Japan, Canada and Brazil join US from Spring edition of SheBelieves Cup
January 22 – The US Soccer Federation has announced that Japan, Canada and Brazil will join them for the ninth edition of this Spring’s SheBelieves Cup.
News
Kay Bernstein, Herta Berlin ultra who became president, dies, aged 43
January 17 – Hertha Berlin president Kay Bernstein, a former supporter who surprisingly took over the presidency of the club in 2022, has died suddenly at the age of 43, the club said in a statement.
Fifpro survey finds stadium security needs improvement
January 12 – Security in stadiums must be improved and sanctions strengthened to deter physical and verbal abuse of footballers, according to a survey by the players’ union Fifpro.
World mourns death of Franz Beckenbauer, 78, one of football’s classiest acts
By Andrew Warshaw
January 9 – Tributes are pouring in from across the globe in memory of Germany’s greatest footballing icon, Franz Beckenbauer, one of only three men to lift the World Cup both as a player and manager and known in his playing days as Der Kaiser (‘the Emperor’).
Turkish Super Cup called off after Saudi organisers ban Ataturk t-shirts and banners
January 2 – Turkey and Saudi Arabia are blaming each other for the embarrassing last-minute abandonment of the Turkish Super Cup final between arch-rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce which had been due to take place in Riyadh last Friday.
Inter Miami add Saudi trip to pre-season and a Messi vs Ronaldo re-run
December 13 – In the latest coup for Saudi Arabia, the Arab Kingdom will host two Inter Miami pre-season matches, including a rematch between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo who now plays for Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr.
Bundesliga clubs greenlight €1bn private equity money raise for commercial rights
December 12 – Germany’s Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs have greenlighted a proposal to raise an estimated €1 billion in private equity investment in return for a 20-year share in their commercial rights.
Granada vs Athletic Club suspended after fan dies in stands
December 11 – The La Liga game between Granada and Athletic Club was abandoned at the weekend after a home fan died.
Messi’s Inter Miami rack up the air miles with pre-season Hong Kong stop added to El Salvador match
December 11 – Lionel Messi and Inter Miami didn’t make manage to make it to Asia for a close season lap of China, but they are now planning a pre-season Far East trip with the first announced fixture being against a Hong Kong XI in February.
French attempt to crackdown on violence with series of away fan travel bans
December 8 – More away fans are being banned from attending matches in France after the death of a supporter in Nantes last weekend prompted authorities to call for a crackdown on violence.
ECA rival UEC gets membership boost with 34 English clubs joining via Fair Game partnership
December 12 – The Union of European Clubs (UEC) has received a membership boost after 34 clubs from England and Wales joined following a partnership with Fair Game, the union announced on Friday.
Marseilles vs Lyon re-match played without incident, and travelling fans
December 7 – Just four days after the death of a Nantes fan that marked a new low in a French season marred by violence, a rescheduled game between Marseille and Lyon took place on Wednesday with no trouble.
Sevilla shareholders agree €300m stadium expansion
December 6 – La Liga’s Sevilla have unveiled plans for a large-scale development of their Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.
French sports minister says football violence must end as part of a global response
December 5 – France’s sports minister has called for “a global and extraordinarily determined response” to violence in football after the death of a Nantes supporter over the weekend.
DBU turns spotlight on FIFA to ensure host nations respect human rights
November 29 – The Danish FA (DBU) has said that in the future the organisation will direct their criticism toward FIFA and not host countries of the World Cup in a bid to hold the world federation more accountable.