Bad luck of the redraw: PSG get Real Madrid, Liverpool face Inter
December 13 – There is no question about the match-up of the round following the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League – but it wasn’t the original tie!
Author: Paul Nicholson
Man Utd vs PSG, Ronaldo vs Messi…bit of a balls up forces UEFA redraw
December 13 – There was no question about the match-up of the round when the draw was made today for the last 16 of the Champions League – only for the entire process to be declared null and void minutes later in a major embarrassment for UEFA.
Arab Cup: Qatar glide past UAE to join Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria in semis
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
December 11 – Hosts Qatar stormed into the last four of the Arab Cup with a thumping 5-0 victory against the United Arab Emirates. They will be the Middle East’s last representatives in the competition, with Northern African trio Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria completing the semi-final field.
AFC looks to boost Dream Asia Foundation funding with prize money levy
December 13 – The AFC Social Responsibility Committee has proposed a percentage of prize money from AFC competitions should be withheld and channelled into the Dream Asia Foundation. The funding would increase the foundation’s ability to provide support to vulnerable communities across the Continent.
‘Concerned’ IOC leaders warn Infantino of damage to sport a biennial WC would cause
December 13 – Olympic leaders have re-emphasised their opposition to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s pet plan to stage the World Cup every two years even though the idea is now almost certainly on the backburner following widespread global criticism.
NYCFC win first MLS Cup, taking CFG’s current title holding clubs to three
December 13 – With New York City FC’s maiden win of the MLS championship, City Football Group clubs now hold the three domestic club titles in three regionally dominant football nations – Manchester City are Premier League champions, while Melbourne City are Australia’s A-League champions.
One UEFA ball that won’t be needing a White Knight to fix
December 12 – While the small balls of the UEFA Champions League draw have confused confusion and no-little amusement, the big ball to be used for the real match-up has been unveiled by Adidas.
Eto’o wins Cameroon FA election and immediately promises players more money
December 13 – Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o has been elected the president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) for a four-year term, defeating the incumbent Seidou Mbombo Njoya.
Spurs face forfeiting Rennes match over refusal to detail number of covid-infected
December 11 – Tottenham Hotspur’s postponed Covid-hit Europa Conference League game against Rennes has been scrapped altogether and will not be played at all, putting the Premier League club at risk of having to forfeit the match and being thrown out of the competition.
Coronavirus: Man Utd positive tests threaten Brentford game
December 11 – Manchester United are the latest English top-flight club to be hit by a new coronavirus outbreak with a “small number” of players and staff testing positive.
Infected Bayern star Kimmich ‘regrets’ he didn’t get jabbed
December 13 – Bayern Munich and Germany star Joshua Kimmich will get vaccinated against the coronavirus after infection forced him to sit time out on the sidelines. Kimmich had refused to get jabbed, his vaccine hesitancy putting him in the spotlight of the vaccination debate.
Premier League covid passes needed as stadia kept at full capacity despite Omicron surge
December 10 – Football fans across England must show Covid-19 passes to enter any stadiums with a capacity of 10,000 or more from next week in response to the spread of the new Omicron variant.
Arab Cup: Qatar face UAE for spot in last 8; Moroccan form makes them title favourites
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
December 10 – In the last eight of the FIFA Arab Cup, hosts Qatar will take on rivals the United Arab Emirates on Friday seeking to build on their convincing group-stage form while Morocco and Algeria headline Saturday’s action.
Biennial World Cup and ESL no longer agenda items as UEFA focuses on new priorities
By Paul Nicholson
December 10 – UEFA will hold its Executive Committee next Thursday (December 16) via video conference and with an agenda that is noticeable absent of the two biggest issues that have faced the European federation over the past eight months – the biennial World Cup and the thwarted plans for a European Super League (ESL).
Spurs’ covid crisis forces Brighton game off and Vitesse to question fairness of Conference League
December 10 – The Covid outbreak sweeping through English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, which put paid to Thursday’s Europa Conference League fixture, has now forced Sunday’s Premier League game at Brighton to also be postponed.