Three strikes and you’re out. UEFA hammers Partizan for breaking FFP rules again
January 12 – Partizan Belgrade have been banned from European competition by UEFA for the next three seasons in the latest crackdown over unpaid debts.
Gold Cup 2025
Panama-Honduras in Glendale and Canada-Guatemala in Minnesota complete Gold Cup quarter final line-up
June 25 – The Gold Cup quarter-final line-up was completed yesterday with Panama vs Honduras being scheduled for the State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Saturday June 28.
CONMEBOL call in Sportradar to boost battle against match-fixers
January 12 – South American confederation CONMEBOL has called in Sportradar to boost its battle against matchfixing and the on-going threats posed across the region.
Infantino defends 48 team World Cup as a 21st Century-looking, ‘football fever’ decision
By Andrew Warshaw
January 11 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, insisting the change from 32 was based on “sporting merit” and not a money-making exercise despite his need to find promised additional revenue for FIFA’s 211 members.
World Cup 2018: 19 anti-doping chiefs call for blanket Russian ban on hosting
By Paul Nicholson
January 11 – The Institute of National Anti-Doping Organisations (iNADO) statement calling for a ban on all Russian participation and hosting of international sporting events – which would include the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2018 World Cup – has been described as “strange” and “beyond the scope of their activities” by Russian minister of sport Pavel Kolobkov (pictured).
Montagliani backs expanded 2026 as CONCACAF looks set for co-hosting bid
By Andrew Warshaw
January 11 – CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani has given another strong hint that the first 48-team World Cup could be jointly staged by the USA, Mexico and his native Canada.
Stats predict league wins for Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern, Juve and Monaco
January 11 – Chelsea are going to win the Premier League, Real Madrid will win Spain’s La Liga, Bayern Munich will top the Bundesliga and Juventus will champion in Italy’s Serie A. In France PSG will get knocked off their perch by Monaco for the Ligue 1 title.
FIFA goes dark on Israel/Palestine dispute as Infantino says report is coming
By Andrew Warshaw
January 11 – FIFA appears to be no closer to a solution to the increasingly fractious dispute in the Middle East and specifically the issue of Israeli lower-league clubs based in the occupied West Bank.
Salman says 48-team World Cup will push Asian football development
January 11 – Asian Football Confederation President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has welcomed FIFA’s decision to expand the World Cup to 48 teams saying it can only benefit the development of Asian football.
Commisso puts NY Cosmos back in the game with new money and return to NYC
By Paul Nicholson
January 11 – New York Cosmos continued their rollercoaster ride with the announcement of a new majority owner, US cable television entrepreneur Rocco Commisso. The news comes days after the team announced it would participate in the NASL next season alongside after the US Soccer Federation granted the league Division II status.
Atlético Madrid keep trading with Plus500 renewal
January 11 – Plus500 will remain as the shirt sponsor of La Liga’s Atlético Madrid at least until the end of the 2017/18 season. No figures were announced for the sponsorship renewal which will see Plus500’s logo on the club shirt when it moves to its new 68,000 capacity Wanda Metropolitano stadium later this year.
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.