ECA slams 48 team World Cup as a political not football decision
January 10 – Despite losing the battle over FIFA’s decision to expand the World Cup finals, the European Club Association (ECA) says it is still vehemently opposed to the idea.
FIFA Council rubber stamp Infantino’s push for 48-team World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
January 10 – It’s official. Despite strong opposition from Europe’s clubs, the World Cup will be expanded to 48 teams as of 2026 after FIFA’s new ruling Council decided unanimously today to open up the finals to 16 more countries in a major victory for FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Twitter: Everton join the 1m club as Toon Army mobilises
January 10 – With the Premier League breaking for FA Cup matches last weekend, the clubs’ twitter activity saw a slight decline though the number of new followers to clubs saw little impact with Manchester United putting on 76,000 new followers and Arsenal 62,800.
Uganda and Zimbabwe finally clear money hurdles on route to AFCON in Gabon
By Samindra Kunti
January 10 – Zimbabwe and Uganda have both faced financial problems that at one point looked to threaten their participation of the African Cup of Nations, but the two countries are now set to play at the tournament in Gabon.
US Club Soccer boss Payne calls for culture change as NSCAA opens its doors
By Paul Nicholson
January 10 – Tomorrow the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) opens their annual conference in Los Angeles, the largest soccer convention in the world and the largest coaching convention of any sport worldwide. More than 20,000 participants are expected to attend, an increasing number of them international visitors.
Faiz Subri makes his mark for the AFC with the FIFA Puskás Award
January 10 – FIFA’s ‘Best’ awards might have had a very uncomfortable European-only feel about them in their male nominees category – incredibly not one nominee came from club football played outside the continent – but the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) did see sees one notable success.
USL unveils its 30-team conference split for its first D2 season
January 10 – Just a few days after being granted Division II status in the US, the United Soccer League (USL) announced how its 30 teams will divide into Eastern and Western conferences for the 2017 expanded 32-game schedule.
FIFA’s ‘Best’ snubbed by world’s best Barca. Ronaldo pockets another prize
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
January 9 – As widely anticipated, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo was duly crowned FIFA’s World Best player at a no-expense-spared gala in Zurich on Monday but the glittering awards ceremony – rival to the Ballon d’Or from which FIFA recently disassociated itself – was marred by a fierce attack on Barcelona for snubbing the world governing body’s inaugural showpiece event.
NASL and USL given equal ranking as D2 leagues in US as NY Cosmos commit to play
By Paul Nicholson
January 9 – The perilous but tenacious state of the North American Soccer League (NASL) and the upstart and growing status of the United Soccer League (USL) have both been recognised by US Soccer (USSF) which has granted one-year provisional Division II status to both leagues for the 2017 season.
Panathinaikos president Alafouzos scores hat-trick of jail convictions
By Lefteris Charalampopoulos
January 9 – On 28 December 2016 Giannis Alafouzos, president of Panathinaikos and owner of SKAI TV Station was found guilty by a Greek court, of instigating the journalist Kyriakos Thomaidis to violate Greek legislation regarding the protection of sensitive personal data.
AFCON loses lustre as players opt to stay with clubs rather than travel to Gabon
By Samindra Kunti
January 9 – Next weekend the African Cup of Nations will begin in Gabon, but the tournament’s build-up has been marred by the ever strident complaints from European clubs over African players representing their country at Africa’s flagship tournament.
World Cup shake-up plans: 48 teams and North and South America qualifiers merged
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
January 9 – As FIFA moves closer towards a landmark decision to expand the World Cup finals from 2026, saying the idea has the support of a vast majority of its national federations, the head of one South American association has revealed FIFA president Gianni Infantino is backing an equally ground-breaking and somewhat controversial move to merge the CONCACAF and CONMEBOL qualifiers.
Swiss court rules for FIFA over Qatar dock worker’s labour case
By Andrew Warshaw
January 9 – A Swiss court has rejected a claim by three trade unions from Bangladesh and the Netherlands that FIFA failed to exert its influence to ensure fair treatment for migrant workers after handing Qatar the 2022 World Cup.
Ronaldo heads strikers ranking; de Bruyne, Coutinho and Payet run the midfield
January 9 – With FIFA set to announce the winners of the voting at its new ‘BEST’ annual awards event, the CIES Football Observatory has developed a more technical methodology and ranking of the best players in Europe’s big-5 leagues by position. And Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list.
Webb woes mount as Fidelity Bank swoops to collect on Cayman property debt
January 9 – A default notice seeking nearly $34,000 in arrears has been issued against the Cayman Islands home owned by former FIFA Vice President and CONCACAF boss Jeffrey Webb, according to the Cayman Compass newspaper.