Asian Cup Final: Qatar vs Japan head-to-head stats
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
February 1 – Qatar is appearing for the first time in the AFC Asian Cup finals and will take on the 4-time Asian Cup champions Japan.
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Asian Cup Final preview: Japan vs Qatar
By Samindra Kunti
January 31 – First-time finalists Qatar will seek to make national history on Friday in the final of the Asian Cup by overcoming continental powerhouse Japan. The Samurai Blue will aim for a record fifth continental crown in a final that is predicted to go down the wire.
Palestine lawyer asks if FIFA’s new human rights agenda is just a callous political tool?
By Paul Nicholson in Abu Dhabi
January 31 – FIFA’s rush to become involved in the civil extradition case of Australian refugee, Bahraini passport holder and part-time football Al-Araibi has again raised questions over the validity and motivations of FIFA’s human rights policy.
Vega says no corporate boardroom in the world would accept FIFA’s lack of transparency
By Paul Nicholson
January 31 – Ramon Vega, the former player and businessman who is challenging for the FIFA presidency, has said that lack of financial transparency would be unacceptable in any corporate boardroom anywhere in the world.
Qatar’s Al-Khelaifi poised to take seat on UEFA’s exco via PSG and ECA
By Andrew Warshaw
January 31 – A highly sensitive spanner has been tossed into the workings of UEFA’s annual congress next week with Paris St-Germain supremo Nasser Al-Khelaifi set to join the organisation’s executive committee despite his club being under financial investigation and he himself being embroiled in a criminal case.
Spain reopen case into Abidal’s alleged trafficked organ liver transplant
January 31 – Spanish authorities have reopened proceedings into the bizarre and still seemingly murky case of the liver transplant undergone seven years ago by former French international defender Eric Abidal, saying new evidence has come to light suggesting a trafficked organ was used.
UAE protest eligibility of Qatar’s Almoez and Al Rawi and demand AFC Final spot
By Paul Nicholson in Abu Dhabi
January 31 – The UAE Football Association has formally protested against the eligibility of two Qatari footballers who played in the Asian Cup semi-final on Tuesday.
Uzbek’s cool and quiet official set to make Asian Cup history
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 31 – Uzbek’s Ravshan Irmatov has officiated more matches in the history of the Asian Cup than any other referee, having taken charge of 13 matches in a record four Asian Cup final tournaments.
Exclusive: Ramon Vega closes in for assault on FIFA’s presidential palace
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – Former Swiss international Ramon Vega has confirmed he is “actively considering” launching a challenge to Gianni Infantino for the Fifa presidency in June.
Sala’s family raise cash to keep up search for missing plane
January 30 – The family of missing Cardiff City forward Emiliano Sala have hired a private company, paid for by fundraisers, to carry on looking for the 28-year-old after rescue workers finally called off the official search last week for the light aircraft that was carrying him to his new club but disappeared off the English Channel Island of Guernsey.
Digital streamer FloSports grabs exclusive rights to Concacaf Nations League in US
January 30 – Concacaf have agreed an exclusive broadcast rights deal with digital streaming service FloSports for the new Concacaf Nations League which will start in March.
CAF cock-up as Comoros call for Cameroon to be cut
January 30 – Having been stripped of the right to stage this summer’s African Nations Cup, Cameroon are now facing a move to ban them altogether.
Tempers fray, shoes fly, as Qatar hand 4-0 drubbing to Asian Cup hosts UAE
UAE 0 Qatar 4
By Paul Nicholson
January 29 – Qatar comprehensively beat Asian Cup hosts UAE 4-0 in what ended up a bad tempered semi-final at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Qatar now go on to meet Japan in Friday’s final.
Qatar and goalkeeper Saad Al-Sheeb post new Asian Cup record
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 29 – Qatar’s goalkeeper Saad Al-Dosari posted a new continental record having maintained a successive clean sheet with his country’s national team in 6 successive matches, complete 540 minutes in the Asian Cup 2019.
Banned Bwalya let back into FIFA and CAF families after appeal reduces his sentence
By Andrew Warshaw
January 29 – FIFA has staged a rare u-turn by reducing the two-year ban on Zambia’s former African Footballer of the Year, Kalusha Bwalya (pictured).