FIFA

The executive, David Chung, was the president of the Oceania Football Confederation, whose 14 members wield little power competitively or politically in FIFA. But Chung, of Papua New Guinea, had outsize influence as the most senior of FIFA’s eight vice presidents.

Chung cited personal reasons for his decision, but the announcement came as he found himself under mounting pressure to step down after an audit into a multimillion-dollar project to build a new headquarters for the O.F.C.

But hope exists that an important step has, nonetheless, been taken towards finding a resolution to the bitter stalemate between the FFA, professional clubs and other stakeholders that has threatened to bring down the sport in this country.

Last year FIFA felt compelled to intervene to address a lack of democratic process and transparency in the governance of the Australian game.

The 33-year-old was given a year-long suspension earlier this month after he tested positive for cocaine following a World Cup qualifier in October.

FIFA partially upheld his appeal against the sanction after the Appeal Committee of world football's governing body heard his case. His ban has been reduced to six months, meaning he will become eligible to play again in May next year.

Lai, who is also a former member of the FIFA audit and compliance committee, resigned his position with the Guam FA earlier this year after pleading guilty to wire fraud and banking crime in connection with a bribery scandal.

He received a provisional 90-day ban from all football activities from FIFA's Independent Ethics Committee in April.

Former Nicaraguan Football Association president Julio Rocha and ex Venezuelan Football Association president Rafael Esquivel have also been banned by the game's governing body.

England has told players, coaches and technical staff to avoid using public wi-fi networks over concerns sensitive personal and team information could be illegally obtained in Russia, a person with knowledge of the FA's World Cup planning said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because team security issues are private.

Emails between the FA and Fifa discussing doping cases were last month published by the Russian-linked hacking group, Fancy Bears, as part of a wider disclosure of illegally obtained information.

Barca are refusing to pay €26million, which was included in the contract extension he signed with the club last October, to the Brazil star and his father.

The club say that Neymar was in breach of the terms of that contract when he negotiated with Paris Saint-Germain prior to his world-record €222m transfer, meaning the clause in the deal stipulating the bonus is null and void.

Neymar's father, who also acts as his agent, accused Barca of "blackmail" in their refusal to pay and FIFA is now looking into the matter.

It's the biggest event of its kind in the world with a prize pool of nearly $24m (£18.4m) and is hosted by Valve.

Sixteen teams, with players from all over the world, are competing in the season climax for online battle arena game Dota 2.

For many of them the prestige of lifting the trophy at this ultra-competitive event is far more important than the cash.

Alex "machine" Richardson is Dota 2's answer to Gary Lineker and has been hosting the live stream of the group stages, which are taking place in Seattle.

World football's governing body had asked both clubs for information about Pogba's world record $156 million transfer from Juventus, following leaks which claimed to give details about the huge deal.

A book titled, "The Football Leaks: The Dirty Business of Football" alleged Pogba's agent Mino Raiola had made over $62 million from the deal, $42 million of which was paid by Juventus.

This is with regard to the red card resulting in David Eric Brown sent off in the 22nd minute of Thursday’s 1-3 loss to Tahiti.

He was given his marching orders in unjust fashion in the early minute of play after defender Taumihau TIATIA went down under what appeared to be an innocuous challenge.

FIFA has acknowledged receipt of the letter but will refrain from reviewing the decisions taken by the referee but the case will be submitted to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they meet on 20 April, 2017.

Justin Tkatchenko said PNGFA president David Chung and John Kapi Natto both have a heart for soccer but unfortunately, they cannot work together and are making the sport fail, affecting players and clubs.

Tkatchenko said the best solution is for FIFA to intervene and say enough is enough.

“FIFA must be concerned with what’s happening in PNG as we are now having two different, separate identities running football,” said the Minister.

“How can sponsors come on board and how can the sport keep moving forward when you got two different groups running the same thing.