FIFA switch World Club semi from Rabat as deluge dampens the fiesta

Club World Cup logo

By Mark Baber
December 15 – The quarter finals of the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday saw Kiwi semi-professionals Auckland City go through at the expense of African Champions ES Setif whilst Mexican side Cruz Azul controversially defeated Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers on a waterlogged pitch, thanks largely to some remarkable refereeing.

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Namibia: New federation president installed, warnings of trouble ahead

Namibia president Mbidi

By Mark Baber
December 12 – The new Namibia Football Association (NFA) leadership including the new President Frans Mbidi (pictured left) elected last week have been congratulated by FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) – although the manner in which the vote was held and a walk-out by the main rival candidate and his supporters may spell trouble ahead.

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Denoncourt takes new role as head of CONCACAF referees

Sonia Denoncourt

December 12 – Canadian Sonia Denoncourt has been appointed CONCACAF’s Director of Refereeing. Denoncourt’s role will be to head all aspects of referreing and the development of referees across the region, including directing the Heads of Refereeing in the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).

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