Ratcliffe and Ineos complete £1.03bn Man Utd buy-in and take control of operations
December 29 – The long-awaited sale of 25% of Manchester United to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group for £1.03 billion has been completed.
News
Orange renews CAF sponsorship through next two AFCON editions
January 2 – Telecom giant Orange has renewed its long-running sponsorship of the Confederation of African football (CAF) including through the next two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations and adding the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Spanish FA partners with Stage Front to boost its national team hospitality experience
January 2 – US hospitality specialists Stage Front have been appointed as Official Global Event and Hospitality Partner of the Spanish National Team, which covers the World Champion women’s team as well as the men’s team that will be competing at this summer’s Euros in Germany.
Man City turn on the style to thrash Fluminense and take Club World Cup title
By Samindra Kunti in Jeddah
December 22 — Manchester City cruised past Fluminense of Brazil 4-0 to win a maiden Club World Cup and conclude a spectacular 2023 with a fifth trophy.
Ceferin leads dismissals of European Super League as stakeholders reject A22’s Christmas carol
By Andrew Warshaw
December 22 – Not dissimilar to when the concept was first launched back in April 2021, Europe’s main football stakeholders, led by UEFA, have joined forces to denounce ambitious plans for a new version of the European Super League – even though the landscape has changed overnight.
A22 proposes three-tiered mid-week European league with 64 men’s teams
December 22 – Despite widespread condemnation, the sports development company behind a possible new European Super League, A22, has outlined its plans for the tournament following Thursday’s judgement by the European Court of Justice that UEFA’s rules restricting the creation of new competitions were unlawful.
Guardiola wary as Fluminense set to debut their new style on the catwalk of the CWC final
By Samindra Kunti in Jeddah
December 22 – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is relishing the challenge of taking on Fluminense and their idiosyncratic style in the final of the Club World Cup as the European champions seek to wrap up their best year ever.
Panama and Moldova end year with highest moves up FIFA’s world ranking
December 22 – The FIFA men’s rankings have been nudged only slightly in the latest update, as OFC nations battle it out in the Pacific Games whilst the rest of the world remains focused on domestic leagues. Argentina remain on top.
Norwegians slam FIFA’s 2034 World Cup award to Saudi as an untransparent fait accompli
By Samindra Kunti in Jeddah
December 22 – The Norwegian FA (NFF) has slammed FIFA’s bidding process for the 2034 World Cup, calling it a “foregone conclusion” and pointing at “a lack of transparency” in the decision making.
James Dostoyevsky: There is a case to suspend Israel from all football
For more than two months, the world has been watching with horror and incredulity how civilians are being slaughtered in Gaza.
Albania gives diplomatic passports to national team as reward for qualifying for Euro 2024
December 22 – The Albanian government has decided to reward all players and coaches of the Albanian national team with diplomatic passports.
Dream Asia Foundation board notes impact across continent with focus on safeguarding
December 22 – The AFC has reaffirmed its commitment to expand its social development programmes via its Dream Asia Foundation aimed at empowering the continent’s most vulnerable communities.
European Court rules blocking of European Super League broke EU competition law
By Andrew Warshaw
December 21 – In a bombshell decision that could have significant ramifications, the European Court of Justice ruled today that UEFA and FIFA broke EU competition rules by attempting to block the seemingly doomed breakaway Super League.
Saudi FA boss Yasser Al-Misehal says it is ‘important’ LGBTQ+ fans feel safe at 2034 World Cup
December 21 – Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) president Yasser Al-Misehal has said that ‘Everyone will be welcome’, including LGBTQ+ fans, at the 2034 World Cup, a tournament FIFA is set to formally award to the Arab Kingdom next year.
UK government wants Premier League to cut the volume of gambling ads
December 21 – The UK government’s Culture, Media, and Sport Committee is urging the Premier League and sports governing bodies to slash the volume of gambling ads within stadiums to protect children from exposure to betting logos and subsequent gambling.