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FIFA told by Iran eventually women will be allowed at games

By ROB HARRIS - Associated Press

FILE - In this Sunday, June 25, 2017 file photo, a giant screen reports an incident is being investigated by VAR (Video Assistant Referee) during the Confederations Cup, Group B soccer match between Germany and Cameroon, at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi, Russia. FIFA has briefed coaches on how video assistant referees will operate at the World Cup. Although some trials have created additional confusion in games, soccer’s most significant adoption of technology is set to be formally voted into the laws of the game at a meeting on Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, file)

Amid confusion, World Cup coaches briefed on VAR before vote

By ROB HARRIS - Associated Press

Banned ex-FIFA head Blatter backs Morocco 2026 World Cup bid

By The Associated Press - Associated Press

FILE - This is a Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017 file photo of England's soccer team as they celebrate with the trophy after winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Kolkata, India. England might to the first and last team to be holders of both the Under-20 and Under-17 World Cups. FIFA is looking to merge the youth tournaments won last year by England to create a 48-team competition, emulating the expansion of the main men’s World Cup. Officials are exploring the merits of an age cut-off at 18 or 19. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath/File)

FIFA explores merging youth World Cups for 48-team event

By ROB HARRIS - Associated Press

FILE - In this Friday, June 16, 2017 file photo, FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura talks to media during a news conference at the St. Petersburg Stadium, Russia. FIFA has lifted a gag on voters publicly endorsing a 2026 World Cup bid. Soccer’s governing body last month ordered officials not to openly discuss the merits of either the joint Northern American bid or the rival Morocco contender. But FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura informed members this week of an about-turn in a letter to member associations offering new guidance on the bid rules of conduct. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, File)

FIFA lifts ban on 2026 World Cup voters publicly backing bid

By ROB HARRIS - Associated Press

Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades unveils the FIFA World Cup trophy during its world tour at a stop at the international airport in the southern city of Larnaca, Cyprus, on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. The trophy will visit some 50 countries as it make its journey round the world to Moscow for the start of the World Cup 2018 in Russia. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Rodchenkov: Gov’t order to protect doped Russian footballers

By ROB HARRIS - Associated Press

FILE - This is a Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 file photo of Chechnya's regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov celebrates scoring against the Italian former players soccer team in Grozny, Russia. Egypt will be based at the World Cup in Chechnya with FIFA approving the facility despite the Russian region’s leadership being criticized for widespread human rights violations and a crackdown on dissent. Egypt has selected a training facility in the Chechen capital Grozny for its first World Cup trip in 28 years. (AP Photo/Musa Sadulayev)

FIFA urged to scrap Chechnya as World Cup base for Egypt

By ROB HARRIS - Associated Press

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, center, kicks a ball during a visit to a stadium for young football players' training as officials of Vietnam Football Federation look on in Hanoi, Vietnam, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018. Infantino is on a one-day visit to Vietnam to discuss with Vietnamese leaders on how the world soccer body can further help the communist country develop its socccer. (AP Photo/Tran Van Minh)

FIFA president praises Russian World Cup preparations

Associated Press

Argentina rejects extradition of CONMEBOL official to US

By LUIS ANDRES HENAO - Associated Press

Russia says national team soccer player in FIFA doping case

Associated Press

Blatter hints at new evidence to challenge 6-year FIFA ban

By GRAHAM DUNBAR - Associated Press

FIFA looking for a lawyer to help its lead ethics prosecutor

Associated Press

FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016 file photo former UEFA President Michel Platini, waves after his speech during the vote for the new UEFA president in Athens. The former France soccer great who was banned by the FIFA ethics committee for alleged financial wrongdoing, Platini announced Wednesday Jan. 24, 2018, that is is taking his appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File)

Banned Platini appealing to European Court of Human Rights

By JEROME PUGMIRE - Associated Press

The FIFA World Cup trophy stands on a pedestal on board an aircraft on the first leg of the soccer FIFA Wold Cup 2018 trophy tour at Stansted Airport, England, Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The trophy will visit some 50 countries as it make its journey round the world to Moscow for the start of the World Cup 2018 in Russia. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

NAmerica touts ‘risk averse’ World Cup bid amid Trump issues

By ROB HARRIS - Associated Press

Philippe Le Floc'h the FIFA Chief Commercial Officer talking to the Associated Press on the plane that will take the Wold Cup trophy to 50 counties in the lead up to the World Cup 2018 in Russia, 2018 at Stansted Airport, England, Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 . (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

FIFA: Video tech ‘definitely’ at World Cup, finding sponsor

By ROB HARRIS - Associated Press

FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012 file photo, Portugal players including Pepe, center left, argue with referee Joseph Lamptey during their international friendly soccer match against Gabon in Libreville, Gabon. A FIFA investigation linked a referee accused of match-fixing a World Cup qualifier in 2016 to “numerous publicly documented scandals” in the previous six years. FIFA investigators said Joseph Lamptey of Ghana had “a history of being suspended for poor performances” before being banned for life and typically awarded more penalties than other African referees of his grade. Portugal’s 2-2 draw in Gabon in a 2012 friendly, which included three penalties scored, was among six games identified as suspicious that Lamptey handled before the game that ended his career. (AP Photo/Joel Bouopda Tatou, file)

Column: A World Cup fix & flaws in referee integrity checks

By ROB HARRIS - Associated Press

FILE - In this May 24, 2016 file photo an employee of the Russia's national drug-testing laboratory holds a vial in Moscow, Russia. FIFA has intensified the investigation into doping in Russian soccer, disclosing on Monday, Jan. 15, 2018 it has finally sought details from the chemist who exposed the scale of state-sponsored cheating across sports. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, file)

FIFA sends whistleblower questions after doping intel review

By ROB HARRIS - Associated Press

FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012 file photo, Portugal players including Pepe, center left, argue with referee Joseph Lamptey during their international friendly soccer match against Gabon in Libreville, Gabon. A FIFA investigation linked a referee accused of match-fixing a World Cup qualifier in 2016 to “numerous publicly documented scandals” in the previous six years. FIFA investigators said Joseph Lamptey of Ghana had “a history of being suspended for poor performances” before being banned for life and typically awarded more penalties than other African referees of his grade. Portugal’s 2-2 draw in Gabon in a 2012 friendly, which included three penalties scored, was among six games identified as suspicious that Lamptey handled before the game that ended his career. (AP Photo/Joel Bouopda Tatou, file)

World Cup ref banned by FIFA had 6-year match-fixing history

By GRAHAM DUNBAR - Associated Press

Flamengo won’t pay Guerrero due to doping suspension

Associated Press

FILE - This April 14, 2011 file photo shows Nicaragua Soccer Federation President Julio Rocha, left, and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, at the end of a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the National Soccer Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua. The head of the Nicaraguan Soccer Federation says his predecessor Julio Rocha, who was convicted in the United States in a corruption scandal at the sport’s world governing body, FIFA, died on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, after an illness he had had “for several months.” Rocha was 67. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix, File)

Julio Rocha, jailed former Nicaragua soccer boss, dies at 67

Associated Press