Concacaf sets dates for first two rounds of 2024 Champions Cup
December 20 – Concacaf has announced the schedule for the revamped 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One and Round of 16 matches.
World Football
Report shows rise in referee abuse, England extend bodycam trial
December 19 – Allegations of serious offences against match officials in English grassroots football increased slightly last season compared to 2021-22, figures show.
Atlanta to host 2024 SheBelieves Cup, opening at 89,000 capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium
December 19 – Atlanta, the future home of the US national team training centre, will be the host city for the ninth SheBelieves Cup.
Sheffield United review of Cusack death finds no wrongdoing but ‘processes’ to be reviewed
December 19 – An external investigation into the events leading up to the death of Sheffield United midfielder Maddy Cusack found “no evidence of wrongdoing”.
FIFA slaps transfer ban on Botev Vratasa for failing to pay Brambilla’s wages
December 19 – Bulgaria’s top tier clubs continue to struggle with financial issues with Botev Vratsa being the latest to break financial rules. FIFA have imposed a transfer ban on the club over its failure to pay the wages of former player, Brazilian Lucas Brambilla.
UCL draw: Serie A and LaLiga clash as Inter draw Atletico, and Barca meet Napoli in last 16
December 18 – Holders Manchester City were handed arguably the easiest tie in the last 16 of the Champions League after being paired with FC Copenhagen, while Spanish heavyweights Barcelona will face Napoli as today’s draw kept Europe’s giant clubs apart.
Fleetwood Haiya ends Walter Nyamilandu’s 19-year Malawi presidency
December 17 – Fleetwood Haiya (pictured) has been elected the new president of the Malawi FA (FAM), bringing to an end the longstanding reign of Walter Nyamilandu.
Ankaragucu’s hard-hitting president Faruk Koca banned for life
December 15 – The former president of Turkish top flight club Ankaragucu, Faruk Koca, has been handed a permanent ban by the Turkish Football Federation for punching a referee that has drawn widespread revulsion.
VAR error contributed to Espanyol regulation, rules Spanish court
December 15 – In a rare case of seeking justice for a wrong VAR decision, a Spanish judge has ruled in favour of Espanyol whose relegation in May was partly precipitated by a ‘ghost’ goal scored by opponents Atletico Madrid.
Turkish SuperLig to return Dec. 19 after attack on referee Meler; government reviews sports laws
December 14 – The Turkish FA (TFF) have said that all its football leagues will resume play on December 19 after matches in Turkey were postponed indefinitely following the assault by Ankaragücü president Faruk Koca on referee Halil Umut Meler after the end of the Rizespor match.
UEFA bans Legia Warsaw fans for five matches after Villa violence
December 14 – Legia Warsaw have been banned from selling tickets to their travelling fans for five European away games as a result of the violent scenes that marred their recent Europa Conference League defeat at Aston Villa.
Peru fire Reynoso after poor start sees them bottom of Conmebol 2026 qualifying
December 14 – Peru have dismissed their coach Juan Reynoso following a disappointing start to their 2026 World Cup qualifiers campaign.
Ednaldo Rodrigues loses court appeal over his removal from CBF presidency
December 14 – Rio de Janeiro’s Superior Court of Justice (STJ) has thrown out Brazilian FA (CBF) boss Ednaldo Rodrigues’ appeal after a lower court removed him from the presidency.
Houston vs St Louis and Tigres vs Vancouver headline Champions Cup first round draw
December 14 – The all MLS match-up of Houston Dynamo vs St Louis City and the LigaMX vs MLS tie between Tigres UANL and Vancouver Whitecaps were the stand-out first round fixtures in the draw for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup yesterday.
Ecobank joins AFCON 2024 sponsorship roster with 30 days to go to Cote d’Ivoire kick-off
December 14 – Pan-African banking group Ecobank has become an official sponsor of the Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 that kicks off 13 January 2024.