North Korea dumps Yun and appoints Jo as it heads to Asian Cup
December 30 – North Korea is reported to have replaced suspended head coach Yun Jong-su with his predecessor Jo Tong-sop (pictured) for next month’s Asian Cup in Australia.
World Football
Scotland’s Hibs open up club ownership to fans with share offer for 51%
By Paul Nicholson
December 30 – Scottish Championship club Hibernian is giving the opportunity to its fans to become 51% owners with a new share issue. The club also announced that as part of the restructuring it is now free of bank debt.
Levski fans’ Trust wins seat on board and now wants the CEO’s job
By Alexander Krassimirov
December 30 – The Supporters Trust of Bulgarian club Levski, ‘Blue Bulgaria’, has called for their representative on the club’s Board to be appointed as CEO. The demand has not been dismissed by Levski owner Todor Batkov but early indications are that he will not make a management change.
Wambach and Navas top CONCACAF 2014 Awards roster
December 29 – CONCACAF has announced its 2014 annual awards winners with inspirational Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas and US goalscorer Abby Wambach winning the vote for the Male and Female Players of the Year.
Platini gets clear run at 3rd UEFA term and puts ‘white’ cards on the agenda
By Andrew Warshaw
December 29 – The deadline for rival candidates may have passed with little fanfare because of the Christmas holiday period but it is now clear that UEFA president Michel Platini, as expected, will run unopposed for re-election when his term expires at the UEFA Congress in Vienna at the end of March.
Aguirre says he is innocent of match-fixing as attention turns to Asian Cup
December 29 – Japan’s national team coach Javier Aguirre has broken his silence over allegations of match-fixing when he worked in Spain with a passionate defence of his conduct and reputation.
Jailed Vietnamese match-fixers banned for life from playing
December 29 – Vietnamese football authorities have imposed their latest crackdown on match-fixing, banning nine players for life for rigging an Asian club game.
Houston change manager and USL partner for a different dynamic
December 29 – Houston Dynamo, of the MLS, has changed its game face with two big announcements in the run in to Christmas. Firstly, they secured Owen Coyle’s services as Head Coach. Secondly, they have switched USL affiliates.
Omani Sultan poised to take over Belgian top tier club
By Samindra Kunti
December 29 – The Sultanate of Oman is set to become a majority shareholder in Belgian Jupiler Pro League club Mouscron-Peruwelz. As a result, French club Lille OSC will end its partnership with the Belgian club.
Niersbach outlines 10-year plan for German football
By Mark Baber
December 23 – Nothing succeeds like success and German Football Association (DFB) president, Wolfgang Niersbach has channeled the sense of triumph following his countries World Cup triumph, laying out an “ambitious” 10-year plan to keep Germany at the centre of world football.
Czech Hradec Kralove earmarks €9m for stadium revamp
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
December 23 – FC Hradec Kralove has unveiled plans to spend CZK 246 million (€9m) on modernising its stadium. The Czech club aims to launch the upgrade of the sports facility in 2016.
Exclusive: CAF chiefs snub Morocco at Club World Cup final
By Andrew Warshaw
December 23 – Morocco’s refusal to stage next month’s Africa Cup of Nations is understood to have been behind Africa’s most prominent FIFA officials embarrassingly snubbing last Saturday’s Club World Cup final in Marrakesh. Several African members of FIFA’s executive committee were conspicuous by their absence at FIFA’s showpiece climax between Real Madrid and San Lorenzo.
Johansen battles to retain Sierra Leone control as ‘betting’ group attempts coup
By Andrew Warshaw
December 23 – The president of Sierra Leone’s football association has come out fighting against those she says are unlawfully plotting to force her out of office with an attempted coup.
Egypt to re-open stadia for league matches after 3-year fan ban
December 23 – For the first time since the Port Said massacre in February 2012, when 74 Al Ahly fans were killed at a league match, the gates to club stadiums will be opened again to supporters for the second part of the Egyptian Premier League.
Japanese seek more information as pressure on Aguirre mounts pre-Asian Cup
December 23 – Japan’s Football Association has sent a delegation to Spain to get more information about the match-fixing scandal that has embroiled national team coach Javier Aguirre.