Saudi fans harass Mallorca players’ wives leaving King Adbullah Sports City stadium
January 13 – The wives of Mallorca players have said they were harassed after the club’s Spanish Super Cup game in Saudi Arabia.
Europe
UEFA reaches out to sister confederations with Together development programme
January 13 – UEFA has announced the launch of a new international initiative, UEFA Together, aimed at fostering the development of football worldwide via partnerships with its sister confederations and their national federations.
FA Cup drama sees Spurs struggle past Tamworth and 10-man Man Utd out-gun Arsenal on penalties
January 13 – They came close to abject humiliation in what would have been one of the greatest FA Cup upsets of all time.
Barca hammer Real Madrid to win Spanish Super Cup in Saudi
January 13 – Not many neutrals saw this coming given the respective form of the two teams.
Turkish federation says foreign VAR officials will be drafted in for rest of SuperLig season
January 13 – The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has taken urgent measures following criticisms of refereeing in its Super League, with Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho having been in the vanguard of the fury.
Serie A clubs keep faith in De Siervio’s commercial leadership
January 13 – Luigi De Siervo has been re-elected as chief executive of Serie A, securing strong backing from the league’s 20 clubs despite controversies surrounding recent media rights sales and the hosting of the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia.
National Assembly to provide reasons for exclusion of Botev Plovdiv’s Russian owner from Bulgaria
January 10 – Bulgaria’s National Assembly is to debate the case of Botev Plovdiv’s Russian owner Anton Zingarevich, who has been banned from entering the country.
Women’s Championship clubs in England to trial drinking alcohol in the stands
January 10 – Drinking alcohol in the stands of English football grounds and stadium areas with views of the pitch was banned in 1985, however, four championship clubs from the women’s game will now take part in a new pilot program to allow fans to drink alcohol in the stands.
Spanish sports council grants Barca permission to register Olmo and Victor
January 9 – Spain’s national sports council (CSD) has granted Barcelona provisional permission to register Dani Olmo (pictured) and Pau Victor, following an appeal by the club after earlier rejections from La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Rich get richer as Spanish Super Cup opens with a Barca win
January 9 – The Spanish Super Cup, being played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, opened with a 2-0 win for Barcelona over Athletic Club with goals by Gavi and Lamine Yamal, against a backdrop of protests against the unequal distribution of tournament revenue to clubs.
Deschamps to leave France after 2026 World Cup
January 8 – France head coach Didier Deschamps is to step down from the role when his current contract ends after the 2026 World Cup.
Robbie Keane fills gap left by Pascal Jansen at Ferencvaros
January 8 – Former Republic of Ireland forward Robbie Keane has become the new head coach at legendary Hungarian side Ferencvaros.
Mourinho lashes out at biased Turkish referees and a Super Lig he says is ‘stacked’ against Fenerbache
January 7 – Fenerbahce’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho has once again complained about refereeing in Turkey, describing the situation in Turkish football as “toxic” and called on the media “to tell the truth” about football in the country.
Belgium’s Pascale van Damme runs unopposed for European seat on FIFA Council
January 7 – Belgian FA president Pascale van Damme is set to join FIFA’s ruling council after being the only candidate to run for a seat reserved for a female official from Europe.
Dortmund agree youth development partnership with neighbouring VfB Waltrop
January 7 – Germany is renowned for its youth development programmes, and that is set to continue after Borussia Dortmund announced a new partnership between its Nachwuchsleistungszentrum (Youth Academy) and VfB Waltrop.