AFC completes 2021 Champions League draw; sticks with centralised venues for group stage
January 27 – The AFC today completed the draw for its expanded 2021 Champions League at headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Losses soar at Brighton’s Seagulls as pandemic takes £25m hit
By David Owen
January 27 – Losses have widened at Brighton and Hove Albion, the progressive south-coast Premier League club, after a season described by chairman Tony Bloom as “one of the most challenging in our club’s history”.
2026 World Cup host selectors to pick 16 cities across North America by year end
January 27 – FIFA plans to appoint host cities for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico by the last quarter of this year.
NBC Sports closure raises questions over $1.3bn Premier League deal
January 27 – Premier League broadcast rights partner NBC, is shutting its Sports Network in the US and is expected to close operations by the end of 2021.
FIFA steps in to clear Motsepe and Yahya to run for CAF presidency
January 27 – World federation FIFA has cleared all four candidates, including South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe (pictured) and Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya both whose eligibility had been in doubt, to run in the presidential elections of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
FIFA’s Mosengo-Omba tells Africa they have common aims, but CAF must clean up its act
January 27 – The next president of the African Football Confederation must be “absolutely honest”, according to FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Veron Mosengo-Omba.
Thrown to the Wolves. Tuchel takes charge of post-Lampard Chelsea tonight
January 27 – As predicted, Thomas Tuchel has become the 11th full-time Chelsea manager in the ruthless 18-year Roman Abramovich era following Frank Lampard’s sacking, and takes charge of the club for the first time tonight at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Man City build on partner link forged by Mumbai City FC
January 27 – Premier League Manchester City have gone ownership local with a new partnership with life insurer Zurich International Life, who will become the Club’s Official Insurance Partner in the United Arab Emirates, the country of the club’s owner.
CAS confuses with a lose lose decision for everyone, or was it a win win? Who knows?
By Paul Nicholson
January 26 – A Court of Arbitration for Sport double ruling against the Asian Football Federation (AFC) in regard to one of its elections has renewed questions about CAS’s decision making and left observers scratching their head over the logic of the decisions and the process.
Barca’s $billion debt bubble looks ready to burst
January 26 – The full extent of the financial crisis at Barcelona, one of the biggest brands in world football, have been laid bare by staggering claims that the club is on the verge of bankruptcy.
Premier League registers further drop in number of covid positive tests
January 26 – The English Premier League has confirmed eight positive coronavirus cases were recorded in the latest batch of testing – half the number recorded last week.
Senegal’s Senghor puts himself at front of race for CAF presidency
January 26 – Senegal’s Augustin Senghor has taken the bold step of declaring himself as favourite to win the increasingly bitter election race to become the new Confederation of African (CAF) president in succession to the disgraced Ahmad Ahmad.
SIGA Youth Forum releases full agenda and speakers for Jan. 27 opening
January 26 – The first SIGA Youth Forum kicks off tomorrow (January 27) with more than 35 speakers from the sports world contributing to 12 webinar sessions.
Defensa y Justicia win all-Argentinean battle for Copa Sudamericana
January 26 – Hernan Crespo and Defensa y Justicia clinched their first ever international title with a 3-0 victory against Lanus in the Copa Sudamericana final.
MLS sets new season dates but still has to agree wage deal with players
January 26 – The 26th season of the Major League Soccer (MLS) will kick off on April 3 and conclude in November, though player wage negotiations still hang as a cloud over the competition.