Everton escape further points deduction for financial foul play
January 20 – Everton have avoided another points deduction with a complaint brought by the Premier League regarding spending rules being discontinued.
Gold Cup 2025
USA clinch last four slot with penalty win over Costa Rica
USA 2 Costa Rica 2 (USA win 4-3 on pens)
June 29 – You’d hate to use the word ‘sterile’ to describe a Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final, but following the drama and passion of Guatemala versus Canada, it all felt a little flat as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Costa Rica kicked off for the right to face Guatemala in St. Louis. After 90 minutes and the drama of penalty kicks,
French federation plans to turn Championnat National into Ligue 3 for 2026/27 season
January 20 – French football’s third tier is set for a dramatic makeover, with the Fédération Française de Football (FFF) announcing plans to transform the Championnat National into a professional Ligue 3 by the 2026-2027 season.
EFL objects to its Welsh clubs competing in Welsh League Cup
January 20 – Last week, as reported in IWF, the Welsh clubs, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport and Wrexham were hopeful that they could open up lucrative pathways to Europe by competing and winning the Welsh League Cup. The wish now looks to be blocked by the Football Association.
Top European women’s clubs see revenue growth break €100m as sponsor and UEFA money grows
January 20 – The top 15 women’s clubs in Europe have passed the €100 million revenue mark for the first time, with cumulative revenues of €116.6 million in the 2023/24 season – a 35% year-on-year growth.
RFEF president apologies for harassment of Mallorca players’ wives at Super Cup in Saudi
January 17 – Spanish FA (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan has apologised for the treatment that the wives of Mallorca players suffered from Saudi Arabian fans during the recent Spanish Super Cup.
FIFA bans Venezuelan Manuel Alvarez for five years and fines him $1m
January 20 – FIFA has banned Manuel Álvarez, one-time general secretary of the Venezuelan FA, for five years for financial wrongdoing and fined him nearly $1 million.
British football mourns passing of Man Utd and Scotland great, Denis Law, aged 84
January 20 – Known simply as ‘The King’ by Manchester United fans, Denis Law, the last surviving member of the club’s so-called ‘holy trinity’ along with Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best, has died aged 84.
Referee activates anti-racism protocol after Barca’s Balde abused at Getafe
January 20 – FC Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde has openly condemned the racist slurs he received during the club’s 1-1 draw with Getafe on Saturday night at the Coliseum stadium.
Courting couple: PSG and San Antonio Spurs agree collaboration
January 20 – The lines between sports are narrowing, and French super club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is leading the way as they begin a collaboration with five-time National Basketball Association (NBA) World Champions, the San Antonio Spurs.
Sixth Street hire England’s Kay Cossington to lead Bay Collective’s multi-club proposition
January 20 – Sixth Street, the global investment firm and lead backer of Bay FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), has announced that Kay Cossington, will join the company as Head of Global Women’s Football and CEO of Bay Collective, a groundbreaking multi-club organisation dedicated to advancing women’s football. Bay Collective is set to officially launch later in 2025.
Decision on a new Old Trafford to be made at end of season
January 20 – The Manchester United stadium saga could be closer to resolution as the club are set to decide whether to build a new temple to the Red Devils or redesign the aging edifice that is their spiritual home, Old Trafford.
TFF strikes TV deal with HT Spor for lower tier leagues until end of season
January 20 – The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has signed a TV rights agreement with broadcaster HT Spor for Nesine 2nd League and Nesine 3rd League matches. The agreement will run until the end of this season in June.
Bundesliga and Intersnack combine for funny-frisch business
January 20 – Bundesliga International and Intersnack Deutschland SE, the company behind the popular snack brand funny-frisch, have signed a long-term partnership agreement, making funny-frisch an official partner of both the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2.
Belgium part company with Tedesco and Serneels
January 20 – Belgium have dismissed Domenico Tedesco (pictured) as their manager following disappointing results at last summer’s European championship and in the subsequent Nations League. The Belgian FA (RBFA) also fired Yves Serneels, the long-standing manager of the women’s national team.
HRW report warns that kafala labour system is alive and killing in Saudi and Qatar
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.