Somalia launches regional league as national plan takes shape
January 4 – The Somali Football Federation has inaugurated its first ever regional football league in the port city of Kismayo, about 500 kilometers south of the capital Mogadishu.
Korea opens up tickets sales for U-20 World Cup final tournament
January 4 – Korea has announced the opening of general tickets sales for the upcoming U-20 World Cup finals to be held in the country in May and June 2017.
Chelsea top New Year attendances as famine becomes feast
January 3 – After the famine came a feast. With Premier League fans made to wait for seven days before festive football came to their stadia, they are now engulfed in a jam-packed schedule that saw Round 19 fixtures on December 31, roll straight into Round 20 fixtures on January 2.
Villar still riding his Spanish corruption storm with elections now likely in April
By Paul Nicholson
January 3 – The postponed elections for the presidency of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) now look set to take place in April after reports that controversial current president Angel Maria Villar has found common ground in disputes with the Spanish sports ministry and its new Secretary of State for Sports, Jose Ramon Lete.
CBF chases $100m legacy money but FIFA refuses to hand it over
By Samindra Kunti
January 3 – The Brazilian Football Confederation, the CBF, wants to rekindle their relationship with FIFA, because the governing body still owe the confederation $100 million from the 2014 World Cup legacy fund, but the presence of CBF president Marco Polo Del Nero is proving to be an obstacle.
Man City team with Google for second hackathon
January 3 – Manchester City have announced dates for a second ‘hackathon’, this time in conjunction with Google. The event will take place February 10-12 at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
Kuwait’s exile to continue as IOC refuses to end suspension
January 3 – Kuwait’s exile from the international football wilderness, including 2018 World Cup qualifying, looks set to continue after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) refused to temporarily lift its suspension on the Gulf state that has now been in place for 14 months.
The New Saints soar to new record, beating Ajax’s winning streak
January 3 – A tiny Welsh team have won a glorious place in the global footballing record books after beating the longest winning streak in top-flight football set by Johan Cruyff’s Ajax 44 years ago.
Southgate warms to England task with view to delivering knock-out punch
January 3 – New England manager Gareth Southgate says he would love to be the man to end the country’s record as the great under-achievers despite having a squad full of Premier League millionaire footballers.
FIFA and the emperor’s new clothes. 2016, a terrible year for ‘integrity’
By Paul Nicholson
December 30 – Gianni Infantino’s triumphant pre-Christmas claim that FIFA was now close to being an integrity-credible organisation was met with thinly veiled amusement in many quarters – not least the press worldwide who dutifully re-reported the FIFA president’s latest musings. There is of course a far more credible integrity viewpoint. “It has been an awful year of integrity in sports,” says Michael Hershman.
AEK and Panathinaikos owners refuse to meet their player and coach debts
By Lefteris Charalampopoulos
December 29 – They claim to be extremely wealthy. They are owners of football clubs and controversial businessmen. Dimitris Melissanidis, owner of AEK Athens, and Giannis Alafouzos (pictured) of Panathinaikos, have money but they have failed to meet their payment obligations to their players and coaches.
FIFA pressured after UN resolution demands end to Israeli settlements in West Bank
December 30 – The United Nations resolution condemning Israeli settlements has heaped pressure on FIFA to resolve the issue of Israeli lower-league clubs based in the occupied West Bank, according to Human Rights Watch.
Ronaldo turns down €100m from China to stay at Real Madrid
December 30 – World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo turned down the chance to leave Real Madrid for a staggering 300m Euros to join the flow of expensive talent towards China according to his agent.
EFL clubs feel the Christmas love as fans flock to matches
December 30 – The English Football league (EFL) has reported record Christmas attendances with more than half a million football fans going to the Boxing Day round of fixtures boosting average attendances to higher than some of Europe’s biggest leagues.
Anderlecht profits slip as Oostende sees debt rise as it makes its title challenge
December 30 – KV Oostende have accrued a loss of €7 million in the 2015/16 book year, with the Belgian club’s debts mounting to €23.4 million. In comparison Anderlecht reported a net profit of €1.6 million.