Canada 5 Honduras 0
June 17 – Canada over the past six years have forced their way into Concacaf’s elite but have so often flattered to deceive. They are the team everyone quite likes but have never delivered the championship title their talent screams for. Re-adjust everyone.
A new UEFA club benchmarking report has landed, studded with new illustrations of the still widening chasm between the wealthiest members of the European – and world – financial club football elite and the rest of the continent’s more than 700 top-flight teams.
January 21 – The outcry over the treatment of Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly intensified over the weekend when Napoli slammed the decision by Italian football authorities to reject his appeal against being sent off despite widespread recognition that he suffered racial abuse.
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 20 – Oman’s captain Ahmed Kanu missed a penalty after 2 minutes, 24 seconds from the starting whistle, in his country’s 2-0 defeat against Iran in the round 16 encounter in the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in ~Abu Dhabi. Iran passed through to the quarter final.
By David Owen
January 20 – In this loadsamoney era for top-tier football, Crystal Palace stands out as a club that has managed nonetheless to retain close links with the community that spawned it. So it is not altogether surprising that of all Premier League outfits it should be the Eagles who have teamed up with their local council to provide some practical midwinter help for the homeless.
Iran 2 Oman 0
By Paul Nicholson in Abu Dhabi
January 20 – Iran reconfirmed themselves as favourites for the Asian Cup with a powerful 2-0 win over a battling Omani side. They could easily have won by five.
Jordan 1 Vietnam 1
Vietnam win 4-2 on penalties
By Paul Nicholson
January 20 – Vietnam became the first team into quarter finals of the Asian Cup, beating Jordan 4-2 on penalties after their last 16 tie ended 1-1 at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.
January 19 – The first games of the AFC Asian Cup last 16 knockout rounds begin today with Jordan facing Vietnam, Thailand vs China and Iran against Oman.
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 18 – With the Group Stage of the UAE Asian Cup 2019, statistics having come to an end, statistics show that players wearing shirt number 19 are topping the goal scoring list so far in the continental competition.
January 18 – Jose Mourinho has broken his silence since being sacked by Manchester United last month after the club’s worst start in decades, saying he will return as a top-flight manager and that his legacy will be defined by his trophies.
January 18 – Barcelona could be thrown out of the Copa del Rey for fielding suspended defender Chumi Brandariz (pictured) in their last-16 first leg defeat after opponents Levante said they would lodge a complaint with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
January 18 – Europe’s 710 top-division clubs earned a record €20.11 billion in revenues between them in the 2017 financial year although almost half of that amount was accrued by just 30 of them, according to UEFA’s annual Club Licensing Benchmarking report.
January 18 – A Ghanaian undercover journalist has been shot dead following an exposé about a massive corruption scandal in African football.
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 18 – Two goals from Almoez Ali, the young Qatari striker who is rapidly becoming the star of this tournament, made many personal, national and continental records as well as setting a number of new Qatar records.
January 17 – AS Monaco’s Russian president Dmitry Rybolovlev has committed to the long term future of the club with a spend of €55 million on key infrastructure projects, the centerpiece of which will be Center for Sporting Excellence at La Turbie FC.
January 18 – Germany’s FC Köln has bought into esports team SK Gaming alongside sponsor Mercedes-Benz. No value was given for the investment.