India suspends I-League as covid-bubble bursts
January 4 – India’s second-tier I-League has been suspended for six weeks at least, after a new coronavirus outbreak among some teams.
Gold Cup 2025
Pochettino happy with USA’s new-found ‘fight’ but wary of the Guatemala challenge
July 2 – Having looked like a team that were struggling to find any cohesion or common purpose after four straight losses, including a miserable performance in March at the Concacaf Nations League final, suddenly the USA look as though, if not the real deal, they are certainly worth a reappraisal.
Chelsea debut safe-standing trial in Premier League against Liverpool
January 4 – In a landmark move, Chelsea became the first Premier League side to host a safe-standing pilot scheme in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool, marking the end of a blanket ban on standing in the top two tiers of English football which has been in place for more than 25 years.
Garber looks forward to record MLS season as wunderkind Pepi heads for Bundesliga
January 4 – In a New Year message to MLS fans, commissioner Don Garber has emphasised how the league’s clubs have grown to become “essential members of our communities” and the passion US fans are showing for players and clubs.
Last minute sale keeps Salernitana in Serie A
January 4 – Salernitana, dubbed in Italy as the club that wished it had never got promoted to Serie A, have been saved from being kicked out after acquiring a new owner at the 11th hour.
Auckland City record ‘disappointing’ Club World Cup double
January 4 – Auckland City officials say they are “bitterly disappointed’’ at having to pull out of Club World Cup finals in the United Arab Emirates for a second successive year over Covid-19 quarantine issues.
A palace fit for Man City
January 4 – Manchester City has agreed a sponsorship with the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to become the Club’s Official Luxury Hotel Partner.
AFC gets fast start to season with qualifying draw for Futsal Asian Cup Kuwait 2022
January 4 – The AFC will get straight into its new competition season this week with a 31-nation draw on Thursday (6 January) for the confederation’s Futsal Asian Cup Kuwait 2022, a competition that has missed a cycle due to the pandemic.
Mallorca plan €20m stadium upgrade
January 4 – Mallorca are to upgrade their Son Moix stadium at a cost of €20 million, the La Liga club has announced.
Priced to sell: Watch Chelsea at the Club World Cup finals in a Cat1 seat for $50
January 4 – Tickets for the Club World Cup in the UAE that kicks off 3 February have gone on-sale in an exclusive pre-sale six-day window with prices starting as low as $5.
European champions Chelsea slump to £156m loss despite surging broadcast revenue
By David Owen
December 31 – European champions Chelsea have reported a massive loss for the covid-impacted 2020-21 season. The West London side posted pre-tax losses of £155.9 million, compared with a £35.7 million profit the previous year, when figures were buoyed by the sale of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.
Salah, Mane and Keita available for Liverpool vs Chelsea clash as AFCON call-ups delayed
December 30 – Players heading to the African Cup of Nations have been given permission to stay with their clubs until January 3 – six days before the start of the tournament in Cameroon.
Ceferin says biennial World Cup is ‘populistic bullshit’ and an ‘absolute no-go’ for Europe
December 30 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is still fuming at the very idea of a biennial World Cup that continues to be trumpeted by his FIFA counterpart, Gianni Infantino.
Saudis poised to take $1bn control of Inter Milan from Suning, reports
December 30 – Italian Serie A champions Inter Milan are reportedly close to signing off a sale to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) as the country expands its football portfolio and its push into the football economy.
Coronavirus: Spanish cut stadium capacities to 75%
December 30 – With the spread of the omicron covid variant increasing its pace of infection across Europe, Spanish health authorities have moved to reduce capacities for outside venues to 75% of capacity.
No ink: China draws line on player tattoos and calls for ‘political education’ of players
December 30 – Chinese authorities have banned national team players from sporting tattoos in order to set a “good example for society” – and will kick them out if they don’t oblige.