Full coverage: FIFA

From the packed Lansdowne Road nights of Shelbourne to Shamrock Rovers’ millions in the Conference League, European football has reshaped the ambitions of the League of Ireland.

By operating fast and with little consultation, Gianni Infantino kept even high-level executives in the dark. Now, following months of missteps, the FIFA president has rallied his supporters against calls for his resignation, writes Josuha Robinson, The Wall Street Journal.

As Gianni Infantino's grip on Fifa weakens, Ireland has an opportunity to push for reforms that could transform the prospects of domestic clubs and finally challenge the structures that have favoured Europe's biggest leagues for decades.

The decision by FIFA to rescind U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension followed a rapid response from the Trump administration—and a personal call from the president, write Brian Schwartz, Natalie Andrews and Joshua Robinson, The Wall Street Journal.

There are trans-national leagues in every other popular spectator sport, including rugby union, rugby league and basketball. There is no ‘European sporting model’, it is unique to professional football.

All tournaments are approached with a dread about what could go wrong, but few have taken place with such an overwhelming feeling that the host is what went wrong.