Roma plug in energy partner with A2A deal
February 9 – Serie A’s AS Roma has added energy company A2A as an official partner. A2A will promote its A2A Energia brand.
Saudi’s Al Hilal shock Brazil’s Flamengo to qualify for Club World Cup final
February 8 – In one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal stunned 10-man Flamengo to reach the Club World Cup final with a 3-2 victory over South America’s Copa Libertadores champions on Tuesday.
That World Cup race again. It’s coming
Will anything change? Ever? Has FIFA cleaned its Augean Stables of US/Latino making? Corruption, bribery, kick-backs, nepotism, favoritism – have they all disappeared, are they gone with the wind? The wind of (US-controlled) change?
“Quo vadis FIFA?”, one might ask, eight years later.
Brazil’s proposed Liga Forte secures €879m buy-in from venture capitalists
February 8 – The 26 clubs of the Liga Forte (LFF), one of two groups seeking to redesign Brazilian football, have reportedly closed an investment agreement with domestic venture capital group Life Capital Partners and US investment group Serengeti Asset Management, worth R$4.85bn (€879.6 million).
Qatari investors line up massive bid for Man Utd, reports
February 8 – Qatari investors are planning to make a massive bid to buy Manchester United in the coming days that will blow rival suitors out of the water, according to newspaper reports citing unnamed sources.
Chinese Super League returns to home and away schedule as covid rules relaxed
February 8 – All matches in the Chinese Super League (CSL) will be played on home-and-away basis this year bringing to an end three seasons of COVID-19 restrictions.
LaLiga files complaint at Mallorca court over racial abuse that targeted Vinicius
February 8 – La Liga has filed a complaint with a local court in Mallorca over the racist abuse targeted at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior.
Crystal Palace is first Premier League club to debut channel on WeAre8 social media app
February 8 – Crystal Palace are the first Premier League club to sign up to socially conscious social media app WeAre8 with an official presence.
Bayern bank on Adyen to open up payment solutions globally
February 8 – Bayern Munich has partnered with financial technology platform Adyen which has become the club’s the exclusive payment solution partner.
DFB launches NFT tender for rights to national teams
February 8 – The German FA (DFB) has launched a tender for the rights to create NFTs for the DFB national teams and DFB competitions.
FIFAgate trial of former Fox execs stalled after Judge Chen tests positive for covid
By Samindra Kunti in New York
February 7 – The latest FIFA trial in Brooklyn has been paused after federal judge Pamela Chen reportedly tested positive for Covid-19.
Conmebol quartet formalise their bid for 2030 World Cup, Bolivia could join them
February 7 – Will Bolivia join the South American quartet of Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay in their bid for the 2030 World Cup? Argentina’s president Alberto Fernandez wants the Bolivians to be a part of the adventure.
Matt Scott: Man City’s FFP-friendly accounts could take football down a rabbit hole
In December 2014 Insideworldfootball columnist Matt Scott wrote the column re-published here. It was somewhat prophetic and shed light on a deep fear facing football at the time. Man City later survived UEFA’s financial interrogation and sanctions following an appeal to CAS. Matt will file a new column on the Premier League charges against the club later this week. Meanwhile the ‘what goes around comes around’ epithet springs to mind. And for Man City it looks to have come around again.
Atsu rescued from Turkish earthquake but search still on for Hatayspor’s Taner Savut
February 7 – Ghanaian international Christian Atsu, who plays for Hatayspor in Turkey, has been rescued from the rubble of the devastating earthquake that has hit the country.
Nordic governments reinforce bid commitments to hosting 2025 Women’s Euros
February 7 – The four Nordic countries bidding to host the 2025 UEFA women’s championship have had their joint bid reinforced, again, by unequivocal support from their governments.