Adidas see red. UEFA opens up referees kit contract to new suppliers
January 30 – The stranglehold that German leisurewear and kit manufacturer had Adidas over the UEFA’s competitions looks to be gently releaseing.
Dortmund bus bomb victim Bartra testifies to lucky escape
January 30 – Marc Bartra, Borussia Dortmund’s Spanish defender injured when the team bus was bombed last April, says he is lucky to be alive.
No gifts, no bungs, no collusion. Is 2026 World Cup the most boring FIFA vote ever?
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – As serious lobbying for the 2026 World Cup gets under way, FIFA has reminded its federations not to break strict new guidelines when it comes to their dealings with the two contenders ahead of the vote in June.
Beckham’s Miami MLS franchise launched with south Florida fanfare and 2020 target
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – It’s taken over four years but it’s finally happening. Not rumours, not heightened speculation but from the man himself. David Beckham’s long-awaited team in Miami is up and running.
From Sochi to Saint Petersburg – via Grozny. Russia’s 2018 World Cup base camps
By David Owen
January 30 – Twenty years have passed since I was dispatched on one of those hardship assignments: a visit to L’Ecole Nationale Supérieure de la Pâtisserie in a quiet little town noted for its brioches in La France profonde.
Mexico end 8 years of US dominance to take CONCACAF U20 Women’s title
January 30 – Mexico broke the four-championship winning streak of the US to take their first-ever CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s title at the weekend in Trinidad. A 4-2 penalty shoot out win made it third final lucky for the Mexicans who had lost to the US in 2010and 2014.
Obituary: Martin Wagner, a football entrepreneur and a special friend
January 29 – The respected media lawyer, entrepreneur, father to three children, dedicated husband and a man of vision, Dr Martin Wagner, was brutally slain on Sunday, January 28, 2018 in his home outside Basel, Switzerland.
VAR debate ignited again as match changing decisions start to change the game itself
By Andrew Warshaw
January 29 – Far too long delays, questionable judgements, wrong decisions, contrasting opinions. The global debate over whether to introduce video technology – which FIFA president Gianni Infantino is determined to do before the World Cup – shows no sign of abating following yet more controversy at the weekend.
Vietnam’s U23s inspire the nation but fall in the final minute to Uzbek strike
By Samindra Kunti
January 29 – In freezing and snowy conditions Uzbekistan clinched the AFC U-23 Championship with a dramatic extra-time winner from substitute striker Andrey Sidorov to break Vietnamese hearts in Changzhou, China. Despite the loss the Vietnamese team were still received as heroes back home.
Indian I-League leaders Minerva Punjab report matchfixers attempts on players
January 29 – One of India’s biggest clubs has written to their governing body claiming two of their players have been approached via social media to fix matches.
Italy’s Serie A enter €950m a year TV deal talks with Spain’s Mediapro
January 29 – Italy’s Serie A is in talks with Spain’s Mediapro on a €950 million deal for the 2018-2021 seasons. This follows a breakdown in discussion with Sky Italia who had not met the €1.05 billion minimum set by the league’s advisor Infront.
FIFA grounds jet-set culture reducing spending by 88%, finds report
January 29 – A confidential report commissioned by FIFA president Gianni Infantino into the organisation’s financial workings before he took over from Sepp Blatter has uncovered an eye-watering spending spree by the old guard, most of whom have now been forced out including Blatter and his one-time right-hand man, Jerome Valcke.
CHAN reaches semis with hosts Morocco, Libya, Nigeria and Sudan still standing
January 29 – Hosts Morocco and surprise package Sudan progressed to the last four of the African Nations Championship. Nigeria and Libya are the other semi-finalists.
City Football Group boosts sales effort with CAA sports hook up
January 29 – City Football Group (CFG), the expanding ownership group that includes Manchester City and New York City FC, has increased its commercial representation reach via a partnership with CAA Sports.
AFC to stick to home and away if Qatari, Saudi and UAE teams matched up in ACL
January 29 – The AFC’s executive committee has restated its decision that Champions League match-ups between Qatari, Saudi and UAE clubs will be played on a home and away basis despite an ongoing political and economic blockade of Qatar by its neighbours.