FIFA has ‘not changed’ and decisions still lack transparency, says former governance chief
He was tasked with cleaning up FIFA.
And there is credit from Miguel Maduro for more rigorous spending controls since Gianni Infantino replaced the discredited Sepp Blatter.
But the former governance chief of football’s governing body has told Sky News of concerns FIFA has “backtracked” and the biggest decisions appear to lack transparency and openness again with World Cup hosts “cooked internally”.
The months of scrutiny and campaigning before a big reveal have been eradicated with opponents limited and deterred in a fast-tracked route for Saudi Arabia being handed the 2034 men’s showpiece.
Any pretence of a process after Mr Infantino undercut FIFA’s insistence bidding assessments were still required by effectively confirming the kingdom’s win on Instagram on Tuesday night.
“They have not changed with the reforms of 2015, unfortunately,” Mr Maduro, a former advocate general at the European Court of Justice, told Sky News.
“I thought it was only a matter of time until they will go back to publicly do things as they have always done in the past in this opaque, non-transparent, non-accountable way.”
FIFA provided no direct response to his claims, but the governing body last week insisted it is now run with the “highest ethical and governance standards” in a statement on a separate matter.
The World Cup is the jewel in FIFA’s crown – generating most of its £6.6bn revenue in the 2019-2022 cycle covering Qatar 2022.
Staging the tournament provides countries a platform to brandish their clout on the world stage beyond the sports sphere and attempt to cleanse their image.
The contentious dual award of Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 during a tainted vote in 2010 led to the Blatter-era leadership being toppled and reforms that handed the hosting decision to the congress of 211 football nations.
So, the 2026 World Cup was a hotly contested decision with Morocco losing to the combined United States-Canada-Mexico entry with the voters’ picks all made public.
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Saudi Arabia is set to host the men’s 2034 World Cup
But there will not be multiple options presented to the congress for 2030 and 2034 after FIFA’s leadership secured ratification from its ruling council of 37 members for a process that effectively ensured sole bidders.
It was suddenly announced four weeks ago that the rival bids for the 2030 World Cup were being combined to create an unprecedented six-nation, three-continent event across Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
After the same FIFA Council meeting a rapid process for the 2034 tournament was unexpectedly revealed that gave countries until this Tuesday to submit their interest.
The timeframe was too tight for a country like Australia to pursue its planned bid – especially with its own Asian Football Confederation already lining up behind the Saudis.
Football Australia CEO James Johnson told Sky News: “We had some conversations with people around FIFA about what our chances might be for the 2034 men’s World Cup. And ultimately, I like to bet on sure things. I didn’t feel that we had enough to win.”
Everything had been aligning towards Saudi Arabia which has wooed Mr Infantino in recent years and he has been enchanted by the kingdom welcoming him into its gilded power circles.
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Infantino insists FIFA has been a ‘pioneer’ for the women’s game
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Regular encounters with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and trips to Saudi have paid off for the oil-rich nation – securing the most prestigious football event without any vote after a favourable process that required only four existing stadiums of the 14 required by FIFA in time for 2034.
Mr Maduro said: “They promised a much higher degree of transparency on how the bidding was going to take place. We saw nothing of that type in this process.
“Basically, it is something that was cooked internally, within what I usually call the political cartel that dominates FIFA, in such a way that there is no option now but basically the award of the two World Cups to pre-established candidates.”
There are certain commitments to publish an evaluation of the uncontested bid but it is unclear how public the human rights risk assessment will be of anti-LGBTQ+ laws, women’s rights and working conditions.
Mr Maduro said: “Whatever assessment will take place now will be meaningless, because everybody knows who is going to get it.”
FIFA removed Mr Maduro from its position chairing the governance committee in 2017 after less than a year in the role at the start of the Infantino presidency.
The awarding of the men’s 2022 World Cup to Qatar by FIFA proved to be highly controversial
The lawyer said from Portugal: “There were a series of promises and commitments that were made after the scandals of 2015.
“Some of those commitments were regarding precisely how the World Cup was going to be awarded and the bidding process was going to take place.
“And basically what this tells us is that FIFA has not lived up to those commitments and those promises – it has actually backtracked on the reform process that they had initiated.”
FIFA insists the spread of nations for the 2026, 2030 and 2034 World Cups promote inclusion.
But it’s the men being prioritised.
The next Women’s World Cup is four years away and without a host.
Storm Shadow cruise missiles made in the UK and donated to Ukraine have once again been used to strike targets inside Russia.
The long-range weapons – which cost roughly £2m each – have been used to devastating effect in the Black Sea, sinking or damaging several Russian ships, and now against a chemical plant.
Last year, Ukraine’s allies lifted restrictions on Storm Shadows and other long-range missiles, meaning Kyiv’s military can use them against targets across the border.
Follow latest: Storm Shadow missiles used in ‘massive’ attack on Russia
A Storm Shadow missile system. Pic: Gary Dawson/Shutterstock
What are Storm Shadow missiles?
Storm Shadows are cruise missiles developed by the UK and France in the 1990s.
Launched from aircraft, they have a range more than 155 miles, manufacturer MBDA says, and can travel at speeds exceeding 600mph.
The missiles can be used with high precision for deep strikes while evading detection, the manufacturer says.
They have been used by the RAF and French air force and in the Gulf, Iraq and Libya, and more recently have been used by Ukrainian forces.
What sets them apart from some other projectiles is they use terrain mapping to navigate to their target, rather than relying just on GPS, military analyst Sean Bell says.
A Tornado GR4 with Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Pic: Crown copyright
How have they been used in Ukraine?
Back in May 2023, the UK government announced it would provide Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles – the first country to do so.
Since then they have been used by Kyiv’s defenders to strike Russian targets inside Ukraine and also inside Russia.
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While operational details of their use do not always emerge, it has been reported Storm Shadows have been used against targets including military headquarters and ships.
Storm Shadows can likely be operated entirely from within Ukraine, though probably with the assistance of intelligence gathered by Western surveillance planes over international waters.
A police officer has been injured after a night of violent protests outside an asylum hotel in Dublin – with six arrests made.
Bricks were thrown and fireworks were discharged outside the Citywest Hotel – with glass bottles used as missiles and a police van set on fire.
A Garda helicopter was also targeted with lasers, and the police service says some of those on the streets were seen carrying garden forks.
Pic: PA
Pic: PA
Commissioner Justin Kelly added: “This was obviously not a peaceful protest. The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery. This was a mob intent on violence.
“We will now begin the process of identifying those who committed crimes and we will bring those involved in this violence to justice.”
It is the second night of demonstrations after an alleged sexual assault in its vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning.
Some of the crowd threw stones and other missiles at the public order officers as they moved the protesters back – and water cannon was deployed at the scene.
A line of officers was preventing the protesters from approaching the hotel.
Police officers block protesters outside the hotel. Pic: PA
‘Those involved will be brought to justice’
Ireland’s premier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, paid tribute to the officers who were on the frontline of the protests.
“There can be no justification for the vile abuse against them, or the attempted assaults and attacks on members of the force that will shock all right-thinking people,” he said.
Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said those involved in the violence will be brought to justice.
“The scenes of public disorder we have witnessed at Citywest must be condemned,” he said.
“People threw missiles at Gardai, threw fireworks at them and set a Garda vehicle on fire.
“This is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the Gardai.
“Those involved will be brought to justice.”
‘No excuse’ for violence
The minister said a man had been arrested and had appeared in court in relation to the alleged assault in the vicinity of the hotel.
He added: “While I am not in a position to comment any further on this criminal investigation, I have been advised that there is no ongoing threat to public safety in the area.”
He said attacks on officers would “not be tolerated”, adding: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not.
“There is no excuse for the scenes we have witnessed.”
The demonstration on Monday night passed without a significant incident.
It comes two years after anti-immigrant demonstrators triggered a major riot in the centre of Dublin after three young children were stabbed.
A police van has been set on fire and missiles have been thrown at officers as protesters gathered outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Dublin.
It is the second night of demonstrations outside the Citywest Hotel after an alleged sexual assault in its vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning.
A large crowd has gathered in the area and members of the Garda’s public order unit have been deployed.
Footage from the scene showed a Garda vehicle on fire as well as several protesters displaying Irish flags.
Many protesters carried Republic of Ireland flags
Some of the crowd threw stones and other missiles at the public order officers as they moved the protesters back.
A Garda helicopter hovered overhead and a water cannon was deployed on the scene.
Ireland’s justice minister, Jim O’Callaghan, said those involved will be brought to justice.
“The scenes of public disorder we have witnessed at Citywest tonight must be condemned,” he said.
“People threw missiles at Gardai, threw fireworks at them and set a Garda vehicle on fire.
“This is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the Gardai.
“Those involved will be brought to justice.”
The minister said a man had been arrested and had appeared in court in relation to the alleged assault in the vicinity of the hotel.
He added: “While I am not in a position to comment any further on this criminal investigation, I have been advised that there is no ongoing threat to public safety in the area.
He said attacks on gardai will “not be tolerated”, adding: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not.
“There is no excuse for the scenes we have witnessed tonight.”
It was the second night of protest outside the hotel, which is being used as state accommodation for people seeking international protection. The demonstration on Monday night passed without a significant incident.
It comes two years after anti-immigrant demonstrators triggered a major riot in the centre of Dublin after three young children were stabbed.
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