Belgium score Xmas hat-trick at top of World Rankings
December 10 – Belgium have topped the world ranking for a third consecutive year to become the FIFA team of the year, the world governing body said on Thursday.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Ivory Coast government backs Anouma as his CAF presidential campaign gathers pace
December 10 – Former FIFA executive committee member Jacques Anouma has received the backing of his Ivory Coast government in his bid to become the next leader of African football.
Aubameyang fined by CAF for social post after a night on the floor of Gambian airport
December 10 – Arsenal and Gabon star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been fined $10,000 by the Confederation of African Football for social media posts criticising CAF ahead of his country’s African Cup of Nations qualifier against Gambia in November.
Italy mourns loss of World Cup legend Paolo Rossi, aged 64
December 10 – Another footballing legend has died prematurely, this time Italy’s 1982 World Cup hero Paolo Rossi at the age of 64, shocking friends, family and fans alike.
Inter Milan’s draw hands Champions League lifeline to Real Madrid
December 10 – Inter Milan were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage for the third consecutive season on Wednesday night following a goalless draw with Shakthar Donetsk, who were also eliminated, allowing Real Madrid to squeeze into the knockout phase.
Boca Juniors squeeze into Copa Libertadores quarter finals with shoot-out win
December 12 – Argentinean giants Boca Juniors triumphed on penalties against Internacional of Brazil to set up a Copa Libertadores quarter-final against Racing Club as the competition moves into the business end of the season.
Salman emphasises AFC unity in face of covid challenges and a calendar-packed 2021
By Paul Nicholson
December 9 – AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has emphasised the unity of Asia’s national football associations as the core strength supporting the confederation not just during the unprecedented challenges of the covid pandemic but also as the international football world turns its attention to Asia in 2021.
Infantino tells AFC members CWC in China will be best club competition ever
By Paul Nicholson
December 9 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said that the new 24-team format Club World Cup, when it eventually holds its first edition “in China, will be the best club competition in the world.”
UEFA investigate PSG and Basaksehir walk-off after match official accused of racism
December 9 – UEFA have opened a disciplinary investigation into the disturbing scenes that marred Tuesday night’s Champions League fixture between Paris St Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir, abandoned after both teams walked off in protest at alleged racism, the first time that has happened in Europe’s elite club competition.
Police swoop as Europol says organised crime has infiltrated 5 of Moldova’s 10 top tier clubs
December 9 – Five of the 10 football clubs in the Moldovan top flight have been involved in match-fixing linked to organised crime this season, Europol has said.
RB Leipzig crush Man Utd’s European rebirth putting renewed focus on Solskjaer
By Andrew Warshaw
December 9 – Manchester United became the first high-profile victims of Champions League elimination on Tuesday as they failed to make the knockout stages, heaping even more pressure under-fire manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Garber says MLS is facing $1bn in lost revenue as new season targeted for March start
December 9 – Major League Soccer’s 25th season has not turned into the celebration initially hoped for, with commissioner Don Garber in his State of the League address revealing that the MLS is expecting a $1 billion drop in revenue because of the coronavirus pandemic.
SIGA’s Frattini and de Medeiros call for action on International Anti-Corruption Day
December 9 – SIGA’s chairman Franco Frattini and CEO Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros have both issues powerful calls to action in the fight against sports corruption on International Anti-corruption Day.
Qatar to guest in UEFA’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers
December 9 – World Cup hosts Qatar are to be included as a guest team in the European section of qualifying for the 2022 tournament in order to gain more match experience.
UEFA lifts home bans for Armenia and Azerbaijan whilst ceasefire holds
December 9 – UEFA have lifted their ban on club and national team matches under their jurisdiction in Armenia and Azerbaijan, imposed in October because of the military conflict in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.