FIFA Reportedly Working With FA To Move Ballon d'Or Ceremony From Zurich To London

FIFA's "previous rock-bottom relationship with the FA has improved to the extent they want to stage their showcase awards ceremony, the Ballon d'Or for world player of the year, in London," according to Charles Sale of the London DAILY MAIL. The event is traditionally held in FIFA's home city of Zurich early in the year but there's a "desire to add more glitz and numbers to the occasion with a change of venue and London is their first choice." Contact "has been made with the FA over putting on the event, which the world's best footballers always take extremely seriously, but no deal has yet been done." The FA working with FIFA "in such a way would have been highly unlikely even a few months ago, following the long fall-out from the 2018 World Cup vote and the FIFA corruption saga." FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who came to London last July for the 50th anniversary of England's World Cup win, "has helped build bridges" with FA Chair Greg Clarke (DAILY MAIL, 9/14).