USA 1 Saudi Arabia 0
June 19 – American comedian Rodney Dangerfield used to say, “I don’t get no respect.” The same could be said for the United States Men’s Soccer Team as barely 10,000 fans showed up for a supporter friendly 8.15 pm kickoff versus Concacaf Gold Cup, Group D opponents, Saudi Arabia in a 1-0 win that again raised more questions than answers.
By Samindra Kunti and Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – With pressure mounting over his ownership of Chelsea, billionaire Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has passed the stewardship of the club to the trustees of its charitable foundation in what appears to be merely a cosmetic move designed to save face and his investment.
March 1 – Chelsea’s billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich has been asked by Ukraine to help broker peace with his country according to the oligarch’s official spokesperson.
March 1 – The European Union (EU) has sanctioned Everton-linked and Fencing Federation (FIE) President Alisher Usmanov. He was on a list of Russian oligarchs that the block targeted as it imposed further sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
March 1 – Deinze KMSK and their owners ACA Football Partners have partnered with GameFi platform Digital Entertainment Asset (DEA), the Belgian second-division club announced.
March 1 – UEFA has ended its 12-year sponsorship with Russian energy giant Gazprom with immediate effect. The announcement was made on the same day that UEFA banned Russian teams from its competitions.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – FIFA is refusing to kick Russia out of the World Cup despite finally imposing a string of sanctions in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
February 28 – The AFC has formally approved the transition from its current Spring-Autumn season to Autumn-Spring for its club competitions. The change will begin for the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup from the 2023-24 season, once the current 2022 competitions have been concluded.
February 28 – England has become the latest country to refuse to play international fixtures against Russia.
By James Dostoyevsky
While FIFA offered up some lukewarm criticism of its best friend at the Kremlin – without naming the blatantly obvious, namely the criminal attack of Ukraine – its own Gianni, The Leader – proud recipient of the Putensian Russian Order of Friendship in May 2019 – seems to have some issues with reality. And with understanding criminal conduct.
February 28 – Brazil coach Tite will step down after the 2022 World Cup, bringing to an end a 7.5-year reign irrespective of the five-time world champions’ result in Qatar.
February 28 – Online car retailer Cazoo has ramped up its football sponsorship in Spain with a deal to become main partner and shirt sponsor of Valencia the start of next season.
February 28 – Turkish Super Lig leaders Trabzonspor has agreed with NFT consultancy Capital Block to advise on an initial two NFT ‘drops’. Capital Block also works with Galatasaray.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 25 – As widely anticipated, UEFA have stripped St Petersburg of hosting this season’s Champions League final and switched their annual showpiece fixture to the Stade de France in Paris as a result of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
February 25 – Choosing his words carefully, FIFA president Gianni Infantino failed to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, instead saying his organisation was “very worried” about the escalating crisis.
February 25 – German club Schalke 04 have removed Gazprom logo from the main shirt sponsorship position after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.