Ivan Leko replaces Nick Hayen at Club Brugge
December 9 – Club Brugge have fired Nick Hayen following a string of disappointing results, culminating in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of STVV on Saturday.
Author: Andy Elliott
Levski Sofia fans cross the line with verbal attacks on Asen Mitkov
December 9 – A serious scandal has befouled Bulgarian football club Levski Sofia after a group of supporters verbally attacked player Asen Mitkov following the team’s poor performance in a recent match.
Cruz Azul meet Flamengo in FIFA derby
December 9 – The FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025 continues on Wednesday in Al-Rayyan, where Concacaf champions Cruz Azul meet Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo in a true Derby of the Americas.
Prison sentences for pair who blackmailed Son Heung-min
December 9 – A South Korean court has handed prison sentences to two people who tried to blackmail LAFC forward Son Heung-min, bringing an end to a case that has gripped Korean media like a long-running soap opera for months.
Wave win World Sevens, which has plans to go global
December 9 – The rise of small-sided football is showing no signs of slowing down. From the Baller League, TST in North Carolina, and now the World Sevens women’s tournament in Ft Lauderdale, where the San Diego Wave FC were crowned as its second champion on Sunday.
Joey Barton gets suspended jail sentence over X posts
December 9 – Former Premier League midfielder Joey Barton has received a six-month suspended prison sentence and must complete 200 hours of community service for what a judge described as “humiliating” social media attacks on commentators Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko, as well as broadcaster Jeremy Vine.
Cooling breaks will split World Cup games into made-for-TV “quarters”
December 9 – FIFA will include three-minute hydration breaks in each half of every World Cup match next summer regardless of the weather, in a move which essentially splits matches into four quarters akin to NBA and NFL games.
Wrexham set sights on Premier League after Apollo investment
December 9 – In 2021, when Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney rolled into the city of Wrexham, no one could’ve predicted what would happen next but in pure Hollywood fashion, a transformation occurred.
China announced as host of the 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup
December 4 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that sole bidders China will host the 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup after the Executive Committee ratified the Competitions Committee’s recommendation on Wednesday.
John Textor tries to clarify remarks about Evangelos Marinakis transfer dealings
December 4 – John Textor has attempted to clarify remarks suggesting he and Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis were able to “adjust” transfer fees between their clubs – comments that triggered renewed scrutiny of multi-club ownership networks and the blurred boundaries of influence within them.
Konami pens CAF to licensing agreement to bring AFCON to eFootball
December 4 – Konami has signed a new licensing agreement with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), strengthening its foothold in one of football’s fastest-growing markets and bringing the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) officially into its eFootball game series.
Final eight set to battle it out at eEURO 2025 at Twickenham Stadium
December 4 – EA Sports and UEFA have confirmed the eight finalists for eEURO 2025 – a tournament that feels fully embedded in Europe’s competitive gaming landscape and another clear sign of EA’s accelerating momentum in the Esports space.
Fossil Free Football takes aim at FIFA with ‘Climate Impact Prize’
December 4 – On the eve of the FIFA World Cup draw, Dutch-based non-governmental organisation Fossil Free Football has taken aim at the world governing body and President Gianni Infantino with a satirical ‘Football Climate Impact Prize’.
Channel 4 secures AFCON broadcast deal to air tournament in UK
December 4 – Channel 4 will broadcast the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the United Kingdom following a broadcast deal with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Jamaican side Mount Pleasant FA earn 2025 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup crown
December 4 – The 2025 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup wrapped up in Kingston, Jamaica with a wild, tense second leg that encapsulated just how far the region’s competitions have come.