FIFA admitted it is investigating whether Russia's entire 23-man 2014 World Cup squad was "part of the country's state-supported doping programme and cover-ups," according to Nick Harris of the London DAILY MAIL. The "bombshell revelation" comes after an investigation found those 23 players and another 11 footballers are among more than 1,000 "people of interest" to officials charged with "getting to the bottom of global sport's biggest scandal of the past decade." With Russia currently hosting the Confederations Cup and one year before it stages the World Cup, "these incendiary developments pose further questions" about the country's "suitability to host that showpiece." FIFA confirmed knowledge of the allegations against the Russian players, and is "in possession of detailed evidence and intelligence." What action it is taking is "unclear." Former WADA President Dick Pound said, "There is a huge onus on FIFA to reach a sensible conclusion on these matters before the World Cup takes place. It is incumbent on them to say what steps they are taking, what they find, and take whatever action necessary to protect the integrity of sport." Some sports governing bodies have provided breakdowns of cases and action but FIFA declined to do so. However, a spokesperson said, "FIFA is still investigating the allegations made against [Russian] football players" (DAILY MAIL, 6/24). REUTERS' Brian Homewood reported Russia Deputy PM Vitaly Mutko, who is also president of the Russian Football Union, dismissed the allegations and said that "there never was nor will be" doping in Russian football. Mutko added, "Don't pay attention to this, they have been writing about us negatively since 2010. Our national team is endlessly checked." FIFA said in a statement, "FIFA has simply confirmed that, in close collaboration with WADA, it is still investigating the allegations involving football players in the so-called McLaren report." FIFA added that it had not referred to any particular players and "cannot comment on the status of ongoing investigations." It said that it wanted investigations to be "completed quickly" and that it "could not provide further details until then" (REUTERS, 6/25).
EFFORTS CRITICIZED: In London, David Conn reported FIFA has been accused of "further undermining the credibility of its anti-corruption reforms" after it issued a statement reporting Ethics Committee Investigatory Chamber Chair María Claudia Rojas had "effectively cleared" President Gianni Infantino "of being under investigation." FIFA released that statement last Monday in response to a report that Infantino was under investigation "for more than one allegation of malpractice" when he organized the removal of two ethics committee chairs at the Bahrain congress last month. FIFA's statement was "immediately criticised for blurring the separation" between FIFA and the ethics committee, which constitutionally should be independent of the organization as it investigates its officials. There were also questions over how Rojas had been "able to authorise such a categorical statement, having been appointed only one month earlier" (GUARDIAN, 6/23).
FECAFOOT MEETING: The BBC's Leocadia Bongben reported FIFA "brought forward a reconciliation meeting for Cameroon football stakeholders" to July 10 in Guinea, as it "aims to settle internal problems" within the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT). Cameroon was banned from global football in July '13 before the establishment of a FIFA-approved Normalisation Committee led by Joseph Owona. Tombi A Roko Sidiki and his exec committee then assumed office after elections held in Sept. '15. Despite Sidiki's election receiving the approval of FIFA and the Cameroon government, there have been "several challenges to his administration" (BBC, 6/24).
RUSSIAN VAR: REUTERS reported Mutko said on Saturday that the country was "in talks with FIFA" on using video assistant referee technology at "some of its stadiums." VAR is being tested at four Russian stadiums hosting the Confederations Cup. FIFA already said that it "would like to use video assistant referees in the 2018 World Cup," and the Int'l FA Board is expected to decide in March "whether to authorise their use in the game on a permanent basis." Mutko said that the VAR technology was "pricey" but Russia was "ready to implement it" (REUTERS, 6/24).
