By Andrew Warshaw
November 26 – It should have been a celebration of the most prestigious and important club match of the entire South American football calendar, eagerly anticipated by millions of armchair television viewers as well as fans those of the two teams involved.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 26 – In a move that seems likely to generate considerable opposition, especially in Europe, and smacks of financial vested interests, FIFA have been asked by Conmebol to consider staging the World Cup every two years.
November 26 – Can there ever be redemption after losing a World Cup semi-final 7-1 on home soil? Perhaps not, but Luiz Felipe Scolari must have felt a measure of satisfaction as he led Palmeiras to the Brazilian championship on Sunday, just months after having joined the Sao Paulo club.
November 26 – Mali progressed to the knockout phase of the women’s African Cup of Nations for the first time in seven attempts at the expense of hosts Ghana in group A. Reigning champions Nigeria, South Africa and Cameroon complete the semi-final line-up.
November 26 – FIFA gave the go-ahead for two Russian players to take part in the World Cup even though the Russian Football Union (RFU) had listed them as suspected dopers, according to email exchanges in the latest information provided by the Football Leaks website and widely reported over the weekend.
November 26 – The English Football League’s Championship clubs, still furious at the £595 million TV rights deal signed by the league with Sky Sports, were sent a message from Sky’s managing director Barney Francis that the money is a fair offer and the only one that was on the table.
November 26 – The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has signed a three-year agreement with streaming platform Footters to broadcast matches from the Segunda B and Tercera División.
November 26 – Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has strongly denied a doping infraction following a report that he allegedly breached the rules after the 2017 Champions League final in Cardiff.
November 26 – Manchester City, generally a first-mover wherever digital touches football, has signed a global multi-year partnership with Acronis, who will become the club’s Official Data Backup and Storage Partner.
By Paul Nicholson
November 23 – The controversial player signings that propelled Woverhampton Wanderers into and up the Premier League, and the influence of Portuguese agent Jorge Mende on the club have again been thrown into the spotlight after more emails from the Football Leaks cache were made public by Der Spiegel.
By Paul Nicholson
November 23 – Dutch clubs in the Eredivisie have agreed a package of reform measures that will increase the revenue distribution amongst its clubs and a requirement for them to invest deeper in youth training programmes.
November 23 – In a move designed to stop cynical time-wasting, players will leave the pitch at the nearest goalline or touchline when substituted rather than walk, sometimes at a snail’s pace, to the technical area under new proposals recommended by football’s lawmakers.
November 23 – On Saturday Argentina will come to a standstill as River Plate host Boca Juniors in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final. A fortnight ago, the teams shared the spoils, 2-2.
November 23 – The 11-member Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is backing FIFA President Gianni Infantino for re-election as his predecessor Sepp Blatter has called for an investigation into Infantino’s conduct.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 23 – One of Cyprus’ most iconic and celebrated players, Sevim Ebeoglu, who perhaps more than anyone epitomised what it would have meant for football on both sides of the divided island to be re-integrated, has died at the age of 87.