December 29 – Officials from the United States, Canada and Mexico are likely to meet next year to discuss a joint bid for the 2026 World Cup, according to CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani.
December 29 – FIFA will continue to “put pressure” on Qatar over the treatment of migrant workers helping to build World Cup stadiums for the 2022 tournament, says Gianni Infantino.
“Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies.” Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, JK Rowling
There is something magical about Notts County. They are the world’s oldest league football club, formed six generations ago in 1862, and although relatively few in world football might be acquainted with the Magpies, their impact on the global game is undeniable.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 28 – Despite fierce opposition from Europe’s clubs and the danger of the quality being diluted, FIFA’s member federations are “overwhelmingly in favour” of plans for a 48-team World Cup, almost certainly starting in 2026, according to Gianni Infantino.
December 28 – Perenially challenged, and challenging, midfielder Joey Barton has been charged by the English FA of betting on 1,260 games over the last decade and in breach of the FA’s rules on betting.
December 28 – China has decided to cut the permitted quota of overseas players in domestic teams from five to four in an effort to slow down the escalating demand for expensive foreign stars to the detriment of the development of local talent.
December 28 – Nigerian football’s internal wranglings have come to the fore again following reports that the candidature of federation president Amaju Pinnick (pictured), for a seat on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee may be under threat.
December 28 – The warm-up for the Beach Soccer World Cup in the Bahamas in 2017 starts with the 2017 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship February 20-26 which will qualify two teams for the World Cup.
December 28 – It was always a somewhat risky appointment. But before he had managed to get his feet firmly under the table, Bob Bradley, the first American coach to take charge of a top-flight English club, has been shown the door at Swansea City after only 85 days.
December 28 – He may have only been England manager for 67 days but he was only out of the game thereafter for less than three months.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 23 – Gianni Infantino insists FIFA is a more financially transparent and credible organisation under his leadership despite the ongoing US-led anti-corruption probe and the stream of negative headlines in the early days of his presidency.
December 23 – FC Barcelona, part of a multi-pronged Spanish football assault force on the commercial opportunities provided by the US market, have said they are looking to set up a professional women’s team in the country and are in discussion with the US Soccer Federation (USSF) to do so.
December 23 – The protracted sale of AC Milan to Chinese group Sino-Europe Sports (SES) took another subtle twist yesterday when SES President Yonghong Li assured media that the sale is going ahead and that if they can’t release the money from China they have an alternative plan.
December 23 – Bundesliga challengers RB Leipzig have announced they have agreed a deal to buy Leipzig’s Zentralstadion – renamed the Red Bull arena – and that they will expand the capacity from its current 42,558 to 57,000 as well as extend hospitality facilities.
December 23 – One of European football’s famous names could disappear entirely from the professional game after Romania’s defence ministry won a court case against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday.