Liverpool seal £70m+ kit deal with Nike
January 7 – Liverpool have formally announced that Nike will become the club’s official supplier from the start of the next season when the current New Balance deal ends.
Spurs racism case dropped as investigation and CCTV trawl fails to find evidence
January 7 – An alleged case of racist abuse that led to England’s Professional Footballers’ Association calling for a government inquiry into discrimination has not been proven, prompting concerns that players may refrain from reporting such incidents in the future.
Flamengo turmoil as Globo TV deal hits roadblock and board battle for control
January 7 – Flamengo’s new year has began under a storm cloud. The Brazilian giants have not yet reached a rights agreement with TV Globo about the upcoming Rio state championship and, on Monday, Flamengo dismissed their director of football Paulo Pelaipe.
Head injury research project expanded to test for early signs of dementia
January 7 – The University of East Anglia have intensified research into the link between football and dementia with a £1 million study that will test former players for early signs of the disease.
Fiorentina and Genuino innovate with blockchain chipped shirt product
January 7 – Serie A’s Fiorentina have set a blockchain-meets-football first with each of the club’s playing shirts to be inserted with a dedicated chip that can be tracked and will prevent counterfeiting.
Nutcracker Christie banned after Celtic vs Rangers derby overheats
January 7 – Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie has been slapped with a ban after being found guilty of grabbing Rangers’ Colombian forward Alfredo Morelos by the genitals during the recent derby between Scotland’s two rival Glasgow giants.
Italian racism: Balotelli targeted again, this time by Lazio fans
January 6 – Despite all Serie A clubs collectively vowing to combat racism, Brescia striker Mario Balotelli was again targeted at the weekend, this time by Lazio fans during his club’s 2-1 home defeat.
Regional uncertainty forces US to cancel men’s team training camp in Qatar
January 6 – The US men’s squad has scrapped plans to go to Qatar for a winter training camp amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following the controversial assassination of Iran’s top military commander ordered by Donald Trump.
Boca Junior’s sweet plan for Bombonera expansion
January 6 – Argentine giants Boca Juniors want to expand their Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires to become a state-of-the-art venue with a larger capacity.
GFA cracks down on ‘illegal’ bookies offering markets on Ghana Premier League
January 6 – New Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku has acted swiftly to crackdown on the illegal betting markets being offered by bookmakers on the country’s Premier League (GPL), threatening legal action.
Oman goalkeeping legend Ali Al Habsi calls time on international career
January 6 – Ali Al Habsi, the Omani goalkeeping legend who made a name for himself as the first Arab player from the GCC countries to play in the Premier League, has announced his retirement from international football, aged 38.
Great train robbery: Renard tries to track trophy down
January 6 – French international defender Wendie Renard says the trophy she received for being named in FIFA’s women’s team of the year has gone missing after being left on a train.
PSV poised to swap Umbro for Puma in €40m+ deal
January 6 – The ink now appears to be drying on the new Puma deal with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven that will begin with the 2020-21 season and sees the German sportswear giant take over from Umbro as the club’s kit supplier.
Full 16-team line-up for World Football Cup unveiled
By David Owen
January 5 – The Confederation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA) has disclosed the full list of qualifiers for this year’s edition of the World Football Cup.
Réunion team cause French cup sensation
By David Owen
January 5 – A team from the Indian Ocean island of Réunion has created a French football sensation by knocking second division Chamois Niortais out of the Coupe de France.