By Paul Nicholson in Muscat, Oman
November 30 – The AFC’s big night out to celebrate and recognise its players and federations at its 2018 Award in Muscat, Oman, this week was missing one person. Salah Abu Al-Atta should have been on hand to pick an award for the Palestine Football Association but was refused an exit permit from Palestine by Israeli authorities.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 30 – After a series of twists, turns, disagreements and crisis meetings, the second leg of the twice postponed Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate will be switched to Europe and played more than 6,000 miles away in Madrid on December 9.
November 30 – Belgium remain top of FIFA’s latest rankings, just, with world champions France a close second and Brazil in third spot. Sweden and Serbia were among the big movers.
November 30 – Spain and Mexico will lock horns on Saturday to decide who takes gold at the U17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay.
November 30 – The world players union FIFPro has called for an urgent inquiry into suspect medical treatment administered at several top-tier clubs in Cyprus.
November 30 – FIFA have opened a regional office in South Africa to serve the interests of the 14 Council of Southern Africa Football Associations.
November 30 – FIFA finally look set to stop cash-rich clubs, like Chelsea, hoarding the best young players to the detriment of everyone else.
November 30 – FIFA’s ethics committee has imposed a four-year ban on Manuel Dende (pictured second left in happier times), former president of the Sao Tomean Football Association, for accepting a bribe believed to be from former Asian confederation chief and FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.
November 30 – The Mexican football federation (FMF), which has long been touring the US with its national team, has agreed a deal with the Dallas Cowboys, MLS’ FC Dallas, and the Dallas Sports Commission to make the AT&T Stadium its official home in the US four the next four year.
November 30 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the names of the nominees for its annual awards with 34 men and 15 women vying for the African Player of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year awards.
By Paul Nicholson in Muscat, Oman
November 29 – Defenders don’t generally win matches, they save them. Certainly they rarely get recognised when it comes to giving out awards. Qatar’s Abdelkarim Hassan struck a blow for central defenders worldwide when he beat two of Japan’s Asian Champions League winning stars to pick up the AFC Men’s Player of the Year Award.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 29 – Qatar, which has staged a number of international matches featuring overseas teams, is emerging as a possible venue for the twice-postponed Copa Libertadores showdown between River Plate and Boca Juniors following Conmebol’s decision to play the decisive second leg outside of Argentina.
November 29 – Cameroon’s hosting of the upcoming African Nations Cup is back in the balance after the north African grouping of football nations called for the tournament to be switched to Morocco.
November 29 – Three players from Belgium’s U16 women’s team were approached in a match fixing attempt during an international tournament this year, the Belgian FA (KBVB) has revealed.
November 29- Issa Hayatou, former President of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF), has launched a scathing attack on the huge fine imposed on him by an Egyptian court over a broadcasting deal for Africa’s football governing body, insisting the decision was politically motivated.