While the focus is all on whether FIFA President Gianni Infantino is to be formally investigated, "another ethics ruling is also apparently imminent" -- on former German FA CEO and one-time prospective UEFA presidential candidate Wolfgang Niersbach. Last May FIFA's ethics committee recommended a two-year ban and a 30,000 Swiss francs ($30,540) fine be imposed on Niersbach "following an investigation of Germany's 2006 World Cup bid." Now, according to German reports, the sentence on Niersbach "is about to be handed down by FIFA judges -- and could be even more severe than the recommended punishment following the examination of fresh incriminating evidence" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 7/18).
U.S. President Barack Obama "made Swansea players late for training on Thursday." The club left its hotel in Washington, D.C. on Thursday morning, "ready to make a short trip to DC United's training ground but found that the roads were closed." The reason was that Obama was "coming home to the White House, and Washington had to grind to a standstill as his motorcade sped through the city streets." Swansea defender Ángel Rangel said, "I'm sure managers have heard some great excuses over the years as to why a player is not on time for training but I don't think anyone has blamed American President Barack Obama" (STUFF, 7/17).
