FIFA kicks-off bid process for Women’s World Cup 2023 hosting
By Andrew Warshaw
February 20 – FIFA are reverting to the old behind-closed-doors rules to decide on the hosts of the Women’s World Cup in 2023.
Mbappe, Donarumma, Sessegnon and Sancho make case for youth in an old man’s game
February 20 – Data looking at how much playing time young players born 1988 and later are getting in Europe’s top leagues show very are getting experience in the Big 5 and the France and Spain providing the most opportunity for development.
Man City owners CFG complete Chinese club buy alongside CSC and UBTECH
By Paul Nicholson
February 20 – City Football Group (CFG) has confirmed the seventh edition to its stable of football clubs with a position in the ownership group of Sichuan Jiuniu FC in China.
Who pays the ferryman? Cardiff and Nantes row over Sala transfer money
February 20 – The fallout from the tragic death of £15m Cardiff City striker Emilio Sala in an air accident over the English Channel is becoming distinctly undignified in terms of relations between Cardiff and selling club Nantes.
Bayern fans protest ticket price ‘gr€€d’ at Anfield. Liverpool fans agr€€
February 20 – Bayern Munich fans protested against the cost of Champions League tickets by unfurling banners during the first leg of their last-16 tie at Liverpool on Tuesday – backed by home supporters.
Italy’s Rai suspend ‘primitive’ male TV football presenter for sexist comment
February 20 – Italian football icon Fulvio Collovati has been suspended for three weeks by state broadcaster Rai for making sexist remarks on air.
European leagues, clubs and UEFA slam Infantino’s $25bn ‘secret’ sell-off
By Andrew Warshaw
February 19 – European football stakeholders have aimed their strongest broadside to date at Gianni Infantino’s contentious $25 billion blueprint to change the landscape of global competitions.
US boss Cordeiro says Confed Cup is finished and Gold Cup could be next
By Samindra Kunti
February 19 – U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro (pictured) has questioned the future of the Concacaf Gold Cup, revealing the tournament may be shuttered in the near future. Speaking at the annual U.S. Soccer general meeting, Cordeiro said that the FIFA Confederations Cup won’t be played again and that the biennial Gold Cup also could be discontinued.
Stung by increased costs, Pozzo’s high-flying Hornets post £30m loss
By David Owen
February 19 – Watford, the Premier League club based in London’s commuter-belt and controlled by Gino Pozzo, has fallen into loss due to higher costs and a markedly smaller gain on player sales.
AFC builds IP expertise to protect its competitions and commercial rights
February 19 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is drafting in a team of experts to fight against Intellectual Property (IP) theft in the wake of the row over pirate channel beoutQ which illegally broadcast last month’s Asian Cup played in the United Arab Emirates.
Man City owner CFG poised to buy third tier Chinese club Sichuan Jiuniu
February 19 – City Football Group (CFG), the multi-club holding company that owns Manchester City, New York City FC and Girona, among others, looks set to add to its club portfolio with a third tier team in China.
Saudi’s MBS says no deal on Man Utd £3.8bn takeover rumour
February 19 – Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is not planning a £3.8bn takeover of Manchester United according to his media minister.
Esports betting to hit $12.9bn in 2019, revenues to reach $1.38bn in 2021
February 19 – Betting on esports is estimated to grow to a massive $12.9 billion by the end of this year. That is more than double the figure of $5.5 billion in 2016 and puts the esports business firmly in competition with other forms of online betting.
US set to get new third-tier pro league as NISA provisionally given OK
February 19 – The US looks set to get a second third tier professional league after the United States Soccer Federation provisionally sanctioned the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) as a Professional Soccer League.
Italy’s Pro Piacenza kicked out of Serie C after 7-man farce
February 19 – An Italian third division club which cobbled together a seven-man team in order to avoid being thrown out of the league and promptly lost 20-0 has been booted out anyway despite fulfilling their promise to fulfil the fixture.