Wales turn to Giggs to lead national team, again
January 15 – Former Manchester United and Wales star Ryan Giggs has been appointed manager of his national team on a four-year contract in succession to Chris Coleman.
Performance
French league suspends goal-line technology after failures cross the reliability line
January 12 – The French football league (LFP) has suspended the use of goal-line technology due to a series of errors.
De Bryune and Hazard debut in UEFA fans’ team of 2017. No slot for Kane
January 11 – Forget the often over-contrived confederation year end awards, surely a real vote is one cast by the people? If so, then the UEFA.com Fans’ Team of the Year 2017 is what really counts with a record (and remarkable) 8.77 million votes cast, an increase of 1.6 million over 2016.
News analysis: Wenger outgunned in New Year cup of unkindness
By Andrew Warshaw
January 8 – When the draw is made for the last 32 of the world’s oldest and most revered domestic cup competition this evening, the name of one club will be conspicuous by its absence in the famous velvet bag.
Brighton and Crystal Palace to test VAR in FA Cup tonight
January 8 – Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology makes its long-awaited debut in English football tonight when Brighton face Crystal Palace in the last of the FA Cup third-round fixtures.
Hodgson adds voice to VAR suspicions as technology set to debut in FA Cup
January 5 – Former England manager Roy Hodgson has warned that the introduction of video technology in English football will not necessarily be a positive move judging by recent instances of controversy elsewhere.
Leeds enter Bravo’s new world with Aspire hook-up
January 4 – In what they describe as a “unique partnership”, Leeds United, one of English football’s most iconic clubs striving to return to the top flight from the second-tier Championship, have joined forces with Qatar’s famed Aspire Academy in order to bring about “long term benefits to the club’s on the field performance.”
Juve progress in Coppa Italia, but is VAR showing signs of job-costing regression?
January 4 – Here we go again. Juventus reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over neighbours Torino who were incensed at yet another example of video technology seemingly going wrong.
Pillow talk. Spurs put Mammoth deal to bed
December 20 – Tottenham Hotspur have signed a deal North East health and wellbeing company Mammoth Mattresses, who will become the Official Mattress and Pillow Supplier of the Premier League Club.
Barca top club list of leading international players, Man Utd and Spurs follow
December 19 – Barcelona players are more likely to be key players for their countries than those at Manchester United, Spurs, Bayern Munich or Juventus. A survey of minutes played by national A team players in 2017 saw Barca players rack up 139 matches and 10, 846 minutes.
Looking for an edge. Spurs adds vitamins supplement supplier to partner programme
December 19 – Sports supplement supplier Healthspan has added Tottenham Hotspur to their roster of Premier League clubs alongside Southampton. The also supply Nottingham Forest in the Championship.
Zidane doesn’t want any cards for Christmas as Real face Al Jazira at Club World Cup
December 13 – Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is praying that none of his players pick up red and yellow cards in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Man City dominate top 10 players lists; Aguero and Otamendi top their positions
December 12 – The CIES Football Observatory has ranked the top 10 performers in the Big 5 European leagues so far this season in eight positions. Four leagues have players filling top positions, only the Bundesliga fails to have a position leader.
Real Madrid vs PSG, Juve vs Spurs headline Champions League last 16 match-ups
December 11 – Real Madrid will have to overcome one of the teams of the moment if they want to achieve a hattrick of Champions League crowns.
Video ref reversal sees Frankfurt’s Wolf recalled from dressing room to continue playing
December 11 – Trials of assistant video referees in the German Bundesliga threw up yet another controversial case at the weekend when a player had actually left the field after being sent off before being called back on.