Federations – Inside World Football

India’s Supreme Court debates new draft constitution for AIFF

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:24:27 +0000

April 2 – A proposed AIFF draft constitution, suggesting amendments, has been presented to India’s Supreme Court and could enable the federation to progress to fresh elections.

The draft constitution of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has proposed several changes, including the provision for the inclusion of at least five former national players in the 14-member Executive Committee and removal of the current office bearers through a no-confidence motion.

“With the new Constitution,

DFL strengthens development ties to Korean FA with new MoU

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 06:22:01 +0000

March 24 – The DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and the Korea Football Association (KFA) have formalised a new cooperation agreement aimed at driving technical development in Korean football and deepening commercial ties between one of Europe’s most broadcast leagues and one of Asia’s most engaged markets.

Signed last week in Seoul, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines joint plans to advance youth development and exchange league and club operational expertise, starting with the launch of the first Korean edition of the Bundesliga Dream project — a talent incubator that’s already seen more than 200 of Asia’s most promising young footballers test themselves in Germany’s elite academy system.

Pakistan has FIFA suspension lifted with immediate effect

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 08:34:32 +0000

March 3 – FIFA has lifted Pakistan’s suspension after tweaks to the federation’s constitution.

On Sunday, FIFA said that Pakistan’s ban from the game has been lifted after the congress of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) last week accepted changes to article 38 of its constitution, which paves the way for presidential elections at the organisation.

In the circular, FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafstrom said: “…based on the decision taken by the Bureau of the FIFA Council on 2 March 2025,

Johnson says hosting Women’s Asian Cup 2026 is another key milestone for the women’s game and for Australian football

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 06:29:54 +0000

February 28 – Two years ago Australia co-hosted the biggest Women’s World Cup to date. This month marks a year to go before the country hosts the expanded 2027 Women’s Asian Cup, a tournament that once again will break all preceding records.

It is a milestone and another stage of the country’s ambition to build in the hosting expertise of 2023 to bring more major events to Australia.

“We are very honoured we are hosting the Women’s Asian Cup.

Chung Mong-gyu secures fourth term at Korea FA helm

Andy Elliott — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:25:11 +0000

February 27 – Chung Mong-gyu has secured a fourth term as president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), winning despite recent public dissatisfaction and strong competition from two prominent challengers.

Chung faced opposition from Huh Jung-moo, who coached the national team at the 2010 World Cup, and Shin Moon-sun, a former player and television commentator. He garnered 156 out of 183 votes from the regional officials, players, referees, and coaches who made up the electorate.

Vietnamese FA and Germany’s Bundesliga extend development partnership

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:42:55 +0000

February 26 – Vietnam’s ambitions on the global football stage have received another boost, as the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and Germany’s DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) this morning which will extend their existing partnership until 2028.

The renewed deal builds on an existing collaboration and signals Vietnam’s intent to further professionalise its footballing structures. Central to this extended partnership is the ‘Bundesliga Dream’ project, an initiative designed to improve the quality of Vietnam’s youth national teams and increase their competitiveness on the international stage.

Saudi bank Alinma buys naming rights to King Abdullah Sports City Stadium

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:20:05 +0000

February 26 – Saudi Arabian bank Alinma has secured the naming rights to one of the key stadiums set to host matches at the 2034 FIFA World Cup, marking the first step in Saudi Arabia’s aggressive commercial push ahead of the tournament in nine years’ time.

Through a deal with the Saudi Ministry of Sport, Alinma has acquired naming rights to Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. Now rebranded as Alinma Stadium, the agreement runs until 2029 and is part of a broader effort to attract corporate sponsorship for multiple venues across the Kingdom.

Samsung harnesses growing footprint of Saudi Pro League as it expands in-country

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 09:33:54 +0000

February 19 – The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has landed another heavyweight commercial partner, with global electronics giant Samsung signing on as a Gold Partner in an initial short-term deal running through the 2024-25 season.

With Saudi Arabia’s football ambitions showing no signs of slowing down, the SPL’s latest tie-up adds a touch of high-tech prestige. Samsung’s sponsorship aligns with its growing presence in the Kingdom, where the company has been securing major business deals beyond the football pitch,

Report charts Saudi Pro League’s shift in player recruitment focus

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 09:03:42 +0000

February 14 – The Saudi Pro League’s (SPL) aggressive recruitment of ageing stars in 2023 reshaped global football’s transfer market. A new report from Football Benchmark shows the depth of the league’s tactical rethink with a new focus on recruiting younger players.

After spending nearly €1 billion in the summer of 2023/24 to recruit the likes of Neymar, Riyad Mahrez, and Sergej Milinković-Savić, Saudi clubs have shifted focus towards younger talent and a plan to secure a sustainable future on and off the pitch.

FIFA suspend Pakistan FA after refusal to accept election reforms

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 08:48:37 +0000

February 7 – FIFA has suspended Pakistan from the global game “with immediate effect” after the federation rejected constitutional change.

In a statement on Thursday, FIFA wrote: “The PFF has been suspended with immediate effect due to its failure to adopt a revision of the PFF Constitution that would ensure truly fair and democratic elections and thereby fulfil its obligations as mandated by FIFA as part of the ongoing normalisation process of PFF.”

“The suspension will only be lifted subject to the PFF Congress approving the version of the PFF Constitution presented by FIFA and the AFC.”

Earlier this week,

Saudi Pro League sends mission to strengthen Brazilian ties

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 06:25:42 +0000

February 5 – The Saudi Pro League (SPL) is working to strengthen its connection with Brazilian football, with league officials in country to engage with local stakeholders.

On Tuesday, the SPL said that it had “kickstarted a strategic expansion drive into Brazil, cementing its commitment to strengthening ties with one of the world’s biggest and most passionate football markets” and SPL executives, including SPL CEO Omar Mugarbel, are engaging with representatives from the Brazilian League,

Gerrard exits Saudi Pro League after poor run of results at Al Ettifaq

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 08:27:04 +0000

January 31 – After a dismal run of results, former England and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has left his role as manager of Saudi club Al Ettifaq by mutual consent.

Gerrard departs after 18 months in charge with Al Ettifaq 12th in the Saudi Pro League, just five points above the relegation zone after only five wins this season.

Gerrard guided Al Ettifaq to a sixth-placed finish in his first season but this campaign the team have struggled after winning just twice in their last 14 league games.

Controversial Indian FA president Kalyan Chaubey faces growing lobby for no-confidence vote

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 08:00:46 +0000

January 27 – State associations are planning a no-confidence motion in Kalyan Chaubey (pictured), the president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

India has 36 state associations and reportedly more than 20 want to move against Chaubey with the no-confidence motion. One-third of associations are required to stage an extraordinary congress to that end. Jammu, Tamil Nadu and Kashmir do not have voting rights. The state associations are understood to have the backing of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) political party.

HSBC becomes founding partner of Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 10:19:22 +0000

January 15 – The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has been named the exclusive Premier Founding Partner of the soon-to-be opened Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong.

Penned to open its doors ahead of March’s Rugby Sevens tournament, the stadium’s new sponsor forms part of the ‘Championing Hong Kong’ Partnership Programme, which aims to promote community sports development to build a healthier and more connected community.

The partnership will take effect as soon as the stadium is complete some time in the coming weeks.

RFEF enters negotiations to keep Spanish Super Cup in Saudi

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 07:06:07 +0000

January 14 – After one of the most thrilling Supercopa Finals in the history of the competition, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) plans to extend the contract with Saudi Arabia for another five years so that the Super Cup will be held in this country until 2034.

Barcelona’s thrilling 5-2 demolition of the UEFA Champions League winners, and their fiercest rivals, Real Madrid, has whetted the appetite for more big-time football to come to the Arabian Peninsula ahead of the 2034 World Cup to be staged in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi fans harass Mallorca players’ wives leaving King Adbullah Sports City stadium

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 06:35:34 +0000

January 13 – The wives of Mallorca players have said they were harassed after the club’s Spanish Super Cup game in Saudi Arabia.

The spouses of two Mallorca footballers have spoken out about being harassed by local fans in Saudi Arabia after the club’s match against Real Madrid.

Cristina Palavra, the wife of Mallorca’s Dani Rodríguez, said in Spanish media outlet Esports IB3 revealing the partner of Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif and her were targeted by a group of men upon leaving the King Adbullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah.