The International Football Federations Thread

[Lineker]

Udinese defender Danilo sentenced to a year in jail in Brazil for racist abuse

Danilo, 28, was on trial after being caught by a television camera spitting in the face of Atletico Paranaense player Manoel and calling him "macaco" – monkey in the Portuguese language – when playing for Palmeiras in April 2010.

He later publicly admitted that he offended and spat at the opponent, who reported the matter to a local police station immediately after the game.

The Sao Paulo Criminal Court ruled on the case on Wednesday and handed the sentence to the former Paulista youth product.

However, it is expected that the punishment will be reduced to a €127,000 fine on appeal.

Danilo has been with the Stadio Friuli side since 2011 and has made 74 appearances for the club, scoring four goals.

And that's how it's done.

[Lineker]

Stamford Bridge will host an international friendly for the first time in 60 years between Brazil and Russia on 25 March.

"Going to London is a great joy. It will be an opportunity to thank the Chelsea's fans for the affection and the great interaction I had with them," says Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, who managed Chelsea between 2008 and 2009.

Russia are coached by ex-England manager Fabio Capello, who says: "My number one goal is to qualify for the World Cup and then to do well in Brazil in 2014. There is no better test...than to play the five times world cup winners, Brazil."

[Lineker]

FIFA president Sepp Blatter suggests that relegation would be a suitable punishment for teams whose supporters are guilty of racism. "It is now up to us to take the adequate steps," said Blatter in an interview with Fifa's website.

"What I feel we should do is give instructions to our national associations and the confederations - specifically to the disciplinary committees - to be very strong. It is not enough to give a fine. Playing a game without spectators is one of the possible sanctions, but the best would be the deduction of points and the relegation of a team, because finally the club is responsible for their spectators."

Uefa is set to insist that Euro 2020 venues must be served by an airport with at least two terminals so rival fans can be kept apart. That would rule out Cardiff's Millennium Stadium as one of the 13 cities for the tournament.

Uefa will propose from 2015 that future Fifa presidents to have a maximum of 12 years in office. It also wants an age limit of 72 for elections to the FIFA presidency and executive committee.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the 53 UEFA member associations at the European body's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

[Lineker]

FIFA says it will use goal-line technology at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

[Lineker]

Fifa has admitted for the first time that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar could be moved to winter if medical reports show summer temperatures would be dangerously high.

[Adam]

I'm starting to warm (irony?) to the idea of Qatar 2022 being held in the winter. I don't know why, but it's interesting if nothing else. Despite the massive inconvenience it is going to cause pretty much everyone competing.

[jayden]

while it's ridiculously inconvenient, and there is no reason whatsoever that this shouldn't have all been sorted long before they got chosen as hosts, I'm pretty intrigued to see the huge mess that it creates playing out.

[Colly]

I could live with 3 games of football a day on my Christmas holidays.

[stokeriño]

Presumably the domestic season would be squeezed in such away that (either in the summer before or after the WC, depending on how they shifted it)...one season would end and then something like one month later "Surprise! Straight on with the next one!"

God knows what the summer transfer window would be like.

[Lineker]

Italy vs. Brazil is on ITV4 now.

[Lineker]

One of Fifa's leading advisers has criticised football's world governing body for "neutering" key recommendations for internal reform and says she is considering resigning in protest.

[Gazz]

Goal line technology is 'too expensive' for the Champions League, according to Platini.

[Lineker]

[Lineker]

German-based manufacturer GoalControl is set to provide goal-line technology (GLT) at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. GoalControl will be used at this year's Confederations Cup in Brazil and will be used a year later, provided the performance reaches the requirements.

[METALMAN]

I don't like goal line technology. It's more fun when things go wrong.

[Lineker]

I don't like goal line technology. It's more fun when things go wrong.

Yourself being a prime example of this!

[METALMAN]

Oh dear Lineker. Blatant and terrible misuse of the reflexive pronoun. :/

[Colly]

Fle-fle-fle-fle-flex!

[Lineker]

Players and officials found guilty of racist behaviour face 10-match bans as part of new plans proposed by Uefa.

Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino also revealed clubs could be forced to close part or all of their stadiums if fans racially abuse players.

Infantino said: "It's still a scourge on the game. We have to have sanctions.

"What we are proposing is that if a player or official is found guilty then they will be suspended for 10 matches."

Speaking at the Soccerex event in Manchester today, Infantino added: "If supporters are found guilty then there will be a partial closure of the stadium.

"This means the section where offence took place will be closed. If there is a second offence by the club's supporters there will be full closure with a minimum 50,000 euros (£42,700) fine."

The debate on racism intensified this season after AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng led his team off the field during a friendly in Italy after facing abuse.

The Ghanaian walked off the pitch during a match against Italian team Pro Patria after he was abused by their fans.

Chelsea captain John Terry and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez were both found guilty of racial abuse by the Football Association last year.

Terry, 32, was banned for four matches and fined £220,000 for racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand on 23 October 2011.

Uruguay striker Suarez, 24, was sanctioned following a clash with Manchester United's Patrice Evra during the 1-1 draw at Anfield on 15 October 2011 and was handed an eight-match ban and £40,000 fine.

Professional Footballers' Association chairman and Kick It Out ambassador Clarke Carlisle has welcomed Uefa's proposal.

"My reaction to this is one of near satisfaction," he said. "A minimum 10-game ban is a fantastic start. That is a deterrent."

Piara Powar, executive director of European anti-discrimination group Fare, was also pleased by the announcement.

"We think in the end the best that football can do is to use football sanctions, closing a stadium or half a stadium speaks for itself - people are denied access to the game, the club loses revenue and it's an embarrassment, frankly."

But he added: "The sanctioning element needs to be accompanied with a very strong educational piece. We need fans to understand why they are being sanctioned."

He went on to raise doubts over the FA's recent investigation into claims by Fare that England fans were guilty of racist chants aimed at Rio and Anton Ferdinand during games against San Marino and Montenegro.

The FA has told Fifa it has found no evidence to support those allegations.

But Power said: "We think the FA has done the right thing in conducting its own investigation. At the same time there remains a question mark over why it won't accept the words of credible journalists of which there have been four or five at least who have publicly said that they heard things that the TV cameras, security cameras and other fans are not reporting."

The Uefa executive committee will vote on the new anti-racism proposal in London in May and, if passed, the ruling could apply to all Uefa competitions from as early as July.

Uefa is also asking all of its member associations to apply it to their own domestic competitions with the plans going to a vote of the congress in May.

The FA said it welcomed Uefa's comments and pointed out its own sanctions were being reviewed. It added: "This is ongoing and takes place in full consultation with the leagues, clubs, managers, players and match officials.

"We remain committed to tackling all forms of discrimination including racism."

Separately to Infantino's proposal today, Uefa has ordered Dynamo Kiev to play their next two home European matches behind closed doors after racist behaviour by the Ukrainian club's supporters during games against Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux.

The second game punishment has been deferred for a probationary period of three years. The Ukrainian club have lodged an appeal against this decision.

[Colly]

Very positive on the big ban for players (with the caveat it has to be proven), but while the potential sanctions on teams sound good in principle I'm very wary of dirty tricks. This fella from Fare wants the word of 4 or 5 'credible journalists' (oxymoron?) to be admissible? Surely it should be FIFAs representatives who are accountable.