Poland’s Ekstraklasa joins the rush to esports with 16-club league launch
February 27 – Poland’s Ekstraklasa has confirmed it will be added to the FIFA Global Series with all 16 of the top tier teams competing.
Spain loses Euro U17 hosting and jeopardises UEFA backing for 2030 World Cup bid
February 26 – Spain’s hopes of gaining UEFA support for a 2030 World Cup bid has taken a potential political hit after European football’s governing body stripped them of hosting qualifying games of the Under-17 European Championship for refusing to recognise the national symbols of Kosovo.
Kiwis join Australia, Japan and SA in 2023 Women’s World Cup bidding race
By Samindra Kunti
February 26 – New Zealand have expressed their interest in hosting the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Last week FIFA launched the bidding process with Japan, Australia and South Africa among the other member associations that have declared an interest so far.
Sala crash pilot did not have a commercial license
February 26 – The pilot of the light aircraft which crashed into the English Channel killing both himself and the sole passenger, Cardiff City’s new striker Emiliano Sala, did not have a licence for commercial flights, investigators say.
Spanish clubs win EU tax ruling on ‘state aid’ case
February 26 – A European court has delivered a legal victory for Barcelona, Real Madrid and two other top Spanish clubs annulling a 2016 EU state aid ruling that had penalised them over tax breaks.
Messi tops ‘dribbling’ ranking, Hazard has highest ‘success rate’
February 26 – French-trained players dominate a ranking of players who dribble the most in the Big-5 Leagues but Lionel Messi is still the master with the ball at his feet and tops the ranking over the past year.
Arsenal and Fantastec launch collectibles app based on blockchain and gamifiction
February 26 – Sports technology innovator Fantastec has launched an app for Arsenal fans aloowung them to own and trade genuine digital Arsenal collectibles.
Ticket sales open for Poland U-20 World Cup
February 26 – Ticket sales for the U-20 FIFA World Cup began on Monday as Visa cardholders got an exclusive window to apply for matches at the first-ever FIFA competition to be staged in Poland.
Just another storm in Chelsea’s teacup: Kepa keeps his place but loses a week’s wages
February 26 – So much for a mere misunderstanding. Chelsea’s Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has been fined a week’s wages and apologised for refusing to be substituted during Sunday’s English League Cup final defeat by Manchester City, an incident which made global headlines.
Rosell starts trial facing prosecutors’ call for 11 years in Spanish jail and €60m fine
February 25 – The high-profile trial of Sandro Rosell, the former Barcelona strongman who is accused of money laundering related to television rights and sponsorship of the Brazilian national football team, finally got under way today with Spanish prosecutors seeking an 11-year prison sentence plus a fine of nearly €60 million.
FIFA’s big bosses strip Peru of October’s U17 World Cup hosting
February 25 – Yet another country has been stripped of hosting rights but this time it is not a regional competition but, unusually, FIFA’s very own under-17 World Cup due to be staged in just eight months’ time.
Brazilian clubs vote to bring in VAR and bring back Supercup
February 25 – Brazilian elite football has adopted VAR for the upcoming 2019 season after a unanimous vote in favour of the video review technology. Next year the Supercup will be reintroduced, but a measure to limit teams to firing one coach per season was rejected.
Gazprom boss Dyukov takes over as RFU president
February 25 – The end of an era in Russian football has been confirmed with Alexander Dyukov, chief executive of oil giant Gazprom, named as Vitaly Mutko’s replacement as president of the Russian Football Union (RFU).
LaLiga becomes official partner of World Cup organisers Beach Soccer Worldwide
February 25 – Beach Soccer Worldwide, organisers of FIFA’s Beach Soccer World Cup, have signed LaLiga as an Official Global Partner until the end of the 2020/2021 season.
A$5m name game: Fox and FFA lock horns over new ‘Melbourne-ish’ franchise
February 25 – Australian club Western United’s decision to not incorporate ‘Melbourne’ in its name could cost Football Federation Australia (FFA) A$5 million in annual TV rights as Fox Sports seeks to challenge its obligation to increase future payments for the broadcasting deal.