By Paul Nicholson
February 26 – The already precarious future of the North American Soccer League (NASL) now looks even more uncertain after the US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit denied the NASL’s appeal to obtain a preliminary injunction that would have reinstated its status as a Division 2 league for the 2018 season.
February 26 – Former French international midfielder Samir Nasri is set to be banned by UEFA for six months because of an intravenous drip treatment he took at a Los Angeles clinic in 2016 whilst on holiday according to his lawyers.
February 26 – Beer brand Carlsberg, a partner of the English FA for the past 22 years, will not renew its sponsorship after the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup.
February 28 – More than 200 betting industry experts will be sharing their knowledge and opinions on a wide range of subjects in and around football and betting at next month’s Betting on Football.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 23 – With the Moroccan government having already stated its support for the country to stage the 2026 World Cup, US president Donald Trump is being urged to issue the same guarantees, with bid books due to be handed over to FIFA in mid-March.
By Mark Baber
February 23 – The South American Football Federation (CONMEBOL) is set to tender television and commercial rights of the 2019 Copa América tournament which has been expanded by six teams to include invited nations from CONCACAF and UEFA.
By Samindra Kunti
February 23 – League reform was high on the agenda at a meeting of Belgian’s Pro League following plenty of discontent over the play-offs system, which was introduced in the 2009/10 season. A 14-team league in the current format with play-offs has been mooted as viable future alternative.
February 23 – Manchester United may dominate rival clubs (excluding Barcelona and Real Madrid) on the social media platforms they are on, but they are generally not innovators in the digital arena. They didn’t even have an official YouTube channel – until yesterday.
February 23 – Here we go again. You can count on one hand the countries where instances of racism in European football are still prevelant and Italy is one of them.
February 23 – English Football League clubs have voted in favour of falling into line with the Premier League and shutting the summer transfer window closer to the start of the season so that everyone knows their squads before the big kickoff, a move that has long been debated across the professional game.
February 23 – A police officer has died of a heart attack following violent clashes between rival fans before Athletic Bilbao’s home Europa League match against Spartak Moscow on Thursday.
By David Owen
February 22 – Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has come out in favour of Morocco’s bid for the 2026 World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – Amid accusations of double-standards and favouritism, FIFA has staged a rare u-turn by lifting its ban on member federations and regions publicly endorsing one or other of the two candidates bidding to stage the 2026 World Cup – provided both bidders are given the same opportunities to promote their credentials.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – FIFA is reportedly closely monitoring the conduct of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in using football as a political tool against 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar.
By Paul Nicholson
February 22 – The next round of sentencing has begun in the US Department of Justice case against football’s corrupt officials and marketing partners with Panama-based Mimo International Exports and Imports ordered to pay a fine and restitution totalling $1.4 million for bribing Costa Rica’s former FA president Eduardo Li (pictured).