FIFA fined Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay on Wednesday "for anti-gay chants by their national team's fans." FIFA said the "insulting and discriminatory chants" came during qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup. Chile's fine is the biggest at $70,000. The governing body imposed fines of $20,000 on Argentina, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay (AP, 1/13). ... The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has reached a decision in the case involving the Kuwait FA following an unplayed match in the preliminary competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. The Disciplinary Committee has decided that the Group G match of the Asian zone qualifiers between Myanmar and Kuwait should be forfeited, and ordered the KFA to pay a fine of $10,000 (FIFA). ... The Confederation of African Football and the Asian Football Confederation will sign a Memorandum of Understanding of mutual co-operation "on development of football between the two confederations." The MoU, "which will be valid for four years and open to renewal, is meant to strengthen cooperation between the two confederations and provide a framework for exchanges on competitions and formation" (DAILY TRUST, 1/13). ... FIFPro, the professional footballers' union, launched #GameChangers, an initiative aimed at promoting discussion about a more sustainable model for the game. The scheme, backed by FIFPro's member unions worldwide, seeks to address the governance crisis which has undermined the image of professional football (FIFPro). ... The Argentine FA announced on Tuesday that an election for the organization's next president will take place on June 30. The election will take place one month after the conclusion of the upcoming season of the Argentine first division, and four days after this year's Copa América in the U.S. (DYN, 1/13).
