, money laundering and fraud" and there were taking advantage of the meeting of leaders of the organization in Zurich this week.

The US has filed charges of corruption against a total of eighteen people, of whom seven were already arrested in late May.

US sought the extradition of them all. Two volunteered to be transferred, while the rest rejected this option and their cases are pending.

For its part, the Swiss Justice makes a parallel investigation, involving Blatter, currently suspended for ninety days, and the president of UEFA, Michel Platini , for a payment of two million dollars that he received the first in 2011.

FIFA unveils nominees for the 11th World

FIFA announced on Thursday 55 nominees perfect 11, 2015, a list that governs the Real Madrid with 12 representatives from 11 of the 10 Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

In the list there are 14 teams, three in the Spanish league, four of the Premier, two of the Bundesliga, one of Serie A, one of Ligue 1, one of the Portuguese league, one from Argentina and one of the league MLS.

Eleven elite players, "regardless of nationality or color of the shirt you defend every weekend, joined by the talent and the recognition of his colleagues, that is the FIFA FIFPro World XI," the agency on its official website .

The award, which rewards the best 11 players of the season, has known this Thursday at 55 finalists, the product of choice among almost 25 000 active players in 70 countries across the globe. "From players for players" it is the motto of the vote.

A total of five goalkeepers, 20 defenders, 15 midfielders and 15 forwards were announced as finalists in a joint initiative between FIFA and FIFPro, the representative of professional players in the world, which has lasted seven years.

On 11 January they will be announced the 11 members of the dream team for 2015, as part of the Gala Golden Ball FIFA.

The 55 selected players are:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy / Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain / Porto), David De Gea (Spain / Manchester United), Keylor Navas (Costa Rica / Real Madrid CF) and Manuel Neuer (Germany / Bayern Munich).

Defenders: David Alaba (Austria / Bayern Munich), Jordi Alba (Spain / FC Barcelona), Jerome Boateng (Germany / Bayern Munich), Daniel Carvajal (Spain / Real Madrid CF), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy / Juventus), Dani Alves (Brazil / FC Barcelona), David Luiz (Brazil / Paris Saint-Germain), Diego Godín (Uruguay / Atletico Madrid), Mats Hummels (Germany / Borussia Dortmund), Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia / Chelsea FC), Vincent Kompany ( Belgium / Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (Germany / Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Brazil / Real Madrid CF), Javier Mascherano (Argentina / FC Barcelona), Pepe (Portugal / Real Madrid CF), Gerard Pique (Spain / FC Barcelona ), Sergio Ramos (Spain / Real Madrid CF), John Terry (England / Chelsea FC), Thiago Silva (Brazil / Paris Saint-Germain) and Raphael Varane (France / Real Madrid CF).

Midfielders: Thiago Alcántara (Spain / Bayern Munich), Xabi Alonso (Spain / Bayern Munich), Sergio Busquets (Spain / FC Barcelona), Eden Hazard (Belgium / Chelsea FC), Andres Iniesta (Spain / FC Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany / Real Madrid CF), Luka Modric (Croatia / Real Madrid CF), Andrea Pirlo (Italy / New York City FC), Paul Pogba (France / Juventus), Ivan Rakitic (Croatia / FC Barcelona), James Rodriguez ( Colombia / Real Madrid CF), David Silva (Spain / Manchester City), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast / Manchester City), Marco Verratti (Italy / Paris Saint-Germain) and Arturo Vidal (Chile / Bayern Munich).

Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Argentina / Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales / Real Madrid CF), Karim Benzema (France / Real Madrid CF), Douglas Costa (Brazil / Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / Real Madrid CF) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden / Paris Saint-Germain), Robert Lewandowski (Poland / Bayern Munich), Lionel Messi (Argentina / FC Barcelona), Thomas Mueller (Germany / Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil / FC Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands / Bayern Munich), Wayne Rooney (England / Manchester United), Alexis Sanchez (Chile / Arsenal), Luis Suarez (Uruguay / FC Barcelona), Carlos Tevez (Argentina / Boca Juniors).

Conmebol supports Infantino for FIFA presidency

The leaders of the CONMEBOL support to "block" the Swiss Gianni Infantino, current general secretary of UEFA, for the presidency of FIFA, said on Thursday the president of Conmebol, Juan Ángel Napout.

"We will vote as a block, is decided. We've talked with Gianni and define it," said the Paraguayan Juan Ángel Napout the Brazilian press after a meeting of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in Rio de Janeiro.

Infantino last of the seven candidates for the post of outgoing Joseph Blatter, met earlier this month with Napout and other leaders at the headquarters of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) in Asunción.

Amid corruption scandal in FIFA Infantino defends the need to renew the institution and undertakes to strengthen the poorest countries on the planet channeling resources of the world football matrix for social development projects.

The Swiss leader assured during his visit to Asuncion that South America will maintain the four direct places and one in the playoffs for the World Cup.

Infantino entered the fray after UEFA president Michel Platini, be temporarily suspended by the FIFA Ethics Committee to receive a controversial payment of 1.8 million euros in 2011, Joseph Blatter, for a work completed in 2002.

Recently, Infantino said that Platini is finally allowed to participate in the election, he will give up his candidacy.

Seven candidates are in the running to chair FIFA after the election of February 26: Infantino, Sheikh Salman Bahrain, the South African Sexawla Tokyo, Jordanian Prince Ali, the French Jerome Champagne, the Liberian Musa Bility and Platini.

Del Nero resigns over at the FIFA Executive Committee

The Conmebol accepted on Thursday unanimously the resignation of the president of the CBF, Marco Polo Del Nero, the position on the Executive Committee of FIFA and appointed as a substitute Fernando Sarney, son of former President of the Republic José Sarney.

"Mr. Marco Polo Del Nero has requested its withdrawal from the FIFA Executive Committee on behalf of Conmebol and appointed Mr. Fernando Sarney as his replacement, which was approved unanimously," said the continental body said in a statement after the meeting summit leaders, in Rio de Janeiro.

Shortly after, the very CBF confirmed the information in a separate statement, emphasizing, however, the Del Nero's time in office on the Executive Committee of CONMEBOL. Also according to CBF, the decision to leave the FIFA summit is due to the fact that the Brazilian leader has chosen to "give full attention to Brazilian football debates and issues."

This is the argument that Del Nero has used to justify its controversial international absences, since we landed in Rio hours after the arrest in Switzerland of its predecessor and political godfather, Jose Maria Marin.

The former president of the CBF was arrested on May 27 in Zurich, accused of corruption along with six other leaders of FIFA, when the scandal exploded in world football.

Since then, Del Nero did not come out of Brazil and missed every meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee. The president of the CBF also did not travel more with the Brazilian team, missing the Copa America to Chile.

The agent of Brazilian soccer justified absences, saying it preferred to remain in Brazil to follow closely the activities of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) to investigate the accounts of CBF.

Chaired by former player and now a senator Romario, sworn enemy of Del Nero, the CPI approved in August the breach of bank secrecy of the leader.

The Del Nero substitute in the FIFA will be Fernando Sarney, one of the vice presidents of the CBF and son of former President of the Republic José Sarney.

FIFA World XI could be a Bayern-Eleven

Bayern Munich could make almost the entire Weltelf the football world governing body FIFA. Among the 55 nominees for the "FIFA FIFPro World XI 2015", which is under the World Footballer choice presented on January 11 in Zurich, there are eleven players of the German league leaders, led by the world champions Manuel Neuer, Thomas Mueller, Philipp Lahm and Jerome Boateng. 

 Also Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) and Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) are on the list. 

The superstars Cristiano Ronaldo (Real) and Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) have their seats as good as booked as in recent years. Selected were the nominees of the international players' union FIFPro and FIFA. Nearly 25,000 professionals from some 70 countries participate in the vote. 

Select a goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and forwards. For the complete Bayern's team, however, lacks a defender in the list. The nominees include: Goalkeeper (5): Gianluigi Buffon (Italy / Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain / FC Porto), David De Gea (Spain / Manchester United), Keylor Navas (Costa Rica / Real Madrid) and Manuel Neuer (Germany / FC Bayern München) Defender (20): David Alaba (Austria / Bayern Munich), Jordi Alba (Spain / FC Barcelona), Jerome Boateng (Germany / Bayern Munich), Daniel Carvajal (Spain / Real Madrid) Giorgio Chiellini (Italy / Juventus), Dani Alves (Brazil / FC Barcelona), David Luiz (Brazil / Paris Saint-Germain), Diego Godín (Uruguay / Atletico Madrid), Mats Hummels (Germany / Borussia Dortmund), Branislav Ivanović ( Serbia / Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (Belgium / Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (Germany / Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Brazil / Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Argentina / Barcelona), Pepe (Portugal / Real Madrid), Gerard Piqué (Spain / FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain / Real Madrid), John Terry (England / Chelsea), Thiago Silva (Brazil / Paris Saint-Germain) and Raphael Varane (France / Real Madrid) Mittelfeldpieler (15): Thiago Alcântara (Spain / FC Bayern München), Xabi Alonso (Spain / FC Bayern München), Sergio Busquets (Spain / FC Barcelona), Eden Hazard (Belgium / Chelsea), Andres Iniesta (Spain / FC Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany / Real Madrid), Luka Modric (Croatia / Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy / New York City FC), Paul Pogba (France / Juventus), Ivan Rakitic (Croatia / FC Barcelona), James Rodríguez (Colombia / Real Madrid) , David Silva (Spain / Manchester City), Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast / Manchester City), Marco Verratti (Italy / Paris Saint-Germain) and Arturo Vidal (Chile / FC Bayern München) striker (15): Sergio Aguero (Argentina / Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales / Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France / Real Madrid), Douglas Costa (Brazil / FC Bayern München), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / Real Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden / Paris Saint-Germain) Robert Lewandowski (Poland / Bayern Munich), Lionel Messi (Argentina / Barcelona), Thomas Müller (Germany / Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil / FC Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands / Bayern Munich), Wayne Rooney (England / Manchester United), Alexis Sánchez (Chile / Arsenal), Luis Suárez (Uruguay / FC Barcelona) and Carlos Tevez (Argentina / Boca Juniors)

8 for FIFA presidency race

Official candidates for the FIFA presidency from top left: former Trinidad and Tobago's football player David Nakhid, UEFA secretary general Gianni Infantino, AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, former FIFA deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne, Liberia FA chairman Musa Bility, FIFA vice president for Asia Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, Chairman of the FIFA monitoring committee for Israel and Palestine Tokyo Sexwale and UEFA President Michel Platini . PHOTO: AFP

Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, the 39-year-old brother of Jordan's King Abdullah who was the only adversary to Blatter at the previous election in May this year and can boast that he took the veteran Swiss to a second round of voting before withdrawing.

French former diplomat Jerome Champagne, 57, spent 11 years working for FIFA between 1999 and 2010. Unlike his previous bid in May, he has managed to get the necessary five signatures from national associations.

But he appears to lack the necessary clout, a problem also faced by David Nakhid, the former Trinidad and Tobago captain who once played for Swiss side Grasshoppers. In addition, Liberian FA chief Musa Bility confirmed to AFP on Monday that he had entered the race.

A heavyweight candidate to come forward is Tokyo Sexwale, the 62-year-old South African anti-apartheid campaigner who was once jailed alongside Nelson Mandela, serving 13 years of an 18-year sentence on Robben Island on terrorism charges.

Bahrain's Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa and UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino blew the race to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president wide open on Monday as they announced their bids. Infantino's announcement would appear to place Platini, who is currently serving a 90-day ban as investigations continue into a 1.8 million euro (S$2.77 million) payment received from FIFA in 2011 without a written contract, in an uncomfortable position.

Asian football chief Shaikh Salman pledged to get the scandal-tainted FIFA organisation "back on the right track", but the biggest shock-waves were created by the multilingual Infantino, who has the "full backing" of UEFA's Executive Committee.

FIFA confirms 2022 World Cup in Qatar will kick off Nov. 21

FIFA says the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will start on Nov. 21, kicking off a 28-day tournament that will finish on Dec. 18.

FIFA's executive committee confirmed the 2022 dates on Friday, six months after picking the Sunday, Dec. 18 date — Qatar's national holiday — for the final.

In March, FIFA finally decided to switch the 2022 tournament from June-July to avoid Qatar's summer heat.

A 28-day World Cup is four fewer than usual and is designed to cause less disruption to clubs and leagues which must shut down for several peak midseason weeks.

FIFA had delayed choosing a kickoff date in Qatar while it held talks on the 2019-2024 schedule of national team fixtures.

The international calendar mandates when clubs must release players for national-team duty.