December 9 – Luis Enrique (pictured) has stepped down as Spain manager following their premature exit at the World Cup. Morocco eliminated his side from the penalty spot in the last 16 following a 120-minute goalless draw.
December 9 – FIFA has completed its World Cup Observer Programme in Qatar, designed to give future hosts insight into how FIFA expects its World Cups to be run.
December 9 – Despite losing three of their past four matches, the US women’s team still top the FIFA world rankings, though the gap between them and second placed Germany is narrowing.
December 9 – With the world’s attention focussed on its most popular sport as the World Cup reaches the quarter final stage, so there has been a flood of attention on the arrival of many new iGaming websites.
December 8 – Human rights organisation FairSquare has called on the UN to help World Cup whistleblower Abdullah Ibhais, who is currently in prison serving a three-year sentence. Ibhais family have accused FIFA of “callous indifference” over his plight within and an opaque Qatari legal system.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 8 – They may not have had a team at the World Cup in Qatar but they have enjoyed a massive following just the same.
December 8 – Nasser Al-Khelaifi, one of the most powerful officials in European football, says fans will never let a breakaway Super League happen even if the courts decide in its favour.
December 8 – In an inhouse interview, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has claimed Qatar hosted the “best group stage ever” at a World Cup with high attendances and record television figures.
December 8 – Digital transformation Atos has signed an eight-year deal to become a UEFA National Team Football partner.
December 8 – The sale of Ligue1 side Olympique Lyonnais to US investor John Textor’s Eagle Football group looks to have taken a step closer to fruition.
December 8 – UEFA has fined the Football Association of Ireland €20,000 for its women’s teams post match celebration and the singing of a song with a pro-IRA chorus after they beat Scotland 1-0 and qualified for the women’s World Cup finals for the first time.
December 8 – In the bookmaker race to pick up football sponsorship assets in Brazil’s fast evolving betting markets, EstrelaBet has completed a sponsorship for all of the country’s futsal teams until 2025 with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
December 8 – The developing web3 is not just a world for Europe’s biggest and best leagues and clubs. Hungary’sDebreceni VSC (DVSC), has become the first club from the country to announce its intentions in the area.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 7 – It was a massive gamble and fortunately for Portuguese coach Fernando Santos it paid off – and then some.
December 7 – Canadian national team legends Christine Sinclair (pictured) and Diana Matheson have announced plans to create a women’s professional league in the country with kick-off in April 2025.