Wenger goes cold on biennial World Cup but warms to winter editions
December 9 – Having championed staging the World Cup every two years, FIFA’s director of development Arsene Wenger now appears to be backtracking over the idea.
News
Hopfen quits Bundesliga over strategy, club execs Hellman and Leki drafted in interim
December 9 – Donata Hopfen, CEO of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga, will quit her role at the end of the year, being replaced on an interim basis by two Bundesliga club execs, Axel Hellmann and Oliver Leki.
Future World Cup city hosts gather in Doha for show-and-tell powwow
December 9 – FIFA has completed its World Cup Observer Programme in Qatar, designed to give future hosts insight into how FIFA expects its World Cups to be run.
US top women’s world rankings but European nations closing the gap
December 9 – Despite losing three of their past four matches, the US women’s team still top the FIFA world rankings, though the gap between them and second placed Germany is narrowing.
What you don’t know about the betting predictions offered online
December 9 – With the world’s attention focussed on its most popular sport as the World Cup reaches the quarter final stage, so there has been a flood of attention on the arrival of many new iGaming websites.
Qatar, FIFA and ‘silent’ Infantino pressured over whistleblower Ibhais’ jailing for a crime he didn’t commit
December 8 – Human rights organisation FairSquare has called on the UN to help World Cup whistleblower Abdullah Ibhais, who is currently in prison serving a three-year sentence. Ibhais family have accused FIFA of “callous indifference” over his plight within and an opaque Qatari legal system.
Rainbow’s end: FIFA says no politics but Palestinian flags, songs and banners go unchecked
By Andrew Warshaw
December 8 – They may not have had a team at the World Cup in Qatar but they have enjoyed a massive following just the same.
PSG and ECA’s Al-Khelaifi says fan power will trump greed of Super League trio
December 8 – Nasser Al-Khelaifi, one of the most powerful officials in European football, says fans will never let a breakaway Super League happen even if the courts decide in its favour.
Infantino puts a bird’s-eye spin on the ‘greatest group stages ever’ as he brings joy to the world
December 8 – In an inhouse interview, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has claimed Qatar hosted the “best group stage ever” at a World Cup with high attendances and record television figures.
UEFA boosts digital capability with 8-year Atos partnership
December 8 – Digital transformation Atos has signed an eight-year deal to become a UEFA National Team Football partner.
Irish women’s pro-IRA singing celebration lands them a €20k UEFA fine
December 8 – UEFA has fined the Football Association of Ireland €20,000 for its women’s teams post match celebration and the singing of a song with a pro-IRA chorus after they beat Scotland 1-0 and qualified for the women’s World Cup finals for the first time.
Estrelabet banks big on Brazilian futsal with all-team deal via CBF
December 8 – In the bookmaker race to pick up football sponsorship assets in Brazil’s fast evolving betting markets, EstrelaBet has completed a sponsorship for all of the country’s futsal teams until 2025 with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
Hungary’s Debreceni VSC takes first steps into web3 with Capital Block
December 8 – The developing web3 is not just a world for Europe’s biggest and best leagues and clubs. Hungary’sDebreceni VSC (DVSC), has become the first club from the country to announce its intentions in the area.
Portugal brush Swiss aside as Ramos stars after Ronaldo is dropped to bench
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – It was a massive gamble and fortunately for Portuguese coach Fernando Santos it paid off – and then some.
Canadian women’s legends unveil plans for an 8-team pro-league
December 7 – Canadian national team legends Christine Sinclair (pictured) and Diana Matheson have announced plans to create a women’s professional league in the country with kick-off in April 2025.