'El Tula' became famous for cheering on the Argentina national team in various competitions and matches. He peaked last year, when he received FIFA's award for "best fan" on behalf of all Argentines after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

If the jerseys indeed fetch above $10 million, that could make the sale the most valuable collection of sports memorabilia ever auctioned off, Sotheby's said.

Lionel Messi signed off for 2022 by hailing the year when he won the World Cup as one he "will never be able to forget".

"Stop! Can't you see the metro station is full? Stop!" a frazzled supervisor shouted as green-vested marshals linked arms to contain thousands of fans streaming from the stadium that will host soccer's World Cup final in Qatar.

Qatar's population has swollen by almost 40 per cent since the emirate was chosen to the host the 2022 World Cup, official government figures have revealed.

Ivorian ex-Fifa executive Jacques Anouma tells the BBC that he did not accept a $1.5m (£1m) bribe over Qatar's successful 2022 World Cup bid.

Sepp Blatter's 17-year reign as boss of crisis-hit Fifa could come to an end on 16 December.

Sepp Blatter was "shocked" at the way the US judiciary has targeted football's world body and slammed what he called a "hate" campaign by Europe's football leaders.