Pillow talk. Spurs put Mammoth deal to bed
December 20 – Tottenham Hotspur have signed a deal North East health and wellbeing company Mammoth Mattresses, who will become the Official Mattress and Pillow Supplier of the Premier League Club.
News
Villar says risk of Spain losing Russia 2018 spot is ‘serious’, blames government
By Andrew Warshaw
December 19 – Disgraced former FIFA and UEFA powerbroker Ángel María Villar has stoked up fears of his native Spain being barred from the World Cup as he tries to cling on to his role as head of his national federation (RFEF).
Morgan and Navas take CONCACAF’s top awards, CAF call for Mane and Salah
By Mark Baber
December 19 – ‘Tis the season to be merry, for gifts, family and, naturally, Player of the Year awards. Sunday saw the CONCACAF Premios Univision Deportes awards ceremony in Miami whilst the Confederation of African football has announced the nominees for its 2017 awards.
Anti-semitic banners and Hitler image at Sudanese club match sparks global condemnation
December 18 – Sudan’s leading club has been reprimanded after supporters taunted rival fans by erecting banners displaying an image of Adolf Hitler during a bitter championship decider.
Good news, bad news for Juve owner Agnelli. Ban is lifted but fine increased
December 19 – Juventus president Andrea Agnelli’s one-year ban for his alleged role in the sale of match tickets to the club’s ultras fans has been lifted but his fine has been increased while the club has also been hit harder than its original sanction.
Weah’s bid to lead Liberia put on hold as political opponent alleges fraud
December 19 – Former World player of the year and Ballon d’Or winner George Weah has had his bid for political power stymied once again after the country’s current Vice President Joseph Boakai called for a postponement of the second round of presidential elections before the Supreme Court.
Russia 2018 spot on the line? FIFA warns Spanish government to keep out of football
By Andrew Warshaw
December 18 – It’s an unthinkable scenario but Spain’s participation in next year’s World Cup could technically be under threat if the Spanish government meddles in the election of a replacement for disgraced Spanish FA (RFEF) president Angel Maria Villar, the former FIFA and UEFA bigwig who was forced to relinquish his posts over corruption charges.
Brazil fills CBF top job with Coronel Nunes, a man in Del Nero’s mould?
By Samindra Kunti
December 18 – The Brazilian football association (CBF), has moved swiftly following the 90-day suspension of president Marco Polo Del Nero, appointing Antonio Carlos Nunes on an interim basis.
Real Madrid double up on Club World Cups as Ronaldo puts his Best foot forward
December 18 – Real Madrid were crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions for the second year in succession at the weekend in the United Arab Emirates, beating Brazil’s Gremio 1-0 in the final.
Players criticise VAR at Club World Cup, but opinion split as FIFA say it was ‘seamless’
December 18 – Yet more pressure is growing on football’s lawmakers to delay the formal implementation of video technology following contentious decision-making – this time at one of FIFA’s own competitions.
CONCACAF unveils detail of two-tier club competition for Caribbean
December 18 – Details of the new two-tier Caribbean club championship that kicks off 31 January 2018 have been announced with eight clubs from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago competing in the top tier.
FIFA Ethics bow to pressure and ban Brazilian football boss Del Nero for 90 days
By Andrew Warshaw
December 15 – Brazilian FA president Marco Polo Del Nero’s charmed life as leader of the CBF looks to be close to coming to an end after the FIFA’s ethics committee today banned him, though not before global pressure mounted to un-ignorable levels even in Zurich.
Zimbabwe’s Chiyangwa responds to Mashingaidze’s corruption claims by banning him
By Andrew Warshaw
December 15 – The bitter in-fighting between Zimbabwean football boss Philip Chiyangwa (pictured) and the national federation’s (ZIFA) former chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze has plummeted to new depths with Mashingaidze reportedly handed a life ban after he claimed Chiyangwa was guilty of corruption.
VAR technology takes another hit as trust in video refs waivers
December 15 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s determination to have video technology introduced before next year’s World Cup has taken a further knock with a spokesman for the game’s law making body questioning the system’s efficacity, especially in Germany where it is being trialled along with several other leagues.
Kenya to pilot FIFA project to grow women’s participation
December 15 – Kenya has been chosen by FIFA to form part of the pilot phase for FIFA’s new women’s football development programmes, with Kenya Football being offered the opportunity to benefit from a project which will focus on participation growth.