Fleetwood Haiya ends Walter Nyamilandu’s 19-year Malawi presidency
December 17 – Fleetwood Haiya (pictured) has been elected the new president of the Malawi FA (FAM), bringing to an end the longstanding reign of Walter Nyamilandu.
World Football
Ankaragucu’s hard-hitting president Faruk Koca banned for life
December 15 – The former president of Turkish top flight club Ankaragucu, Faruk Koca, has been handed a permanent ban by the Turkish Football Federation for punching a referee that has drawn widespread revulsion.
VAR error contributed to Espanyol regulation, rules Spanish court
December 15 – In a rare case of seeking justice for a wrong VAR decision, a Spanish judge has ruled in favour of Espanyol whose relegation in May was partly precipitated by a ‘ghost’ goal scored by opponents Atletico Madrid.
Turkish SuperLig to return Dec. 19 after attack on referee Meler; government reviews sports laws
December 14 – The Turkish FA (TFF) have said that all its football leagues will resume play on December 19 after matches in Turkey were postponed indefinitely following the assault by Ankaragücü president Faruk Koca on referee Halil Umut Meler after the end of the Rizespor match.
UEFA bans Legia Warsaw fans for five matches after Villa violence
December 14 – Legia Warsaw have been banned from selling tickets to their travelling fans for five European away games as a result of the violent scenes that marred their recent Europa Conference League defeat at Aston Villa.
Peru fire Reynoso after poor start sees them bottom of Conmebol 2026 qualifying
December 14 – Peru have dismissed their coach Juan Reynoso following a disappointing start to their 2026 World Cup qualifiers campaign.
Ednaldo Rodrigues loses court appeal over his removal from CBF presidency
December 14 – Rio de Janeiro’s Superior Court of Justice (STJ) has thrown out Brazilian FA (CBF) boss Ednaldo Rodrigues’ appeal after a lower court removed him from the presidency.
Houston vs St Louis and Tigres vs Vancouver headline Champions Cup first round draw
December 14 – The all MLS match-up of Houston Dynamo vs St Louis City and the LigaMX vs MLS tie between Tigres UANL and Vancouver Whitecaps were the stand-out first round fixtures in the draw for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup yesterday.
Ecobank joins AFCON 2024 sponsorship roster with 30 days to go to Cote d’Ivoire kick-off
December 14 – Pan-African banking group Ecobank has become an official sponsor of the Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 that kicks off 13 January 2024.
Incoming MLS franchise San Diego FC keep focus on youth promises with first player signing
December 14 – San Diego FC, who will be the 30th MLS franchise when they begin league play in 2025, have signed their first player, U.S. youth national team goalkeeper Duran Ferree.
Ukraine relief funds from Chelsea sale frozen as guarantees sought
December 13 – Funds from Roman Abramovich’s sale of Chelsea that were supposed to go to victims of the war in Ukraine have still not been released 18 months after the sale because of a disagreement over how to use them, according to UK reports.
Marinakis quits presidency of Greek Super League warning ‘criminal elements’ are killing the game
December 13 – Evangelos Marinakis is stepping down as president of the Greek Super League following the latest wave of football-related violence and the recent government announcement that matches are to be played behind closed doors for two months until improved safety measures are put in place.
Ceferin undecided on whether to run again as UEFA old boy Gill pushes him towards the exit
December 13 – UEFA sources have said that if president Aleksander Ceferin decided to run for a third full term, the confederation’s statutes might not necessarily need to be changed to make that possible.
Concacaf set for 2024 Champions Cup draw with clubs eyeing 2024 and 2025 Club World Cup slots
December 13 – Concacaf is readying for the 2024 Champions Cup draw later today that will decide the first two rounds of the knockout competition, the re-versioned Champions League competition for Concacaf’s leading clubs that is returning to its original name.
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.