January 25 – In another illustration of growing tensions in the region, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has decided to amend the schedule for the AFC Champions League involving matches between clubs from Saudi Arabia and Iran but has stopped short, pending further checks, of upholding a Saudi request to play fixtures on neutral ground because of safety concerns.
By Samindra Kunti
January 25 – When wealthy Chinese businessman Wang Hui (pictured) took over Dutch club Ado Den Haag last year there were promises of substantial investment and new sporting glory. But the promises have gone unfulfilled.
January 25 – Bulgarian club Litex Lovech’s entire results for the season have been scrapped as punishment for its players walking off in protest at refereeing decisions in a match at Levski Sofia last month.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 25 – US investigators who have laid bare football’s worst ever corruption scandal are widening their probe to examine the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany.
January 25 – Premier League club Manchester United has unveiled a second appareil sponsor with Columbia Sportswear becoming the club’s first official outdoor appareil sponsor. The club’s main kit deal is with Adidas who took over from Nike in a 10 year deal that started this season.
January 25 – In a move that could have a radical impact on viewership, Germany’s Federal Cartel Office wants to introduce a “no single buyer” rule when it awards broadcasting rights for the 2017/18 Bundesliga football season, according to local reports.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 22 – European football will have no leader for the foreseeable future after UEFA today ruled out electing a successor to Michel Platini until the case against its banned president is resolved one way or the other.
It is a country with a rich history, a history emblazoned with glory and noble victories, though at present the Italian national team performances are a little ‘see-saw’. The Italian Football Federation look at their trophies and their world position and are struggling to understand what’s going on.
By Paul Nicholson
January 22 – Cracks are beginning to appear over UEFA’s supposedly unified stance behind Gianni Infantino’s bid to become FIFA president as a result of his €500,000 campaign fund – understood to be hard cash budgeted for his political push that doesn’t include other costs for campaign services provided by UEFA.
January 22 – Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City lead the stadium capacity charts for round 21 and 22 of the Premier League season. Round 21 was played mid-week after a weekend of FA Cup fixtures and saw the poorest round of attendance figures so far this season.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 22 – FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino has decided against taking part in next week’s Brussels forum on the future of football’s scandal-tarnished world governing body, leaving only three of the five contenders to tell a global television audience why they should be elected in succession to Sepp Blatter.
January 22 – Almost half of the top 20 highest-earning football clubs in the world play in the Premier League, further evidence – if ever it was needed – of where the commercial clout lies.
By David Owen
January 22 – England’s Football Association (FA) has reported a loss and a reduction in turnover for its financial year ended July 31. The £9.3 million pre-tax loss was attributable partly to £10.4 million of restructuring/reorganisation costs, which in turn included £6.7 million of redundancy costs.
Isha Johansen, President of the Sierra Leone Football Association, has a little game she plays with taxi drivers whenever she comes to London. The taxi is taking her to Oxford Street, Selfridges, and the taxi driver asks, “Going on another shopping spree are you? Going to shop till you drop?”
January 21 – The financial and ownership position of leading Chinese Super League (CSL) side Beijing Guoan FC has been clarified with Chinese internet company LeEco (formerly known as LeTV), which operates the Le Sports service, and the club announcing a strategic co-operation.