Spanish FA VP Santana accused of siphoning off money earmarked for new pitches
December 31 – The vice-president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has been charged with fraud in the latest corruption scandal to besmirch the federation.
FAI needs more UEFA help as government cash suspended and banks get twitchy
December 31 – The debt-ridden Football Association of Ireland’s (FAI) existence is reported to be under threat because of long-term financial mismanagement.
‘It’s not football any more’: Guardiola joins condemnation of VAR calling it a ‘big mess’
By Andrew Warshaw
December 30 – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola declared the VAR system a “big mess” on Sunday after a weekend that witnessed a plethora of ever more baffling rulings being judged on a series of screens often hundreds of miles away from the action.
New-ish faces, old problems: Arsenal, Everton, Watford and West Ham make changes
By Andrew Warshaw
December 30 – Four English top-flight teams go into 2020 with new men at the helm after the managerial merry-go-round moved into full swing over Christmas.
China is coming. 10 host city venues unveiled for AFC’s flagship 2023 Asian Cup
By Paul Nicholson
December 30 – China has announced ten cities that will host the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) flagship Asian Cup in 2023. Beijing will be the lead city.
Eritrean players use Cecafa Cup to escape the country
December 30 – Seven players from Eritrea’s national football team disappeared following the end of the Cecafa Cup in Uganda earlier this month, according to tournament spokesman Rogers Mulindwa. Police continue their search for the players.
OL Groupe move into US soccer with $3.1m Reign acquisition
December 30 – US investors buying European clubs has become commonplace but European investors moving into the US to acquire a stake in club soccer is not.
Chinese impose £2m salary cap on top foreign players
December 30 – The Chinese Super League has introduced a salary cap of £2 million a year, a move that will redraw clubs’ transfer policies and spending. Domestic players will be allowed to earn a maximum of £1.1 million a year.
Life ban for penalty pointing Moroccan referee
December 30 – A Moroccan referee has been banned for life for awarding four highly questionable penalties, three of them for the same team, in a domestic league match.
Rayo Vallecano and Albacete to resume 2nd half behind closed doors after Nazi chanting
December 30 – A Spanish second division match abandoned at half-time after Rayo Vallecano fans chanted that Albacete’s Ukrainian forward Roman Zozulya (pictured) was a ‘Nazi’ is to resume behind closed doors.
Rangers tap into Californian talent in Orange Country
December 30 – Scottish giants Rangers have announced a new partnership with American USL side Orange County SC involving player exchanges between the pair.
Man City, Roma and OL lead big name clubs into 2020 FIFA eClub World Cup finals
December 29 – Roma, Basel, Man City, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Olympique Lyonais lead the club branded qualifiers for the FIFA eClub World Cup 2020 finals to be be played February 7-9.
Brazil tops football’s drug sanctions table
By David Owen
December 30 – Brazilian footballers were more likely to be sanctioned for anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) than those of any other nationality, according to statistics relating to samples collected in 2017 made public this month by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
PFA demands government racism inquiry as Spurs fans target Chelsea’s Rudiger
December 23 – England’s Professional Footballers’ Association has called for a government inquiry into racism in football after a year of shame was marred by yet another disgraceful incident, with Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger allegedly targeted at his club’s 2-0 derby win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Italian Super Cup focusses on human rights and commercial self-interest issues. A game was played
By Samindra Kunti
December 23 – Lazio defeated Juventus 3-1 to win the Italian Super Cup, controversially staged in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, its second season in the country.