Adidas unveils official ball for Madrid Champions League final
January 22 – Adidas have unveiled the ball for the Champions League final to be played at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Former England women’s coach Sampson apologises to Aluko and Spence
January 22 – Former England women’s team manager Mark Sampson has apologised “unreservedly” to internationals Eniola Aluko and Drew Spence for comments he made during his tenure, saying he will “forever regret” the situation following his sacking.
Head-to-head: Qatar vs Iraq; South Korea vs Bahrain
January 22 – The final two knockout games of the round of 16 games at the Asian Cup take place tonight in Dubai and Sharjah. Qatar face a buoyant Iraq, which Bahrain aim to spring another surprise against South Korea.
UAE strike in extra time against Kyrgyzstan to secure quarter final slot
By Paul Nicholson in Abu Dhabi
UAE 3 Kyrgyz Republic 2 (AET)
June 21 – Hosts UAE made it through to the quarter finals of the Asian Cup but only after having thrown away a winning position to send the match into extra time against a tenacious Kyrgyz Republic. Sub Ahmed Khalil had been on the pitch just four minutes before stepping up to slot the winning penalty.
Aussies hit Uzbeks in the right spot to knock them out
Australia 0 (4) Uzbekistan 0 (2)
January 21 – Defending champions Australia laboured to a 4-2 spot-kick win over Uzbekistan after an underwhelming goalless draw to ensure a place in the last eight of the Asian Cup. Goalkeeper Matthew Ryan and substitute Mathew Leckie starred in the penalty shout out.
Head-to-head: Japan vs Saudi Arabia, UAE vs Kryzg Rep
January 2 – Japan return to action tonight against Saudi Arabia in a match that has a lot of pride at stake for both teams.
Head-to-head: Aussies growing confident as Uzbeks find form
January 21 – Australian coach Graham Arnold believes his team will step up in the knockout stages of the competition after a modest first round. The Socceroos will face Uzbekistan in the round of sixteen.
Exclusive: Liverpool look primed to post club football’s first €100m-plus profit
By David Owen
January 21 – Liverpool may be about to become the first football club in history to report an annual net profit of more than €100 million.
David Owen: How transfer spending is turbocharging European club profits
A new UEFA club benchmarking report has landed, studded with new illustrations of the still widening chasm between the wealthiest members of the European – and world – financial club football elite and the rest of the continent’s more than 700 top-flight teams.
Napoli say FIGC’s ban on Koulibaly is a victory for Italy’s racists
January 21 – The outcry over the treatment of Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly intensified over the weekend when Napoli slammed the decision by Italian football authorities to reject his appeal against being sent off despite widespread recognition that he suffered racial abuse.
Unwanted record: Oman captain’s fastest-ever penalty miss in the Asian Cup
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 20 – Oman’s captain Ahmed Kanu missed a penalty after 2 minutes, 24 seconds from the starting whistle, in his country’s 2-0 defeat against Iran in the round 16 encounter in the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in ~Abu Dhabi. Iran passed through to the quarter final.
Palace shelter local homeless
By David Owen
January 20 – In this loadsamoney era for top-tier football, Crystal Palace stands out as a club that has managed nonetheless to retain close links with the community that spawned it. So it is not altogether surprising that of all Premier League outfits it should be the Eagles who have teamed up with their local council to provide some practical midwinter help for the homeless.
Iran’s power and passing end the Omani adventure
Iran 2 Oman 0
By Paul Nicholson in Abu Dhabi
January 20 – Iran reconfirmed themselves as favourites for the Asian Cup with a powerful 2-0 win over a battling Omani side. They could easily have won by five.
Vietnam break Jordanian hearts with penalty shootout win
Jordan 1 Vietnam 1
Vietnam win 4-2 on penalties
By Paul Nicholson
January 20 – Vietnam became the first team into quarter finals of the Asian Cup, beating Jordan 4-2 on penalties after their last 16 tie ended 1-1 at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.
Head-to-head stats: JOR vs VIE, THA vs CHN, IRA vs OMA
January 19 – The first games of the AFC Asian Cup last 16 knockout rounds begin today with Jordan facing Vietnam, Thailand vs China and Iran against Oman.