AFC mobilises Asian support for OFC’s Tongan appeal
January 25 – Support is gathering for the Oceania Football Confederation’s campaign to support Tonga following the devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami which hit the country.
News
Trigger happy Watford owners fire Ranieri after just three months
January 25 – Watford have dismissed coach Claudio Ranieri after a three month, 14-game tenure that failed to reverse the club’s fortunes and has left the Hornets in the Premier League relegation zone.
AFCON: Gambia maintain first timer momentum to set up Cameroon clash
January 25 – Debutants Gambia are making their own history at the Africa Cup of Nations with their latest feat being the elimination of Guinea 1-0 to claim a quarterfinal spot against hosts Cameroon, who broke the hearts of first-timers Comoros 2-1.
Newcastle fly into new Saudi storm as Staveley faces Ashley repayment demand
January 24 – Newcastle United, already under pressure from human rights organisations because of their recent Saudi-led takeover, are now under renewed scrutiny for having decided to visit the country for a training camp.
Infantino meets EC delegation to discuss future of football
January 24 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino was in Europe at the weekend and hosted a meeting with European Commission vice-president Margaritas Schinas with an agenda that included both the Qatar 2022 World Cup and the ‘future of football’.
CBF mandates player vaccinations for Serie A and Copa do Brasil
January 24 – Players will have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to play in the Brazilian top flight, the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) has announced.
Premier League set to stipulate four positive covid cases as minimum to call games off
January 24 – Clubs may need to prove at least four positive Covid cases under new Premier League regulations being considered relating to postponed games.
AFCON: Tunisia knock Nigeria out; Gambians double up, literally
By Samindra Kunti
January 24 – The Super Eagles of Nigeria are on the way home from the Africa Cup of Nations after ten-men Tunisia and a strike from the inevitable Youssef Msakni proved too much for the Nigerians. They became the third of Africa’s powerhouse football nations – after Ghana and current champions Algeria – to depart the tournament early.
African final qualifying draw pitches Salah vs Mane for a place at Qatar 2022
January 23 – Egypt vs Senegal and Nigeria vs Ghana will headline Africa’s World Cup playoffs to decide the continent’s five representatives at the finals in Qatar.
FIFA to restrict player loans to prevent elite clubs ‘warehousing’ talent
January 21 – FIFA are poised to bring in radical new rules designed to stop the richest clubs hoarding players and help home-grown youth development.
Qatar 2022 tickets sales opens to 1.2m requests in first 24 hours
January 21 – More than 1.2 million tickets were requested within the first 24 hours of going on sale for the World Cup in Qatar in November.
Champions Algeria crash out of AFCON winless, Gambia and Comoros make last 16
By Samindra Kunti
January 21 – Defending champions Algeria exited the Africa Cup of Nations after a lacklustre 3-1 defeat at the hands of Ivory Coast. With a single point from three matches, the North Africans finished bottom of Group E.
Homeless World Cup set to return in September with New York hosting
January 21 – The Homeless World Cup, an annual event that has not been played since 2019 due to the pandemic, is set to return in September this year with New York hosting.
Infantino and Wenger meet PFA but biennial World Cup was ‘not the main topic’
January 21 – With increasing demands placed on football’s elite players, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has vowed player welfare will be a top priority as the organisation reshapes the international fixture schedule.
French vax rules threaten to disrupt Chelsea and Real Madrid plans for Champions League ties
January 21 – UEFA have confirmed that clubs in European competitions must comply with local regulations on Covid vaccinations, potentially hitting both Real Madrid and Chelsea in the away legs of their Champions League last-16 ties.