Big mistake: Lazio fire falconer after posting dick pic online
January 15 – Lazio have fired the person who handled the Italian club’s eagle mascot after he posted photos and videos online of his prosthetic erect penis.
News
Barca president Laporta moans of conspiracies trying to ‘destabilise’ club
January 15 – Barcelona president Joan Laporta has defended his administration’s handling of the Dani Olmo case as he lashed out against an alleged campaign to tarnish the club’s image.
Barca raises €100m in cash for 9,600 long term season tickets in new Camp Nou
January 15 – FC Barcelona’s financial difficulties are well documented, and the search for cash has at times seemed like a selling of the family jewels, however the club announced that they have eased financial concerns after raising an initial €100 million ($102m) from the sale of 30-year ‘season tickets’ in the VIP section of its revamped Camp Nou stadium.
Klopp defends German criticism of his Red Bull role
January 15 – Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has hit back at critics of his new job as Red Bull’s head of global football.
Wrexham revise plans for Racecourse Ground to match club’s growing global demand
January 15 – Hollywood’s favourite football club, AFC Wrexham, is set to submit revised designs for a new 5,500-capacity stand at the Racecourse Ground to the local council at the beginning of next month.
Steve Bould quits Belgium’s Lommel SK
January 15 – Citing ‘personal reasons’, Englishman Steve Bould has departed his managerial role at Belgium’s Lommel SK, one of the City Football Group clubs.
Cyprus’ Omonia Nicosia asks CFA for foreign refs for remainder of season
January 15 – One of the most decorated Cypriot football clubs, Omonia Nicosia, has sent an official request to the Cyprus Football Federation (CFA) to have all of the team’s matches officiated by foreign referees until the end of the season.
ECA hires Nick Noble to head comms and marketing
January 15 – The European Club Association has hired football media and communications specialist Nick Noble as its new chief communications and marketing officer.
German court rules clubs must cover costs of match-day policing
January 14 – In a landmark ruling, a German court has established that football can be billed for the costs of policing during high-risk matches.
More trouble at Barca as dealmaker Guiu exits over Nike differences
January 14 – Despite winning the Supercopa in Saudi Arabia beating their El Classico rivals, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona still have more than their fair share of backroom drama. A key Barca management figure, vice president Juli Guiu has resigned, effective immediately.
German FA renews Coca-Cola sponsorship and styles up with Marc O’Polo fashion brand
January 1 – The German Football Association (DFB) has unveiled a new multi-year partnership with Scandinavian clothing brand Marc O’Polo, naming it the official fashion partner for its men’s and women’s senior and under-21 national teams.
Saudi fans harass Mallorca players’ wives leaving King Adbullah Sports City stadium
January 13 – The wives of Mallorca players have said they were harassed after the club’s Spanish Super Cup game in Saudi Arabia.
UEFA reaches out to sister confederations with Together development programme
January 13 – UEFA has announced the launch of a new international initiative, UEFA Together, aimed at fostering the development of football worldwide via partnerships with its sister confederations and their national federations.
FA Cup drama sees Spurs struggle past Tamworth and 10-man Man Utd out-gun Arsenal on penalties
January 13 – They came close to abject humiliation in what would have been one of the greatest FA Cup upsets of all time.
Barca hammer Real Madrid to win Spanish Super Cup in Saudi
January 13 – Not many neutrals saw this coming given the respective form of the two teams.