AFCON holders Ivory Coast given €600k budget boost for 2017 challenge
By Samindra Kunti
January 6 – Defending champions Ivory Coast have been given a financial boost ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Gabon.
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.
FIFA drafts in specialist labour lawyers to deal with staff discontent
By Paul Nicholson
January 5 – FIFA’s revolving door has become jammed with staff not sure whether they are entering or exiting. The confusion and discontent has reached levels where the sports governing body has had to parachute in two specialist employment lawyers to mediate a way through escalating staff troubles.
PSG prepare to spend to kick start assault on Champions League and Ligue 1
By Samindra Kunti
January 5 – Paris Saint-Germain director of football Patrick Kluivert (pictured) has vowed that the French champions will continue to reinforce before the end of the January transfer window.
The more the merrier. Premier League fans pack grounds for holiday fixtures
January 5 – The more games you give them more they want, would seem to be the evidence of the back-to-back rounds of Premier League fixtures over the past 5 days. Round 20 fixtures delivered an average stadium capacity of 95.87%, the third highest of the season and just beating the Round 19 fixtures. The highest average capacity of the season was recorded for the Round 18 Boxing Day fixtures at 97.22%.
Boston Breakers get three first round picks as NWSL prepares 2017 college draft
January 5 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has released a list of 148 college players for its 2017 NWSL College Draft which will take place at the same time as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention in Los Angeles on January 12.
Indian women secure fourth SAFF championship and climb world rankings
By Samindra Kunti
January 5 – India have won a fourth consecutive SAFF Women’s Football Championship title with a dominant 3-1 win in the final against neighbors Bangladesh.
Cellino sells 50% of Leeds United to media specialist Radrizzani
By Paul Nicholson
January 4 – The on-off entry of Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani into the boardroom at English Championship club Leeds United has been concluded with the announcement that Radrizzani has bought a 50% stake in the club from currently banned owner Massimo Cellino for an estimated £25 million.
FIFPro warns its players to stay clear of Serbia as FA ‘fixes’ its disputes panel
By Paul Nicholson
January 4 – The world players union FIFPro has issued a stark warning to players not to sign contracts with clubs in Serbia during this month’s transfer window. The union points to worsening working conditions in the country where players are rarely paid on time and where they are generally pressured into transfers.
Man Utd smash Twitter follower marks over holiday period
January 4 – Premier League clubs amassed a total 605,000 new Twitter followers over the two-week Christmas and New Year period. A massive 25% of those followers were for Manchester United.
India awakes with Hero ISL posting record viewing figures of 216m on Star
January 4 – The Indian Super League has unveiled record TV viewing figures for its third season with over 216 million watching the league throughout the season and the viewing audience for the Atletico de Kolkata and Kerala Blasters final drawing 41 million.
Phelan feels the tigerish bite of Hull’s owners who are keen to move on
January 4 – Hull City became the fourth Premier League club to sack their manager this season and the first in 2017. Mike Phelan, appointed only 12 weeks ago, follows the departures of Francesco Guidolin and Bob Bradley from Swansea City and Alan Pardew from Crystal Palace.
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.