Benfica’s €500m academy sales business tops world ranking
January 12 – The latest report from the CIES football observatory has ranked Liga Portugal side Benfica as the club with the most profitable academy in world football.
AFC renews its war on match-fixing with renewal of Sportradar integrity deal
January 12 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has extending its sports integrity partnership with Sportradar for a further three years through to 2027.
Dorival Jr tells Brazil that fans must get with the programme if they are to start winning again
January 12 – New Brazil manager Dorival Jr has asked supporters to rally behind the national team in a bid to get the team back on the rails and regain self-esteem.
Qatar have point to prove as they open Asian Cup finals and title defense in the Lusail
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
January 12 – Hosts and defending champions Qatar take on Lebanon in the curtain raiser of the Asian Cup on Friday with a point to prove on home soil after a disastrous World Cup campaign and the shock dismissal of Carlos Queiroz last month. Captain Hassan Al Haydos believes the team needs to send a message to the fans.
Japan’s pioneering women’s refs to make history again with Aus-Ind group game
January 12 – Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita will become the first woman referee in AFC Asian Cup history to take charge of a men’s game at the finals when she leads out Australia and India for their opening group game on January 13.
Palestinians look to send messages of hope and life as they aim for group qualification
January 12 – The Palestinian squad at the Asian Cup said they want to deliver a message of ‘life’ to the world by qualifying for the tournament knockout rounds, while also bringing at least a little happiness to people trapped in the violence of the war in Hamas.
Asian Cup 2023 in Qatar is bursting to get out the starting gates
By Paul Nicholson
January 11 – The Asian Cup 2023 that was originally scheduled for last summer in China but was switched Qatar after the Chinese pulled out, opens in a day’s time and is pretty much bursting to exit the starting gates.
Gambian national team escapes death after AFCON flight turned back due to lack of oxygen
January 11 – The Gambia’s African Nations Cup preparations took a turn for the worse on Wednesday when their flight to Ivory Coast had to return to Banjul airport because of a lack of oxygen on the aircraft. Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet said “they escaped death.”
Transfer talk: Real Madrid’s fantasy team build, Dier lands in Munich, Gallagher to cross London
January 11 – Real Madrid are reportedly assessing the prospect of making a move for Manchester City and Norway striker Erling Haaland, 23, because of concerns over whether France forward Kylian Mbappe, 25, will leave Paris St-Germain to join them.
Sven-Goran Eriksson diagnosed with terminal cancer
January 11 – Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed he has terminal cancer and that, tragically, he might have less than a year to live.
Atletico Madrid partners with Legends for pop-up Riyadh exhibition, but crash out of Super Cup
January 11 – Atletico Madrid have announced a partnership with Riyadh-based Legends Museum, which will see the11-time La Liga champions open a technology-fuelled exhibition within the museum in a bid to appeal to its growing Saudi Arabian fan base.
Friends with benefits. Infantino picks up ‘sports personality’ award in Dubai
January 11 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been named International Sports Personality for 2023 at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Awards ceremony in Dubai.
AFC gives the whistle to Alireza Faghani for Asian Cup opener at Lusail Stadium
January 11 – The Asian Football Confederation has confirmed the cast of match officials that will oversee the opening match of the Asian Cup Qatar on Friday.
Dorival Jr officially takes on Brazil lead, starting with England and Spain friendlies
January 11 – Dorival Jr has been officially confirmed as the new head coach of the Brazil national side after he left Sao Paulo earlier this week.
Adidas gets Saudi Pro League official ball deal rolling
January 11 – Adidas has agreed a deal to become the official match ball supplier for the Saudi Pro League (SPL) from February until the end 2024/25 season.