Police raid Juve offices in probe into suspected transfer fraud
November 29 – The offices of Juventus, Italy’s most successful club, were raided by police last Friday amid an investigation into transfer dealings between 2019 and 2021.
News
Infantino defends Wenger’s plan for football, saying game is at a ‘critical juncture’
By Paul Nicholson
November 28 – Gianni Infantino has repeated his case for a World Cup to be held every year. Speaking to Asia’s member associations at the Asian Football Confederation congress, held virtually at the weekend, he argued that the game needed to be more global and that it needed to be kept relevant.
Crypto.com becomes Copa Libertadores sponsor and Conmebol’s NFT partner
November 29 – Conmebol has agreed a multi-year partnership with Crypto.com as an official partner of its showcase club competition, Copa Libertadores.
FIFA sets Club World Cup UAE 2021 date for Feb 3-12
November 29 – FIFA has set the dates for the postponed Club World Cup 2021 to 3 to 12 February 2022. The eight-team draw will take place today.
Palmeiras retain Copa Libertadores title with extra time win over Flamengo
By Samindra Kunti in Montevideo, Uruguay
November 28 – With a dramatic extra-time goal from substitute Deyverson, Palmeiras defeated Flamengo 2-1 to retain their Copa Libertadores title and win the competition for a third time in the club’s history.
End of the road: Portugal and Italy on track for winner-takes-all Qatar 2022 decider
By Andrew Warshaw
November 26 – Almost unthinkably, next year’s World Cup finals in Qatar will be conspicuous by the absence of either four-time winners and current European champions Italy or Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Swiss judiciary nominates two special prosecutors to re-start Infantino criminal probe
November 26 – The Swiss criminal investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his involvement with disgraced former federal prosecutor Michael Lauber looks set to resume, this time with two special prosecutors rather than one.
Motsepe ‘excited’ by Super League plan, and endorses Cameroon’s AFCON hosting
By Samindra Kunti
November 26 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and its president Patrice Motsepe, at the confederation’s congress today, have further endorsed the creation of a continental Super League, but provided little detail on the competition. Motsepe also reaffirmed CAF’s commitment to Cameroon hosting the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in January.
Rangnick poised for Man Utd interim role
November 26 – Manchester United are poised to appoint Ralf Rangnick as interim manager in succession to Ole Gunnar Solksjaer.
Kenyan prosecutors drop case against FA boss Mwendwa
November 26 – In response to threats of a ban by FIFA, Kenyan authorities have dropped their legal case against the president of Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Nick Mwendwa (pictured).
Napoli sign cryptocurrency Floki to shirt-back sponsorship
November 26 – Serie A club Napoli has agreed a back-of-shirt sponsorship with cryptocurrency token Floki which will initially take them through to the end of the season.
Flamengo and Palmeiras in Montevideo for all-Brazil Copa Libertadores showdown
By Samindra Kunti in Montevideo, Uruguay
November 26 – After a two-month wait, ups-and-downs and a defeat looming like a major end-of-season crisis, Palmeiras and Flamengo, two super clubs at home, will crown the 2021 Copa Libertadores winners in an all-Brazilian blockbuster.
Danish journalists’ union warns members of dangers reporting Qatar 2022 World Cup
November 26 – Denmark’s Union of Journalists is urging its members not to travel to Qatar to cover next year’s World Cup, saying the country cannot be trusted in the wake of two Norwegian reporters being arrested.
IFAB rules out 25 min halftime, but 5 subs rolls on
November 26 – Football’s lawmakers have rejected a proposal to increase halftime breaks to 25 minutes to provide the kind of entertainment that exists in US sports.
Conmebol scrap away goals rule with immediate effect
November 26 – Following in the footsteps of European governing body UEFA, Conmebol will scrap the away goals rule from its competitions with the aim of introducing greater sporting ‘justice’.