January 2 – Japan return to action tonight against Saudi Arabia in a match that has a lot of pride at stake for both teams.
January 15 – Italian match officials will be told to follow international guidelines in dealing with racist behaviour from fans following the outcry over the treatment of Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
January 15 – Banned Afghan football boss Keramuddin Karim has lost the first crucial stage in his effort to clear his name over allegations of sexual abuse.
January 15 – The trial of two men facing allegations related to the 1989 Hillsborough stadium tragedy got under way today including that of the officer in command of the match, now retired chief superintendent David Duckenfield, on a criminal charge of gross negligence manslaughter.
January 15 – As widely anticipated UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings into alleged racist chanting by Chelsea fans in last month’s Europa League game with MOL Vidi in Hungary.
January 14 – Defending champions Australia, Palestine and Syria will battle on Tuesday for the remaining knockout spots in Group B. Jordan, the surprise package of the tournament so far, have already qualified as group winners.
By David Owen
January 14 – West Ham United, whose star striker Marko Arnautovic is being linked with a big-money move to China, have reported a halving of profits after a “difficult” year.
January 15 – UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni was satisfied with his team’s 1-1 draw against Thailand, but says he expects his team to improve as the knockout stages loom. The hosts will now meet China or South Korea in the round of 16.
January 14 – In the pre-match talk they were barely mentioned. Despite drawing their opening game against their more fancied UAE hosts, Bahrain had been written off from progressing against an India that was being trumpeted as having dramatically awoken from its football slumber.
UAE 1 Thailand 1
January 14 – The United Arab Emirates finished top of Group A on five points after a low-key 1-1 draw with Thailand, a result that sees the War Elephants progress to the knockout stages of the Asian Cup for the first time since 1972.
January 14 – Gianni Infantino is set to arrive in Marrakesh on Tuesday for the latest of FIFA’s so-called executive summits for regional federations and while there is expected to receive an update on Morocco’s plan to organise the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
By Paul Nicholson
January 13 – Broadcaster Eleven Sports has added its voice to media rights holder calls for Serie A to reverse its decision to play its Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, saying the decision has “considerable implications for Eleven Sports and for the longer term value of Italian football rights.”
January 13 – Danny Jordan (pictured), the public face of the 2010 World Cup, is once again embroiled in controversy following allegations by one of his former rivals within South African football that he helped facilitate a $10 million payment to Concacaf to land the tournament.
January 13 – In a case dubbed ‘spygate’ by the British media, Leeds United have reminded head coach Marcelo Bielsa (pictured) about “integrity and honesty” after the Argentine admitted sending one of his coaching staff to spy on Derby County ahead of their high-profile Championship match last Friday.
January 13 – United Arab Emirates coach Alberto Zaccheroni (pictured) is focused on claiming top spot in Group A as the Asian Cup hosts aim to secure their place in the last 16 when they face Thailand in their final group game on Monday.
January 13 – Qatar ran rampant over North Korea in Group E winning 6-0 to book a spot in the next round of the Asian Cup. Spanish coach Felix Sanchez had nothing but praise for his star duo Almoez Ali and Akram Afif who engineered the mammoth victory.