Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini banned from football for 8years by FIFA

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and former EUFA president Michel Platini, have been banned from football for eight years after the FIFA Independent ethics Committee said the pair's 'defence wasn't convincing enough'.. Read FIFA's Official statement released this morning after the cut;

''The adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee chaired by Mr Hans Joachim Eckert has banned Mr Joseph S. Blatter, President of FIFA, for eight years and Mr Michel Platini, Vice-President and member of the Executive Committee of FIFA and President of UEFA, for eight years from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) on a national and international level. The bans come into force immediately.''

FIFA ranks Super Falcons as best African women's team of 2015

The Super Falcons have ended the 2015 calendar as the number one female football team in Africa according to the monthly football ranking released by the world's football governing body, FIFA.

None of the Super Falcons' players are on the shortlist of Africa Women’s Footballer of The Year 2015 and the team will not be among the African teams seeking gold at next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but FIFA still considers them good enough as champions of Africa

And 37th in the world according to this latest ranking..

Ancelotti to replace Guardiola at Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich have announced that Carlo Ancelotti will take charge of the club next season and replace Pep Guardiola, who is to depart.

The Spanish coach has enjoyed remarkable success in Bavaria in his spell as manager, winning two Bundesliga titles, one DFB-Pokal, the Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup, but will leave after choosing not to renew his contract.

And Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed that Ancelotti, who has been out of work since being sacked by Real Madrid in May, will take over at Allianz Arena.

FIFA discusses plans to expand the World Cup to 40 teams

FIFA's executive committee outlined new proposals at the news conference held in Zurich yesterday, including making sure there are at least six women on the newly-devised FIFA council, limiting presidential terms to a maximum of three and increasing the World Cup to 40 teams.

The proposal to increase the tournament by eight sides is on the agenda for the executive committee as part of a package of reforms for the world governing body.

Mali 0 2 Nigeria U 17 World Cup Final Highlights 2015

Mali’s dream of lifting a first ever Fifa U17 World Cup faded in thin air in Viña del Mar as they crumbled 2-0 to Nigeria at the Estadio Sausalito. 

Second half strikes from Victor Osimhen and Funsho Bamgboye were all the Eaglets needed to become world champions for a record fifth time, and the second country to successfully defend their title after Brazil. 

The tournament's outstanding team failed to repeat the fluency and genius of their 3-1 semi-final romp against Mexico, but Emmanuel Amuneke’s team found two more sumptuous moment during the second half of game. 

Issa Hayatou will serve as acting president of Fifa, the world governing body has announced.

Fifa said on Thursday morning that Sepp Blatter had been relieved of his duties and that Issa Hayatou, the head of African football from Cameroon, would be acting president.

The Fifa statement said, “Today, in accordance with Fifa’s code of ethics, Joseph S. Blatter was relieved of all his duties as Fifa president following the decision to provisionally ban him from all football activities on a national and international level.

“Joseph S. Blatter, for the duration of the 90-day ban, is not allowed to represent Fifa in any capacity, act on the organisation’s behalf, or communicate to media or other stakeholders as a Fifa representative.

“Issa Hayatou, as the longest-serving vice-president on Fifa’s executive committee, will serve as acting president of Fifa.”

Blatter lawyers say FIFA rules not followed

Lawyers for FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Thursday that the watchdog that suspended Blatter for 90 days had failed to follow its own rules by not letting him give evidence.

The Swiss and American lawyers predicted that a criminal investigation against the 79-year-old Swiss official would be dropped.

“President Blatter was disappointed that the Ethics Committee did not follow the code of ethics and disciplinary code, both of which provide for an opportunity to be heard,” said a statement released after FIFA announced the suspension of Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini.

FIFA suspends Sepp Blatter for 90 days

FIFA ethics committee has suspended its president Sepp Blatter for 90 days. Head of the committee,  Klaus Stoehlker, who has advised Blatter in the past, says the committee made the ruling pending further investigations by the Swiss attorney general following accusations of corruption.

He described it as a "pending" verdict, and said no negative finding had been made against the head of world football's governing body.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter sprayed with fake dollar bills during press conference

Disgraced FIFA president Sepp Blatter was sensationally sprayed with fake dollar notes by British comedian Simon Brodkin who gatecrashed his press conference in Zurich this afternoon.

Simon, who also goes by the name, Jason Bent & Lee Nelson, who is a well known prankster, walked up to Blatter's position behind a table at the front of the stage and placed a sum of money on the table and said: ‘This is for North Korea 2026’, before throwing the money into the air, which rained down on Blatter. Simon was later taken away by Swiss police. 

See the photos after the cut...

10 years since Argentina and Leo Messi won U20 World Cup

This Thursday marks one decade since a young Leo Messi, just 18 at the time, helped Argentina to victory in the U20 World Cup. By this time, he had already made his first appearances for the FCB first team and was the man on whom his country’s hopes rested at the tournament played in Holland in the summer of 2015.

Argentina finished second in Group D, behind the USA, and then beat Colombia in the second round, Messi scoring the first of the goals in a 2-1 win. In the quarter final, they won 3-1 against a Spain team featuring the likes of Cesc Fàbregas, David Silva and Fernando Llorente, and in the semis they faced old rivals Brazil, who they beat 2-1 with Messi getting one of the two goals.

Final victory

Liverpool complete signing of Barcelona's 16-year-old wonderkid Bobby Adekanye

Liverpool have completed the signing of teenager Bobby Adekanye from Barcelona.

The 16-year-old announced the move on his Instagram page, where he posted a photo of himself at Liverpool.  

Adekanye has been on loan at PSV Eindhoven and was one of five transfers to Barcelona's youth system that were banned from playing for the club in a clampdown by FIFA last summer over claims they had been signed illegally.

Born in Nigeria, Adekanye moved to Holland when he was four to live in Amsterdam with his family. 

Germany Beat The Wasteful U20 Nigerians 1 - 0 To Qualify For The Next Stage.

Levin Oztunali’s first half goal was enough to take Germany through to the last eight of the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 at the expense of Nigeria.

Ultimately, Frank Wormuth’s side were deserved winners against the Group E runners-up and while the Africans could not be faulted for effort, their inability to create meaningful chances proved to be their undoing.

Sweden vs Nigeria ended 3-3 draw at the ongoing FIFA women World cup in Canada.

Sweden vs Nigeria ended 3-3 draw at the ongoing FIFA women World cup in Canada.

This is the true Nigeria spirit on display. Kudos to all our virtuous girls, the warriors of our time... the whole of Nigeria is behind you and we love you as you, just continue to project the Original 'never say die' spirit of every Nigerian.

Group D is DEFINITELY living up to its "Group of Death" label. I can't wait to see how the USA vs Australia encounter would peter out later.

Great attacking game by Nigeria. Meanwhile, the defence need to be more compact and more discipline is required for the team. The sky is the limit, ride on girls, you have our backs...

Oshoala lives up to hype, but Okobi steals show

Oshoala came into the tournament highly regarded after first impressing at the 2014 U20 Women's World Cup, and later with the Super Falcons at the 2014 Africa Women's Championship. Monday, Oshoala largely lived up to the hype, and was a consistent threat along with fellow forward Desire Oparanozie.

Fifa paid Irish to stop legal action over Thierry Henry handball - BBC

Fifa paid the Football Association of Ireland 5m euros (£3.6m) to stop legal action after France controversially beat Ireland in a World Cup play-off.

FAI chief executive John Delaney said he had believed they had a case against Fifa after French striker Thierry Henry's handball in the 2009 match.

Delaney said a "legitimate agreement" was made to drop the claim after Ireland missed the 2010 World Cup.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is quitting with the organisation in crisis.

Delaney's comments come after a turbulent nine days for football's world governing body amid 

claims of "systemic and deep-rooted" corruption.

Fifa is facing two criminal investigations by both the US for widespread bribery allegations and Swiss authorities over the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding processes.

A Fifa spokesman confirmed it had "entered into an agreement with FAI in order to put an end to any claims" against it.

But the organisation said the payment was a $5m (£3.26m) loan and was granted for "the construction of a stadium in Ireland".

The spokesman added that the FAI was to repay the money if Ireland qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which they failed to do. Fifa wrote off the loan on 31 December 2014.

On Thursday, the FAI said the settlement was made without any conditions and was reached "following strong legal advice", with the money going towards the new Aviva Stadium - opened in May 2010 after the old Landsdowne Road ground was redeveloped.

In a statement, the FAI said: "This is fully reflected in our financial statements, which are audited independently. The FAI accepted Fifa's settlement offer to avoid a long, costly and protracted legal case.

"The settlement has at no time influenced the FAI's criticism of Fifa, as demonstrated by our consistent criticisms of Sepp Blatter."

The Republic of Ireland were 16 minutes away from a penalty shootout for a place in the 2010 finals in South Africa when Henry handled in the build-up to William Gallas's extra-time equaliser in the second leg of the play-off in Paris.

The 2-1 aggregate win sent France to the tournament, where they were knocked out of the group stages amid a player strike.

Delaney said he and Blatter "came to an agreement" after the Fifa president publicly dismissed the country's appeal to be made a "33rd team" at the tournament.

"We felt we had a legal case against Fifa because of how the World Cup play-off hadn't worked out for us with the Henry handball," he said in a radio interview with Ireland's national broadcaster RTÉ.

"Also the way Blatter behaved, if you remember on stage, having a snigger and having a laugh at us.

"I told him how I felt about him, there were some expletives used. We came to an agreement.

"It's a very good agreement for the FAI and a very legitimate agreement for the FAI," he said.