New home for new FIFA? Infantino wants move to Paris, say French reports
January 29 – Unconfirmed rumours suggest FIFA is thinking about moving its headquarters from Zurich to Paris in the latest power play by Gianni Infantino.
League football returns to Sierra Leone but Johansen’s team declines to play
January 29 – League football has returned to Sierra leone despite the country still being suspended internationally by FIFA.
FIFA releases first $25m to CBF for 2014 legacy fund
By Samindra Kunti
January 29 – FIFA and the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) have confirmed the release of the money for $100 million 2014 World Cup legacy fund. The world governing body had up to now repeatedly refused to release the money over compliance concerns.
South Sudan to host international in Uganda as Juba stadium is refurbed
January 29 – South Sudan’s Football Association (SSFA) has revealed that the country’s national teams will stage all their international matches this year in Uganda’s capital Kampala.
Man City owners CFG take lead role in $115m Sapphire Ventures investment fund
January 29 – Sapphire Ventures has raised $115 million for a new sport venture capital fund and has Manchester City owners, City Football Group (CFG) as one of its cornerstone backers.
LFP orders Marseilles to play behind closed door after firecracker incident
January 29 – Marseille have been ordered to play home fixtures behind closed doors until officials have finished investigations into a firecracker that was thrown on to the pitch during their last league game against Lille.
Asian Cup semi-final stats: UAE vs Qatar head-to-head
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 28 – The two arch rivals will meet today in what the stats suggest should be a fairly even encounter. UAE have defeated Qatar twice in the AFC Asian Cup and Qatar defeated UAE once in their three continental encounters.
War Games2: UAE vs Qatar preview
January 28 – Qatar’s captain Hassan Al Haydos has said his team have what it takes to reach the final of the 2019 Asian Cup as they face hosts the United Arab Emirates in yet another match that mirrors the geopolitical showdown in this fascinating tournament.
Queiroz calls time on his Iranian adventure
January 28 – Carlos Queiroz has stepped down as coach of Iran after his team crashed out of the Asian Cup 3-0 against Japan. In recent weeks the Portuguese has been linked to the Colombia national team vacancy.
Japan stun Iran with a 3-0 lesson in staying focussed
Iran 0 Japan 3
By Paul Nicholson
January 28 – Japan stunned Iran and their fans into silence with an outstanding second half performance to win 3-0 in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, UAE, tonight.
Exclusive: FIFA presidential election – European rival prepares to take on Infantino
By Paul Nicholson
January 28 – A European rival to Gianni Infantino is preparing an election campaign to topple the FIFA president at the next congress this June in Paris.
Al Araibi and FIFA’s new found politically moral compass
By Paul Nicholson
The alacrity of FIFA’s move to call on stakeholders to find a solution to the detention of part-time footballer Hakeem Al Araibi in Thailand shows a remarkable new found conscience and morality in an organisation that eschews a philosophy of never mixing politics and football.
Pinto lawyer says Football Leaks whistleblower is a groundbreaking case for Europe
January 28 – The man behind a string of incriminating leaks that shook the footballing world over the past few weeks “is absolutely aware” of the earthquake he has triggered according to his lawyer.
Infantino buddy Chiyangwa rallies COSAFA support for presidential election
By Andrew Warshaw
January 28 – Southern African countries have thrown their full weight behind FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s bid for re-election in June, a somewhat pointless exercise given that, as things stand now at least, he is the sole candidate for the job although, as revealed exclusively today in Insideworldfootball, a European rival to Infantino is being lined up.
China’s LionRock Capital buys Thohir’s 31% stake in Inter Milan
January 28 – Inter Milan is now under full Chinese ownership with private-equity fund LionRock Capital having the 31.05% stake retained in the club by in Indonesian Erick Thohir when he sold to Chinese electronics retailer Suning Commerce Group in 2016.