Will DeRucci help Belgians wake up in time for a last-16 qualifying performance
December 1 – Chinese bedding brand DeRucci has signed the Belgian national team as its partner in China for 2022-23.
Author: Paul Nicholson
English and Japanese FAs re-sign MoU with additional focus on women’s leagues
December 1 – The Japan Football Association (JFA) and the English FA have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a commitment to further expanding their co-operation within an agreement that was first signed in February 2016.
LaLiga turns goal-scoring balls into collectibles with new tracking technology
December 1 – LaLiga is to make every goal-scoring balls available to fans, aided by the use of new technology that identifies the ball that ended up in the back of a net.
Iranians exit the World Cup as Qatari authorities clampdown on protesters
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
November 30 – With the backdrop of the most politically-charged encounter of the World Cup so far, the United States defeated Iran 1-0 to progress to the last 16. However, the encounter was marred by security incidents as Qatari authorities tried to prevent political protests.
Iran released jailed footballers on bail ahead of crunch US tie
November 30 – On the day of Iran’s exit from the World Cup in Qatar following a 1-0 defeat to the US, the Iranian regime released two former national team footballers who had been arrested for joining nationwide protests prompted by the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police.
Ukraine FA boss Pavelko arrested on fraud charges
November 30 – Ukraine’s bid to stage the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal has suffered a potentially serious blow after its FA president Andriy Pavelko (pictured) was arrested on suspicion of embezzling his organisation’s funds.
Tebas tweets ‘Great News’ at Agnelli resignation; LaLiga demand Juve sanctions
November 30 – LaLiga and its president Javier Tebas have wasted no time calling for punitive sporting sanctions against Juventus following the block resignation of Andrea Agnelli and his board on Monday.
beIN Sports reports record breaking 1bn+ viewers for Qatar 2022 openers
November 30 – BeIN Sports, the broadcast rights holder for the MENA region for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, is claiming more than 111 million viewers tuned in for the Opening Ceremony, while a cumulative total of more than 900 million watched the first 16 group stage games.
FanFest agrees Socios.com hook-up to provide more utility to Fan Tokens
November 30 – While FIFA is franchising out its FanFest internationally and attempting to establish a brand footprint in the area, the US firm of the same name that has already been working on the ground has struck a deal with Fan Token specialists Socios.com.
AC Milan target India with three academy centres in Kerala
November 30 – Italian giants AC Milan have followed the expansion route of city rivals Inter and opened three new academy centres in India.
Football Australia launches men’s and women’s team accounts on TikTok
November 30 – TikTok has further expanded its presence in football stiking a deal with Football Australia for the men’s and women’s senior teams, the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos.
In denial? Qatar 2022 chief Al-Thawadi says construction deaths figure is 400-500 on all sites
November 29 – World Cup boss Hassan Al-Thawadi has said 400-500 migrant workers have died as a result of work done on construction projects, and is sticking by the figure of just three work-related deaths on World Cup projects.
Agnelli and Juve board resign over criminal probe in to alleged hidden player payments
November 29 – In a bombshell move, the entire board of Juventus, including chairman Andrea Agnelli, has resigned en masse, plunging one of the world’s most famous clubs into crisis.
Rainbow flag makes its entry at Lusail via protesting pitch invader
November 29 – A pitch invader with a rainbow flag interrupted the World Cup match between Portugal and Uruguay.
Scots act on brain injury fears to ban heading the day before and after matches
November 29 – The Scottish Football Association (SFA) is to bring in a ban on professional footballers heading the ball in training the day before and the day after a game.