Gerrard exits Saudi Pro League after poor run of results at Al Ettifaq
January 31 – After a dismal run of results, former England and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has left his role as manager of Saudi club Al Ettifaq by mutual consent.
February 4 – Cristiano Ronaldo once again showed he has plenty of goals left in him on the eve of his 40th birthday as he notched a brace in Al-Nassr’s 4-0 win over Al-Wasl in the Asian Football Confederation’s Champions League Elite on Monday.
February 4 – Visa has renewed and expanded its sponsor partnership with AFC to cover more of the confederation’s regions and competitions for the next two seasons.
February 3 – Colombia and Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran has departed the English Premier League for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr in a reported £64 million deal.
Controversial Indian FA president Kalyan Chaubey faces growing lobby for no-confidence vote
January 27 – State associations are planning a no-confidence motion in Kalyan Chaubey (pictured), the president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
AFC draws groups for U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia in April
January 24 – Hosts Saudi Arabia, chasing a third title, will face Uzbekistan, Thailand and China in Group A of the AFC U17 Asian Cup to be played April 3-12.
AFC seeds nations for U17 Asian Cup draw. Top 8 will qualify for U17 World Cup
January 17 – The AFC will hold the draw next Thursday for the group stage of the U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025, to be played April 3-20.
HSBC becomes founding partner of Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park
January 15 – The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has been named the exclusive Premier Founding Partner of the soon-to-be opened Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong.
RFEF enters negotiations to keep Spanish Super Cup in Saudi
January 14 – After one of the most thrilling Supercopa Finals in the history of the competition, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) plans to extend the contract with Saudi Arabia for another five years so that the Super Cup will be held in this country until 2034.
AFC launches Empowering Women in Football Programme to drive gender equity
January 14 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has launched a programme to accelerate the empowerment of women and increase gender equity and inclsuivity throughout the game in Asia.
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.
Women’s Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers set to kick off with 9 spots at China 2025 final up for grabs
January 10 – The qualification tournaments for the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup China 2025 kicks off this Saturday, with 18 nations competing for nine slots.
Hong Kong’s Kai Tak stadium nears opening as talks progress on a Summer of Premier League action
January 10 – Hong Kong’s ambitious Kai Tak Sports Park project is entering its final stages, with the state-of-the-art facility expected to open later this year. The development, situated on the northwestern part of the former Kai Tak Airport, is set to redefine Hong Kong’s sporting landscape with a multi-purpose venue capable of hosting a wide range of events but with a focus on football.
Monica Staab steps away from Saudi women’s coaching role
January 9 – Monika Staab (pictured centre) has stepped down from her role as technical director of women’s football in Saudi Arabia, bringing her role in building the country’s women’s team to an end.
AFC draw match-ups for last eight of inaugural Women’s Champions League
January 8 – The quarter-finals of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2024/25 were set on Wednesday at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, mapping out the road to crown Asia’s first-ever women’s club champion. The draw featured eight teams battling for the prestigious title, which will conclude in May.
