January 17 – Human Rights Watch has spotlighted “a legacy of widespread migrant labor abuses” in Qatar following the 2022 World Cup and “widespread abuses under the kafala system on PIF-funded projects” in Saudi Arabia, the host of the 2034 World Cup.
January 17 – A complaint accusing Saudi Arabia of abusing migrant workers has been deemed admissable by the Geneva-based International Labour Organisation amid fears this could increase as the country prepares to host the 2034 World Cup.
January 17 – Several Belgian top flight clubs are exploiting loopholes in the country’s new gambling legislation to promote betting operators, prompting the Belgian gaming commission has opened an investigation.
January 17 – Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out has written a powerful letter to FIFA boss Gianni Infantino asking what action, if any, was being taken over a video posted on social media by Chelsea’s Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez last year featuring an alleged “racist and transphobic” chant against French players.
January 17 – FIFA, on Thursday, launched ticket sales for the knockout round of its revamped 32-team Club World Cup with final tickets starting at an eye-catching $633.
January 17 – Manchester City has secured the long-term future of their goal-scoring phenomenon Erling Haaland, with the Norwegian striker signing a bumper nine-and-a-half-year contract extension, announced this morning.
January 17 – A US consortium, fronted by real estate investor Al Tylis and Club Necaxa executive Sam Porter, and featuring Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney (pictured), has acquired over 99% of Colombian football team Club Deportivo Seguros La Equidad.
January 17 – Cypriot national player Elena Aristodimou (pictured) has sharply criticised the Cyprus Football Federation for its attitude towards women’s football in the country and the lack of any development in the last few years.
January 16 – Panama FA president Manuel Arias has been banned for six months by the FIFA Ethics committee for fat-shaming comments he made in an interview about the country’s star women’s striker Marta Cox after Panama were knocked out of the group stage of the Concacaf W Gold Cup last March.
January 17 – While Angel City FC (ACFC) have not won anything on the pitch, anything they do off the pitch is big news, and that trend continues with the announcement that the club has appointed Mark Parsons as the team’s new sporting director ahead of the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season to oversee all matters related to soccer operations.
January 17 – La Liga club Deportivo Alavés has extended its sponsorship with Elproex Industrial, already a sponsor of the women’s and youth teams this season, to include the men’s first team.
January 17 – The AFC will hold the draw next Thursday for the group stage of the U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025, to be played April 3-20.
January 17 – The announcement that the entire country of England has been anxiously awaiting has finally happened. Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will be the new Match of the Day (MOTD) presenters from next season, the BBC has announced.
January 16 – US private equity fund Presidio Investors have completed their takeover of storied Italian club Hellas Verona.
January 16 – Yet another scandal is brewing at the Spanish FA (RFEF), this time involving its former president Angel Maria Villar, once one of the most influential figures in FIFA and UEFA who is back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.