Socios.com targets South American expansion for crypto-based fan-token platform
January 24 – Socios.com, the tokenized fan-voting platform based on crypto currency is expanding into Latin America.
AFC ready to debut VAR at Japan vs Vietnam Asian Cup quarter final
By Paul Nicholson
January 24 – The 2019 Asian Cup has been a tournament of firsts and in Dubai today there will be another. The Japan vs Vietnam quarter final will be the first time VAR has been used at an AFC event.
Japan wary as Vietnam prepare for another giantkilling
January 24 – Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu has praised his counterpart Park Hang-seo as Vietnam prepare to take on the four-time winners in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup. The underdogs feel confident they can a surprise.
AFC ¼ final stats: Japan vs Vietnam head-to-head
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 24 – Japan will take on Vietnam in the first of the 2019 Asian Cup quarter finals today at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.
AFC ¼ final stats: Iran vs China head-to-head
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 24 – Two times 2nd place, three times 3rd place and three times 4th place is the Asian Cup history, but for Marcello Lippi’s Chinese who meet Iran today at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter final.
PSG fined €100K for racial profiling of academy player data
By Andrew Warshaw
January 22 – Paris St-Germain have been fined what many might view as a token €100,000 fine over alleged racism within its scouting system.
Search continues but hopes fade for Sala’s missing plane
January 23 – Hopes are tragically fading fast for Argentine-born star Emiliano Sala 36 hours after the light aircraft in which he was the sole passenger disappeared in the English Channel en route to Cardiff where he had signed for the Premier League club.
Football is not realising its sponsorship or partnership potential, says Hester
January 23 – Football is increasingly reliant on commercial revenues. Sponsorship and brand partnerships remain significant with 25-60% of commercial income coming from brands. Yet the capability to report the true value of these brand associations still remains flawed, according to sponsorship expert Toby Hester
Liverpool and Juve lead in the battle of ‘transfer smarts’
January 22 – In an analysis of players whose current estimated transfer value exceeds their fee paid, Liverpool and Juventus come out as leaders when it comes to deal making on top talent with both clubs having three players in the top 20 list of players.
Ronaldo agrees €18.8m tax fraud fine in Spain
January 21 – Cristiano Ronaldo accepted an €18.8 million fine today when he appeared in a Madrid court over tax evasion charges.
Hayu Omani: Fans create crisis for Sharjah restaurants
By Aqeel Saleh in Sharjah
January 23 – With the first set of knock-out rounds over, for many the long journey home begins – the end of their football adventure. Some of those leaving the Asian Cup in the UAE will be missed more than others, with few missed more than the Omani fans, especially in Sharjah.
Bassam fires 7th rocket for Qatar in Asian Cup
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 22 – Qatar’s defender Bassam Al-Rawi fired his second goal from a free kick in Qatar’s 1-0 narrow victory over Iraq in round 16 of the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
Qatar break Iraqi hearts in an all-or-nothing thriller
Qatar 1 Iraq 0
By Paul Nicholson in Abu Dhabi
January 22 – ‘We & the Nation of Pride are Fine’ reads the side of the Qatari team bus in the UAE at the Asian Cup. After tonight’s 1-0 win over Iraq they are doing much better than that.
Battling Bahrain take South Korea to extra time
Bahrain 1 South Korea 2
January 22 – South Korea edged Bahrain 2-1 after a nervy 120 minutes to book a spot in the last eight of the Asian Cup. The Bahrainis resisted the Korean onslaught for long periods but in the end succumbed to Kim Jin-su’s first international goal, a far-post header, in the 115th minute.
Football governing bodies issue joint threat to pirate channel beoutQ
By Samindra Kunti and Paul Nicholson
January 22 – FIFA, UEFA, AFC, La Liga, the Premier League and the Bundesliga have today issued a joint statement condemning “clear and flagrant” pirating of games by satellite channel beoutQ, but refrained from naming Saudi Arabia as culpable for the infringements though the channel broadcasts from the country.