US investor buys 85% of Dundee United for £1m and sets sights on SPL
December 21 – A US investor has taken a controlling stake in Scottish Championship side Dundee United in a deal estimated to be worth £1 million.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Grindel calls Infantino to account over FIFA’s lack of transparency on $25bn sell-off
By Andrew Warshaw
December 20 – German football boss and FIFA Council member Reinhard Grindel has renewed his attack on the FIFA leadership and Gianni Infantino in person saying Infantino is fuelling international prejudice against his own organisation over his controversial plans to reshape the landscape of world football,
Excitement builds as India are first to land in UAE for 2019 Asian Cup
December 20 – India were the first team to arrive for the 24-nation Asian Cup when they landed today in Abu Dhabi and were greeted with a fervent reception from their supporters thanks to the staggering 3.3 million Indian community who live in the United Arab Emirates.
Bottles, banana skins and racist abuse: English clubs struggle to control fans
December 20 – Despite a pre-match appeal to both sets of supporters following a number of high-profile cases of discrimination in recent weeks, police are investigating an incident that saw Tottenham Hotspur’s England midfielder Dele Alli struck on the head by a plastic bottle during their 2-0 League Cup quarterfinal win against arch-rivals Arsenal on Wednesday.
New Asian Cup trophy proudly lands in Dubai ahead of AFC’s showpiece tournament
December 20 – After travelling nearly 25,000kms across Asia, the new Asian Cup trophy has finally landed in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, one of the four host cities of the region’s pinnacle tournament that starts early next month.
End of the road? Mutko confirms he will not contest Russian FA presidency
December 20 – After weeks of conjecture about whether he is back in favour, Vitaly Mutko, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, has finally thrown in the towel at the head of the Russian Football Union (RFU).
eFootball: DFL agrees TV deal with ProSiebenSat.1 for VBL Club Championship
December 20 –Germany’s DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga has agreed a broadcast deal with the ProSiebenSat.1 Group to air the federation’s new launch eFootball VBL Club Championship.
Wolves’ Jota and Chelsea’s Barklay and Rodriguez prove their worth in points
December 18 – Wolves are more likely to win maximum league points if Diogo Jota is in the starting line-up than if he isn’t. The same for Chelsea if Ross Barklay and/or Pedro Rodriguez starts.
MLS expands play-offs to 14-team format
December 20 – Major League Soccer is revamping its playoff format from next season to include more teams in the post season MLS Cup and end the season nearly a month earlier.
Saudis lose first round of beoutQ battle at WTO after EU and China speak against
By Paul Nicholson
December 19 – The European Union, China and Canada all spoke out in support of Qatar’s case against Saudi Arabia at a World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting today discussing the beoutQ piracy of broadcast programming. All three backed the contention that Qatar had the right to pursue protection of the intellectual copyright through the organisation.
Infantino loses ally Chiyangwa as Kamambo takes over in Zimbabwe
By Andrew Warshaw
December 19 – Philip Chiyangwa, one of the most charismatic figures in African football and a key ally of Gianni Infantino, has been sensationally ousted as president of the Zimbabwean FA (Zifa) following elections held on Tuesday.
River Plate celebrations end as UAE’s Al Ain dumps them out Club World Cup
December 19 – Within days of euphorically picking up the Copa Libertadores title against arch-rivals Boca Juniors, Argentinian giants River Plate were brought embarrassing down to earth on Tuesday when they suffered a shock defeat to hosts Al Ain in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
European Leagues call for more equality in UEFA’s €3.25bn club shareout
December 19 – Europe’s major leagues have called on UEFA to alter their revenue distribution policy to bring about a more level playing field and prevent the gap between the haves and the have-nots from widening.
Former striking legend Solskjaer takes over at Man Utd in caretaker role
December 19 – Manchester United have named Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as caretaker manager until the end of the season, a day after sacking Jose Mourinho, but British media have little doubt who United’s long-term target is.
Chelsea in more trouble with UEFA after fans keep up their racist tirades
Chelsea are back in the headlines for the conduct of their fans with UEFA confirming it is to investigate the “alleged racist incidents” during the club’s Europa League game at MOL Vidi in Hungary.