CAF Champions League kicks off with expanded format
February 10 – The 2017 Total CAF Champions League kicks off with the preliminary round today. For the first time the tournament will have 16 participants in the group stages.
Man Utd to launch paid mobile streaming app to global fanbase
February 10 – Manchester United are to launch a premium streaming app targeting fans outside the UK with the club’s MUTV channel. The app will be available in 160 countries with pricing levels between £1.49 and £4.99.
FA disputes ‘no confidence’ motion, as Crouch offers lifeline but warns time is running out
February 10 – The English Football Association has been warned “the clock is ticking fast” after a motion of no confidence into its ability to reform itself was passed during a British Parliamentary debate.
Man City gives Man Utd a red face on Facebook, as Hull find friends everywhere
February 10 – Man City looks like they may have found their saviour on the pitch in Gabriel Jesus whose arrival in Manchester has sparked a reinvigoration of Pep Guardiola’s missionary zeal. And their disciples are flocking to worship with yet another massive leap in followers with 104,900 new Facebook likes this week.
New York City FC and San Antonio FC hook up for 2017 affiliate deal
February 10 – MLS side New York City FC (NYFC) and USL club San Antonio FC have announced a partnership from the 2017 season that will make each club the other’s affiliate. The partnership will cover both playing and commercial departments.
Ceferin stakes claim to 16 World Cup slots, one per group, and we’ll see who is best
By Andrew Warshaw
February 9 – The thorny issue of how FIFA plans to regionally distribute slots when the World Cup finals are expanded to 48 teams in 2026 took another twist today when UEFA demanded that European teams be kept apart early on.
Ceferin pushes UEFA reform, adds women’s unit and walks club/league tightrope
By Andrew Warshaw
February 9 – True to his word in the wake of his stunning election victory last September, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has announced sweeping changes to the organisation’s governance structure, highlighted by term limits and a ban on anyone outside senior national association positions from joining UEFA’s inner sanctum.
Man Utd revenues boosted by jump in TV and match day monies
By Paul Nicholson
February 9 – Broadcast and match-day revenues have driven another set of improved Manchester United financial results with revenue of £157.9 million for the quarter ending December 31, a £24 million increase on the same quarter in 2015. For the sixth month period Man Utd are up almost £21 million on the comparable 2015 figure, to £278.1 million.
Rummenigge says better to kill off FIFA’s Club World Cup than try to grow it
By Andrew Warshaw
February 9 – The head of the umbrella body representing Europe’s clubs has issued another stern rebuke against FIFA president Gianni Infantino, this time over the proposed expansion of the Club World Cup.
No joke: Italian judge throws out anti-Semitic Roma case
February 9 – In a hugely controversial judgement that has caused outrage amongst the Italian Jewish community, two Lazio fans have been acquitted by a judge despite being caught on camera singing explicitly anti-Semitic chants at rival Roma supporters.
Tevez, Poyet and big money Shanghai Shenhua crash out of Asian Champions League
February 9 – Money doesn’t always talk loudest. China’s big-spending Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC, spearheaded by expensive new signing Carlos Tevez and with former Premier League manager Gus Poyet in charge, have apologised to fans after being dumped out of Asia’s top club competition by Australian underdogs Brisbane Roar.
PepsiMax to activate Champions League sponsorship with ‘moments’ campaign
February 9 – PepsiCo is activating its Champions League sponsorship with a series of videos and ads promoting its Pepsi Max brand celebrating the dedication of football fans.
Afghans take first steps on AFC development pathway and in club competition
February 9 – Afghanistan may not be able to host international matches but the process of football development knows no boundaries and Afghan football administrators for the first time took part in their own series of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) workshops this week in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe.
Greek court overturns sports committee sanction of Marinakis and Olympiacos
By Paul Nicholson
February 7 – The various charges against Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis – some legally and others through the media – are rapidly dropping away one by one. The latest charge to be reversed was by the Greek Administrative Court of Appeal in support of the positions of Olympiacos and Marinakis.
Qatar spending £500m a week on World Cup 2022 infrastructure
February 8 – Qatar’s World Cup organisers are splashing out a staggering $500 million every week on major infrastructure projects, the country’s finance minister has admitted.