Sorokin steps up at Russia 2018 to fill gap left by Mutko
January 5 – Vitaly Mutko’s humiliating decision to step down as head of Russia’s World Cup organising committee in the wake of the ongoing doping scandal is now official.
ISL shambles as Goa rush from airport for 11pm kick-off in Kolkata
By Samindra Kunti
January 5 – The Indian Super league descended into farce after FC Goa’s match against Atletico de Kolkata was forced to kick off at 11pm after the team were stranded when their flight from Goa to Bengal was delayed. Eventually, the game kicked off at 11pm with the visitors salvaging a draw.
Salah wins CAF player of year award as Ahmad drops two awards to focus on ‘best’
January 5 – Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah won the 2017 CAF African Football Player of the Year Award. Egypt’s Hector Cuper was named Coach of the Year and for a third time Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala won the Women’s Player of the Year award.
Ivorian clubs plot Diallo’s removal over failure to qualify for Russia 2018
January 5 – The failure of the Ivory Coast to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia continues to have a knock-on effect off the field with a raft of clubs calling for an extraordinary general meeting of the national federation and the removal its president Augustin Sidy Diallo.
Belounis settles with Qatari club after QPA steps in to mediate
By Andrew Warshaw
January 5 – Zahir Belounis, the French-Algerian footballer whose tortuous saga of being “trapped” in Qatar against his will made him an international cause celebre, has finally reached a financial settlement in his long-running dispute with Qatar Stars League team El Jaish Sports Club.
Chinese keep transfer fee ‘tax’ in place for winter 2018 window
January 5 – The Chinese FA (CFA) has moved to further strengthen its domestic football infrastructure repeating its policy of restricting transfer fees during the 2018 winter transfer window and at the time announcing a restructuring of its management and organisation nationally with the recruitment of new middle managers.
Hodgson adds voice to VAR suspicions as technology set to debut in FA Cup
January 5 – Former England manager Roy Hodgson has warned that the introduction of video technology in English football will not necessarily be a positive move judging by recent instances of controversy elsewhere.
Barca beat Real on TV income as Tebas shoots for €2.3bn with LaLiga’s next deal
January 5 – LaLiga has released details of its broadcast income and its club distribution. TV income rose year-on-year to in €1.247 billion from 1.237 billion, with Barcelona being the top club earner with €146.2 million.
West Ham’s bubbles fly high as Saints attendances plummet alongside their form
January 5 – The first Premier League fixtures of the New Year, round 22 of the season, saw nine clubs report stadiums over 94% full. Only on the South coast where Southampton were having a generally miserable holiday period, did crowds dip below 90%.
Bility denies FIFA are investigating and says he knows nothing of the missing $600k
By Paul Nicholson
January 4 – The Liberian FA (LFA) and its president Musa Bility have hit back saying that the pre-Christmas visit to their country by a FIFA team of financial investigators was in fact a compliance audit and not a forensic audit tasked with investigating financial corruption in Liberian football.
Man City top global financial power ranking, Arsenal 2nd, PSG 3rd and Guangzhou Evergrande 4th
January 4 – Runaway English Premier League leaders Manchester City have more financial clout than any other club in world football, according to a new study commissioned by global sports event organisers Soccerex.
RFU to put Moscow forward as host for 2021 Beach Soccer World Cup
By Mark Baber
January 4 – The Russian Football Union (RFU) is to nominate Moscow as host of the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, according to deputy president Sergei Anokhin.
Leeds enter Bravo’s new world with Aspire hook-up
January 4 – In what they describe as a “unique partnership”, Leeds United, one of English football’s most iconic clubs striving to return to the top flight from the second-tier Championship, have joined forces with Qatar’s famed Aspire Academy in order to bring about “long term benefits to the club’s on the field performance.”
Juve progress in Coppa Italia, but is VAR showing signs of job-costing regression?
January 4 – Here we go again. Juventus reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over neighbours Torino who were incensed at yet another example of video technology seemingly going wrong.
FIFA to investigate racial abuse at U17 World Cup final
January 4 – FIFA have launched an investigation into racial discrimination after England under-17 striker Rhian Brewster made a complaint about a teammate being abused in the under-17 World Cup final.