A former international referee has been banned for life by FIFA after being found guilty of taking bribes.

Sri Lanka has been named as cricket's "most corrupt" nation by the sport's governing body, according to the country's Sports Minister Harin Fernando.

José Hawilla, the Brazilian businessman whose testimony helped investigators arrest and indict numerous officials in the FIFA corruption scandal, has died at the age of 74.

I found myself re-reading a somewhat over-ambitious article I wrote almost exactly two years ago looking ahead to some expected and hoped-for Olympic developments in 2016. A few, such as a strong Paris 2024 bid, were realised while most others occurred belatedly or not at all. This inspired an urge to compile a similar list on the first day of what should be a quieter year on the administrative front in 2018, but probably won’t be.

The corruption case involving soccer’s global governing body FIFA is finally underway in a Brooklyn courtroom in New York City, with three former South American football chiefs accused of taking bribes, two-and-a-half years following dawn arrests of the game's powerbrokers that led to the toppling of Sepp Blatter’s regime.

Federal investigators in Brazil are investigating possible corruption surrounding the Bolsa Atleta Athlete Scholarship programme designed to support aspiring Olympians and Paralympians.

Prize money at the Australian Open has been increased to AUS$50 million (£29.4 million/$36.4 million/€34.8 million) for the 2017 edition of the tennis Grand Slam - making it the second richest purse in the sport.

Former Rio State Governor Sérgio Cabral has denied wrongdoing after being arrested and accused of embezzling $65 million (£52 million/€61 million) due to be spent on construction projects, including ones connected to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Former Guatemalan Football Federation (GFF) President Brayan Jimenez is facing a lengthy period behind bars after he pleaded guilty to racketeering and wire fraud in connection with the ongoing investigation into corruption within the sport.

Somewhere in California, FIFA President Gianni Infantino breathed a heavy sigh of relief as the explosive news that former head of the corruption-plagued organisation Sepp Blatter and two other top officials siphoned $80 million (£55 million/€71 million) in bonuses and pay rises hit the headlines.

Former FIFA Executive Committee member Luis Bedoya and ex-South American Football Confederation (CONMBEOL) vice-president Sergio Jadue have both been banned for life by the Ethics Committee, it was announced today.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials were forced to ward off corruption allegations surrounding Rio 2016 construction projects here today, claiming all work was based on "pillars of transparency and good governance".

Former Honduran President Rafael Callejas has pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy in a New York City court today as part of the ongoing investigation into corruption within world football.

A quiet start to the New Year? The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and FIFA are having none of it.

Leading International Basketball Federation (FIBA) official Xiao Tian has been charged for offences related to corruption in China, meaning he will be stripped of all official duties as well as membership of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.