December 9 – For the first time in 18 years Barcelona have been eliminated from the Champions League before the knockout stage after being humbled 3-0 by Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
December 9 – Technical director Marc Overmars has extended his contract at Ajax Amsterdam until 2026. He has held the role since 2012.
December 9 – Brazilian legend Pele is back in hospital, for follow-up for treatment for a colon tumour.
December 8 – The Confederation of African Football has dismissed rumours that next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) could be moved away from Cameroon following the recent discovery of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.
December 8 – Major League Soccer has unveiled plans for the debut of its third tier league, MLS Next Pro, that will start play in 2022 with 21 clubs.
December 8 – AC Milan CEO Ivan Gazidis has defended a controversial plan to demolish the iconic San Siro and replace it with a €690 million stadium to ensure the club’s future.
December 7 – The president of Italian top-flight side Sampdoria is stepping down with immediate effect after being arrested for alleged involvement in fraudulent bankruptcy cases.
By Samindra Kunti
December 7 – Belgian football has banned away fans until the end of the year following a weekend of disorder across grounds, with incidents at Standard Liege and in the Antwerp derby.
December 7 – The German Football Association is investigating England midfielder Jude Bellingham’s comments criticising the referee during Borussia Dortmund’s weekend defeat to Bayern Munich.
December 7 – Alfredo Whitaker has been re-elected as Cayman Island FA president for a new 4-year term taking him through to 2025.
December 6 – Barcelona’s vital Champions League visit to Bayern Munich this week, one of the showpiece games of the group stage, is being played behind closed doors as new Covid restrictions begin to bite in the wake of the latest increase in cases.
December 6 – With FIFA’s December 20 global summit to discuss the biennial World Cup proposal creeping closer by the day, another European parliamentary body has issued a football governance report that slams the plan as well as coming out unequivocally against the lingering European Super League proposition.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 6 – South African officials insist they will not give up the fight after FIFA dismissed their request to have a crucial World Cup qualifier against Ghana replayed because of alleged match-fixing by the officials.
December 6 – Portugal’s two top clubs, Porto and Sporting, are among eight clubs fined by UEFA for financial fair play breaches.
December 6 – The United Soccer League, operator of tier two and three men’s professional leagues in the US, has announced a 30th team to join the USL W League for the 2022 inaugural season.