LA given more time to prepare case for host city spot in United 2026 bid
February 14 – Los Angeles is being given more time to submit its bid to be one of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup.
Court finds Bennell guilty of multiple child sex offences
February 14 – A former English league coach has been found guilty of multiple sex offences in the 1980s in the latest development in the abuse scandal that has shocked the country.
Uruguay’s Nacional fined for fans taunting of Chapecoense over plane crash
February 14 – Uruguayan club Nacional have been fined $80,000 and their fans banned for three away games for taunting Brazilian rivals Chapecoense about the plane crash which killed 71 people including 19 Chapecoense players and staff in November 2016.
Five minutes of make or break. Jersey makes its bid for UEFA membership
By Paul Nicholson
February 14 – The Jersey FA is seeking to become the 56th member of UEFA at the confederation’s Congress in Bratislava, Slovakia, next week. The island nation, part of the British Isles, has increased its lobbying and sharpened its case for inclusion, including making its case to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
Spurs blow Premier League attendance record away for third time with Gunners win
February 14 – Tottenham Hotspur broke the Premier League attendance record for the third time this season with 83,222 at Wembley Stadium watching their 1-0 win over fierce local rivals Arsenal.
Bayern join with FC Dallas to develop cross border professional player pathway
February 14 – German giant Bayern Munich has formed a player development alliance with MLS side FC Dallas to provide a pathway for players in their professional academies inot the game in Germany and the US.
Inter expand academy programme into Indonesia with PERSIB Bandung
February 13 – Inter Milan have expanded their academy programme into Indonesia with the launch of Inter Academy Indonesia that will see Italian coaches working in partnership with PERSIB Bandung and its elite academy.
Russia World Cup blackout in Ukraine as TV shuns broadcasts and press passes refused
February 13 – Who says sport and politics don’t mix? With Ukrainian journalists having already been refused accreditation by their national fa and having to approach FIFA directly, Ukraine’s public broadcaster has now decided not to show any of the games in Russia.
Liberté, égalité, fraternité: Balotelli booked for pointing out racist chanting
February 2 – As controversial refereeing decisions go, few are as worthy of condemnation as the booking meted out over the weekend to Nice’s former Italian international striker Mario Balotelli after he reportedly claimed he was the victim of racist chanting during a top-flight French game.
Spanish FA set April date for vote on Villar’s successor
February 13 – Just days after a FIFA delegation led by secretary general Fatma Samoura, met with Spanish officials to discuss concerns about government interference in the aftermath of veteran powerbroker Angel Villar’s demise, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) announced it is finally holding elections in April to select Villar’s replacement.
Serie A target La Liga boss Tebas in big money transfer
February 13 – La Liga and Serie A are in battle for the services of Javier Tebas, the longstanding and mercurial Spanish league president. The Italian league has made an approach to lure him away from Spain.
UEFA orders refs to give more protection to players from dangerous tackles
February 13 – In a rare intervention, UEFA have stepped in to order referees to provide greater protection to Europe’s top players during the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Egyptian choice of Chechnya for World Cup base angers human rights groups
February 13 – FIFA is facing calls from human rights organisations to scrap Chechnya as a World Cup base for Egypt this summer.
Mastercard calls up Pele to #StartSomethingPriceless with Champions League campaign
February 13 – Champions League sponsor Mastercard, who last week extended its 24-year partnership for another three-year cycle to 2021, has called up Pele to activate the brand sponsorship in advance of the last 16 knockout rounds.
At €878m, Man City are the most expensive ever team in football history
February 13 – No other club in history has spent as much as Manchester City to assemble a playing squad. At €878 million Man City have spent €73 million more than Paris St Germain and €131 million more than neighbours Man Utd, though they are having a Red Devil of a time under big spender Jose Mourinho to close that gap.