By James Dostoyevsky
After months of research, discussions, and hearings, after a Herculean effort to “do the right thing” (as the present Tory government in the UK regularly tells everyone it is doing), the mountain has given birth to Mighty Mouse.
February 22 – Under-fire French football chief Noel Le Graet has come under further pressure to resign permanently following an intervention by a high-profile colleague within the French federation (FFF).
February 24 – The MLS has announced a multi-year extension of its kit partnership with Adidas that sees the sports and leisure brand supply every MLS team.
February 24 – The Russian Football Union’s (RFU) has had its appeal to the Swiss Supreme Court over the suspension of its national teams and clubs from international tournaments dismissed as it missed the deadline.
February 23 – In a massive shakeup of the governance of English professional football, an independent regular has been confirmed by the government with widespread powers to ensure the financial sustainability of clubs – and, crucially, stop teams from joining any breakaway European Super League.
February 23 – England’s Lionesses retained the Arnold Clark Cup on Wednesday by thrashing Belgium 6-1, the perfect tonic for the European champions in the build-up to the World Cup this summer.
February 23 – English football authorities have begun trialling body cameras on referees in grassroots leagues to help “improve participant behaviour and respect towards referees”.
February 23 – The MLS has revamped its play-off format, increasing the number of teams that qualify as well as bringing in a new best-of-3 series at the first round.
February 23 – Ali Abdi Mohamed is the new president of the Somali FA. He was elected unopposed at the third time of asking and will serve a four-year term.
February 22 – Spanish clubs have jointly expressed their concern over reports that for years Barcelona paid a company owned by a former Catalan referee almost €1.4 million for “technical advice”.
February 22 – Brazil’s former Barcelona star Dani Alves has had a request to be released from jail on bail rejected by a Spanish court as the investigation into an alleged sexual assault continues.
February 22 – The body of Hatayspor sporting director Taner Savut (pictured) has been recovered more than two weeks after the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria in which more than 47,000 people have died.
February 21 – She may not have much chance of success but when Lise Klaveness runs for a position on UEFA’s executive committee in April, she will attempt to change years of male domination.
February 21 – England’s men’s and women’s teams are to play Australia in a unique international friendly double for charity later this year.
February 21 – The betting business is not generally regarded as being the most sensitive or caring sector of the sports business but Swedish state gaming company Svenska Spel has teamed up with the Swedish FA to tackle one of the biggest taboos in the women’s game.