By Paul Nicholson
December 11 – The debate over gambling ads in the UK has intensified with League One side Luton Town saying it has rejected sponsorship from betting companies while Sky CEO Stephen van Rooyen (pictured) has argued that banning gambling ads from being broadcast during matches will only drive that marketing spend online.
December 11 – Chelsea have taken immediate action following the foul-mouthed abuse perpetrated towards Manchester City’s England forward Raheem Sterling last weekend by banning four fans pending an investigation.
December 12 – African football’s leadership will decide on January 9 who will replace Cameroon as hosts of next year’s African Cup of Nations in June and July, giving them only six months to prepare.
December 11 – Adidas have signed their first eFootball sponsorship deal focussed on the Chinese market with Olympique Lyonnais backed Lyon EDG for their FIFA Online 4 team.
December 11 – The USL League One, the new third tier professional league that starts play end March next year, has released its 2019 fixture season schedule, that will see its 10 teams playing 28 games each.
By Samindra Kunti in Madrid
November 10 – River Plate won the Copa Libertadores for a fourth time by defeating arch rivals Boca Juniors 3-1 in extra-time on Sunday in the dramatic, rearranged final in Madrid. But even this finale was subject to a last gasp appeal to CAS by Boca to suspend the match.
December 12 – World champions the United States have another mouth-watering clash with old rivals Sweden at next year’s women’s World Cup in France following the draw held at the weekend.
December 10 – Gianni Infantino’s $25 billion ambition to reshape the entire landscape of world football has taken a decisive step after FIFA confirmed that a task force set up to examine plans for an expanded Club World Cup and a global version of the Nations League held its first meeting on Sunday to look at possible formats, dates and slot allocations.
December 10 – FIFA is to send a delegation to observe the forthcoming and increasingly bitter Zimbabwe football federation elections pencilled in for December 16.
December 10 – Two days after PSG issued a statement saying it would be selling neither Neymar or Kylian Mbappé to avoid any potential financial fair play sanctions, the Qatar National Bank (QNB) has announced star striker Neymar as its Global Brand Ambassador.
December 10 – Chinese Super League Jiangsu Suning have signed Korean electronics brand Samsung as a main sponsor for three seasons starting with the 2019 season.
December 10 – Gianni Infantino has confirmed that FIFA will definitely decide in March whether the 2022 World Cup in Qatar can be expanded to 48 teams, though the likelihood of the concept being brought forward from the 2026 tournament appears to be receding.
September 7 – Former Guatemala football chief and one-time FIFA executive committee member Rafael Salguero avoided a jail term when he was sentenced on Thursday to time served, releasing him from house arrest following his role in the FifaGate corruption scandal.
December 7 – The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) has reacted furiously to the latest curve ball thrown by African football chief Ahmad Ahmad.
By Samindra Kunti in Madrid
December 7 – On Sunday, at last, the final of all finals will come to an end as River Plate and Boca Juniors face off for glory in the Copa Libertadores in Madrid. Governing body Conmebol shifted the game over security concerns to the Spanish capital, where a huge security operation is underway.