Adidas drops Zouma for putting the boot into his cat
February 11 – West Ham United’s French defender Kurt Zouma has been dropped by kit manufacturer Adidas in response to footage of the defender attacking one of his cats.
News
Al-Khelaifi heralds new dawn of ECA/UEFA relations and the ‘tectonic shift’ of the TEAM deal
By Paul Nicholson
February 10 – European Club Association (ECA) chair Nasser Al-Khelaifi (pictured) has written to the 240+ members saying that the new three-year commercial deal agreed with TEAM Marketing and Relevent Sports Group is a watershed moment for the association.
Kenya women appeal to Infantino to keep Uganda match on and World Cup hopes alive
By Andrew Warshaw
February 10 – Kenya’s women footballers have urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to personally intervene to allow a crucial World Cup qualifier to go ahead and save their dream of reaching next year’s finals.
Belgian clubs report combined €139m loss
February 10 – Belgium’s 26 professional clubs registered total record losses of €139 million last year (2020-21 season), the bulk of it a result of the coronavirus crisis.
Belgium keep top World ranking slot as Senegal enter top 20
February 2 – Belgium have retained top spot in the FIFA ranking ahead of Brazil and world champions France, with recently crowned African champions Senegal and The Gambia among the biggest risers.
An animated Collina gets everyone onside with SAOT test
February 10 – Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s Referee Committee and FIFA’s Technology and Innovation, has emphasised that the referees and assistants on the field will still have the final decision, despite the advanced trials of the semi-automated offside technology system (SAOT).
Betway adds Chilean clubs as it expands its international sponsor footprint
February 10 – Online bookmaker Betway has again expanded its international football marketing footprint with its first sponsorship deals in Chile, signing up five clubs in the Chilean First Division.
Lukaku goal is enough to set up Chelsea vs Palmeiras Club World Cup final
February 9 – Europe and South America will again compete for the global club crown after Chelsea eliminated Asian champions Al Hilal 1-0 in a lively semi-final to set up a Club World Cup decider against Palmeiras from Brazil.
Italy targets Euro 2032 hosting as embarks on stadium modernisation
February 9 – European champions Italy have indicated their interest in staging Euro 2032 and have informed UEFA accordingly.
Jamaican boss Ricketts in firing line after court hammers him for homophobic comments
By Paul Nicholson
February 9 – Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Michael Ricketts, under pressure over his management of the JFF, has been hit with a J$9 million (US$51,000) fine for defamation after homophobic comments he made in 2017.
Al Hilal coach Jardim complains Chelsea have been favoured by CWC schedule
February 9 – Al Hilal coach Leonardo Jardim has criticised FIFA for favouring European teams at the Club World Cup, echoing comments from Al Ahly boss Pitso Mosimane earlier in the tournament.
ePremier League revamps format with BLAST input
February 9 – Esports tournament organiser BLAST will produce the 2021/22 edition of the ePremier League, the first time the esports heavyweight has entered the football gaming scene.
UEFA to keep watching brief over Albanian FA elections
February 9 – In an unusual move, UEFA are sending a delegation to Albania to monitor the electoral process of the Albanian FA before clubs vote on a new president next month.
Qatar 2022: More than 17m match tickets requested in first sales window
February 9 – The World Cup remains the hottest ticket in town. Football fans from across the globe applied for 17 million tickets in the first sales period of the World Cup in Qatar, with the final proving to be the most in-demand match with 1.8 million ticket requests.
Barca CEO Reverter to quit mid-rebuild
February 9 – FC Barcelona CEO Ferran Reverter has resigned after less than a year in the role “for personal and family reasons”, with the club in the crucial stages of agreeing a major sponsorship deal with streaming service Spotify.