Journalists’ families to sue Chapecoense over crash flight compensation
February 8 – The families of seven journalists killed in the Chapecoense air disaster are suing the club over the chartering arrangements.
South America
FIFA turn down Bolivia World Cup points appeal
February 6 – Bolivia’s appeal against being docked points for fielding an ineligible player in two World Cup qualifiers has been rejected by FIFA’s appeals panel.
Argentines play season opening Super Cup under cloud of financial uncertainty
By Samindra Kunti
February 3 – This weekend Lanus and River Plate will play in the Argentine Super Cup, but the start of the domestic season has been overshadowed by financial turmoil in the country that is ranked number one in the world by FIFA.
Brazil’s World Cup beacon Maracana stadium plunged into darkness
By Samindra Kunti
January 27 – Rio de Janeiro’s famous Maracana stadium, which hosted the 2014 World Cup final and the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics and is one of football’s spiritual homes, was plunged into darkness on Thursday after Light, the energy provider for the stadium, cut off the electricity supply due to unpaid bills that reach back to October last year.
Expanded Copa Libertadores kicks off without Mexican clubs and a long route to the final
By Samindra Kunti
January 24 – The revamped Copa Libertadores kicked off yesterday with qualifying across South America, but question marks remain over the tournament’s expanded new format.
Chapecoense start emotional return to play with Palmeiras friendly
January 23 – In emotional scenes, some 20,000 fans, including families of the victims, turned out last Saturday as Brazil’s Chapecoense played their first match since most of their players were killed in that tragic air crash in Colombia in late November.
Maracana looted as arguments rage over who will pay for the iconic stadium
By Samindra Kunti
January 12 – Rio de Janeiro’s famed Maracana stadium has been looted while a dispute over the stadium’s maintenance makes for an increasingly sad story of Brazilian World Cup legacy.
CONMEBOL call in Sportradar to boost battle against match-fixers
January 12 – South American confederation CONMEBOL has called in Sportradar to boost its battle against matchfixing and the on-going threats posed across the region.
CBF chases $100m legacy money but FIFA refuses to hand it over
By Samindra Kunti
January 3 – The Brazilian Football Confederation, the CBF, wants to rekindle their relationship with FIFA, because the governing body still owe the confederation $100 million from the 2014 World Cup legacy fund, but the presence of CBF president Marco Polo Del Nero is proving to be an obstacle.
CBF triples Copa do Brasil prize fund as Globo signs new TV deal
By Samindra Kunti
December 22 – The Brazilian FA and TV Globo have extended their broadcast partnership for the Brazilian cup, the Copa do Brazil, from 2018 to 2022, the much of he new deal money being used to reinvigorate the competitiveness of the championship. The winner of the competition will earn €14.35 million in prize money.
Burga pleads not guilty to US corruption charges
December 7 – Manuel Burga, former president of the Peruvian Soccer Federation (FPF), has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges in a New York court after being extradited from his homeland.
Charter airline boss held as investigations into Chapecoense crash continue
December 7 – Bolivian authorities have detained the chief executive of the airline involved in the fatal crash last week that killed 71 people, including most of the Brazilian football team, Chapecoense.
Life after death. Chapecoense awarded Copa Sudamericana title
December 6 – Chapecoense have officially been awarded the Copa Sudamericana by CONMEBOL after most of their team died in the fatal plane crash en route to the first leg of the Copa Libertadores final in Colombia.
No electrics, no fuel – pilot recording before Chapecoense plane crashed
December 1 – The chartered plane that tragically crashed in Colombia wiping out virtually an entire Brazilian football team was running out of fuel, according to the pilot’s final words.
Tributes pour in as football world mourns dead in Chapecoense plane crash
November 30 – The Brazilian government has declared three days of national mourning for the victims of the plane disaster in Colombia that killed 75 people including the bulk of the Chapecoense players and officials travelling for the Copa Sudamerica final first leg, as well as a string of Brazilian sports journalists.