CAF launches African Club Association with focus on driving club sustainability
December 1 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched the African Club Association to empower the continent’s clubs and represent their interests.
World Football
Police arrest 39 in violent clashes with Legia Warsaw fans ahead of Aston Villa ECL tie
December 1 – Thirty-nine people were arrested and four police officers hurt in clashes with Legia Warsaw fans in the build-up to Thursday’s Europa Conference League game at Aston Villa.
CSB sells York United franchise to Game Plan Sports Group who go ‘all in’ on Canadian league
December 1 – Canadian Soccer Business (CSB), the commercial arm of the Canadian Premier League (CPL), has sold the York United FC franchise to Game Plan Sports Group with the deal coming into effect immediately.
Depleted Reggae Girlz scrape a point against Panama to keep a lifeline to W Gold Cup open
December 1 – Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz, who in the summer reached the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand, have missed out on automatic qualification for next year’s inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup after a 1-1 draw with Panama at home.
UEFA gathers federations for third regional anti-matchfixing forum in Athens
December 1 – UEFA joined forces with the Hellenic Football Federation (HFF), the Council of Europe, the International Olympic Committee, Interpol and the Greek National Platform for Sport Integrity (EPATHLA) for a series of meetings and workshops – tagged Sport Integrity Week – that focused on fighting match-fixing.
English FA and government combine for £30m grassroots facilities fund for women’s teams
November 30 – A day after the English FA formally announced the breakaway of the top tier Women’s Super League, the governing body has announced a £30 million fund for grassroots women’s football in England.
UEFA agree Euro 2024 bookmaker deal with Betano
November 30 – Following in the footsteps of FIFA, UEFA has teamed up with Betano, who will become the European confederation’s betting partner for Euro 2024.
Swiss coach Yakin gets vote of confidence for Euro 2024
November 30 – Switzerland coach Murat Yakin has kept his job for next year’s European Championship after the national federation resisted calls to fire him.
EFL appoints Cook to drive EFL Trust’s charitable work
November 30 – Former Grimsby Town CEO Debbie Cook has taken on the role of the English Football League’s (EFL) Director of Community, tasked with overseeing the operational management of the EFL Trust, the organisation’s charitable arm.
DBU turns spotlight on FIFA to ensure host nations respect human rights
November 29 – The Danish FA (DBU) has said that in the future the organisation will direct their criticism toward FIFA and not host countries of the World Cup in a bid to hold the world federation more accountable.
VAR official removed after Newcastle penalty blunder as UCL groups go down to the wire
November 29 – The VAR official who awarded Paris St. Germain a controversial stoppage-time Champions League penalty against Newcastle on Tuesday night has been removed from duty by UEFA for another fixture tonight.
IFAB greenlights ‘sin bin’ trials and proposes only captains can approach referees
November 29 – The lawmakers of world football have approved proposed trials whereby only the team captain may approach the referee, and for sin bins to be tested at a higher performance level.
Women’s Super League agrees breakaway from the FA
November 29 – Hailed as the start of a new era, the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship – the top two tiers of the game in the UK – have agreed to take over the running of the professional football in England from the 2024-25 season.
Leverkusen complain of mid-season loss of five players to AFCON finals in January
November 29 – Bayer Leverkusen president Fernando Carro says he wants a debate about holding the African Cup of Nations in the middle of the European season.
Concacaf reveals venues and schedule for inaugural 2024 W Gold Cup
November 9 – The inaugural 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup will be played across three venues in Southern California and one in Houston.