New home for new FIFA? Infantino wants move to Paris, say French reports
January 29 – Unconfirmed rumours suggest FIFA is thinking about moving its headquarters from Zurich to Paris in the latest power play by Gianni Infantino.
News
League football returns to Sierra Leone but Johansen’s team declines to play
January 29 – League football has returned to Sierra leone despite the country still being suspended internationally by FIFA.
FIFA releases first $25m to CBF for 2014 legacy fund
By Samindra Kunti
January 29 – FIFA and the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) have confirmed the release of the money for $100 million 2014 World Cup legacy fund. The world governing body had up to now repeatedly refused to release the money over compliance concerns.
South Sudan to host international in Uganda as Juba stadium is refurbed
January 29 – South Sudan’s Football Association (SSFA) has revealed that the country’s national teams will stage all their international matches this year in Uganda’s capital Kampala.
LFP orders Marseilles to play behind closed door after firecracker incident
January 29 – Marseille have been ordered to play home fixtures behind closed doors until officials have finished investigations into a firecracker that was thrown on to the pitch during their last league game against Lille.
Asian Cup semi-final stats: UAE vs Qatar head-to-head
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 28 – The two arch rivals will meet today in what the stats suggest should be a fairly even encounter. UAE have defeated Qatar twice in the AFC Asian Cup and Qatar defeated UAE once in their three continental encounters.
War Games2: UAE vs Qatar preview
January 28 – Qatar’s captain Hassan Al Haydos has said his team have what it takes to reach the final of the 2019 Asian Cup as they face hosts the United Arab Emirates in yet another match that mirrors the geopolitical showdown in this fascinating tournament.
Queiroz calls time on his Iranian adventure
January 28 – Carlos Queiroz has stepped down as coach of Iran after his team crashed out of the Asian Cup 3-0 against Japan. In recent weeks the Portuguese has been linked to the Colombia national team vacancy.
Japan stun Iran with a 3-0 lesson in staying focussed
Iran 0 Japan 3
By Paul Nicholson
January 28 – Japan stunned Iran and their fans into silence with an outstanding second half performance to win 3-0 in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, UAE, tonight.
Exclusive: FIFA presidential election – European rival prepares to take on Infantino
By Paul Nicholson
January 28 – A European rival to Gianni Infantino is preparing an election campaign to topple the FIFA president at the next congress this June in Paris.
Infantino buddy Chiyangwa rallies COSAFA support for presidential election
By Andrew Warshaw
January 28 – Southern African countries have thrown their full weight behind FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s bid for re-election in June, a somewhat pointless exercise given that, as things stand now at least, he is the sole candidate for the job although, as revealed exclusively today in Insideworldfootball, a European rival to Infantino is being lined up.
CAF agrees to pushing date of AFCON back to avoid Ramadan
January 28 – Having been controversially awarded this summer’s African Nations Cup despite a history of fan violence, Egypt has gained yet more concessions from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Home support: UAE buys all remaining tickets as temperatures raised for Qatar semi-final
January 28 – The Abu Dhabi Sports Council has snapped up all the remaining tickets for the AFC Asian Cup semi-final to be played in the 42,000 capacity Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
AFC semi-final stats: Japan vs Iran head-to-head
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 28 – Though it is the fourth time in the AFC Asian Cup, it will be the first time the two Asian giants have met in the knock out stage. Iran and Japan have previously met three times in group stage of the continental tournament.
Queiroz promises Iranian style, Moriyasu says Japan are maturing
January 28 – Just 90 minutes and a win against Japan separate Iran from the final of the Asian Cup, a competition they have not won since 1976, but Carlos Queiroz has stressed that Iran must stay true to themselves to overcome a major test against the four-time record champions.