UPDATED: FIFA has punished FC Barcelona for trading children. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. The trade of minors is standard practice in European football – and has been for years. Now, for the first time since the sanctions against the Spanish club were issued, FIFA responds to enquiries regarding the case.

The largest ever football conference in the United States drew interesting proposals for change at FIFA ahead of next year’s presidential election at the world body.

Major European clubs and anonymous investment funds are fighting across cities, countries and continents over football’s new gold – talented minors.

1.2 million pounds has reportedly been transferred from a Qatari company to then FIFA ex-co member Jack Warner shortly after Qatar won the hosting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2022, writes UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph.

The saga of FIFA and the hijab, the traditional head-covering worn by many Muslim women that also refers in some countries to the entire style in which Muslim women dress, goes back at least seven years.

Qatar will have to face the critique of the working conditions under which many foreigners work in the country. This could bring out discussions about the very nature of Qatari politics and society, James M. Dorsey reports.

And now there could be four: Jérôme Champagne has joined the election for the FIFA presidency, joining a field that is expected to include the incumbent Sepp Blatter, UEFA president Michel Platini and possibly the CONCACAF president, Jeffrey Webb.

Former FIFA director of international relations, Jérôme Champagne, who left FIFA in 2010 today announced his run for FIFA presidency at a press conference in London.