Barclays doubles women’s sponsorship to £30m to cover WSL and grassroots
December 16 – Barclays has doubled its investment in women’s football in England to more than £30 million in a three-year deal.
KNVB boosts integrity protections with addition of Sportradar investigation resource
December 16 – Sportradar has expanded its relationship with the Dutch FA (KNVB) with an agreement with its Intelligence and Investigation Services (I&I) unit to provide increased investigative resource into irregular betting patterns, match manipulation and corruption.
A true world championship? UEFA and Conmebol set London date for Finalissima
December 16 – In a show of strength, renewing their existing Memorandum of Understanding, UEFA will stage a ‘Finalissima’ between Italy and Argentina in London next year.
Newcastle greenlighted to sign Saudi sponsors, but only at ‘fair’ market rate
December 15 – Newcastle United will be allowed sponsorship deals with Saudi Arabian companies as long as the Premier League considers them “fair market value”.
Qatari court jails former SC comms chief Ibhais for 3-years on fraud charge
By Samindra Kunti in Lusail, Qatar
December 15 – On appeal, Abdullah Ibhais, a former employee of the Supreme Committee for Legacy and Delivery (SC), was sentenced to three years in prison for “fraud” in Qatari court on Wednesday.
Somali FA chief Abdiqani exits amid corruption allegations
December 15 – The head of Somalia’s FA Abdiqani Said Arab (pictured) has been kicked out of office over allegations of corruption in the latest scandal to hit African football.
NWSL players get salary top-up in crypto with Voyager deal
December 15 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) players in the US will be getting a wage boost in the form of cryptocurrency following the announcement of a multi-year sponsorship with Voyager Digital.
Alonso takes over Uruguay’s Qatar 2022 misfiring qualification campaign
December 15 – Diego Alonso (pictured) has been appointed the new head coach of Uruguay, the country’s football association AUF announced on Tuesday.
No Mo Sala as European-based players dominate voting for 2021 FIFA FIFPRO World 11 squads
December 15 – European-based players make up every member of the men’s FIFA FIFPRO final 23 players who have received the most votes to date for the 2021 World 11. Only four selections in the 23-player women’s equivalent, play outside Europe.
Arsenal’s misfiring bad boy Aubameyang stripped of captaincy and dropped from squad
December 15 – Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been stripped of the club captaincy for disciplinary reasons.
Popal, Mata and DFB to receive UEFA #EqualGame Awards
December 15 – Khalida Popal, Juan Mata and the German Football Association (DFB) will all receive UEFA #EqualGame Awards this week to celebrate their work in promoting inclusion and diversity in football.
German clubs set sustainability agenda, voting to make them part of licensing criteria
December 15 – Germany’s 36 Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs have voted for the inclusion of mandatory sustainability criteria in their licensing regulations.
eMLS builds to 27 teams and presses the button on return to live events for 2022 season
December 15 – The MLS esports league, eMLS, has released detail of its 2022 season which will feature all 27 MLS teams and a return to live events with three marquee tournaments hosted in-person at MLS stadiums.
Covid surge forces Brentford vs Man Utd off as positive tests rise across Premier League
By Andrew Warshaw
December 14 – Fears that English football could be heading back into another period of Covid-induced chaos have heightened after Manchester United’s match against Brentford tonight became the latest top-flight fixture to be called off as the Premier League reported its highest weekly rate of infections.
Aussie pro-leagues take on $100m Silver Lake investment
By Paul Nicholson
December 14 – The newly formed Australian Professional Leagues (APL), operators of the men’s A-League and women’s W-League, has sold a 33% stake to US investor Silver Lake for an estimated $100 million.