USL pushes women’s pro Super League launch to 2024 as it builds W League platform
January 11 – The United Soccer League (USL) has pushed back the start of its new professional women’s league into 2024.
World Football
Hillsborough crowd crush prompts probe into Newcastle FA Cup tie
January 11 – Safety officers have joined the English FA in investigating claims of crushing and overcrowding in Newcastle’s FA Cup third round upset at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.
Welsh boss Page wants to keep Bale involved with national team
January 11 – Wales manager Rob Page wants Gareth Bale to stay involved in the international set-up after the superstar forward announced he was hanging up his boots.
Alves faces sexual harassment allegation after night in Barcelona night club
January 11 – Former Barcelona and Brazil star Daniel Alves is under investigation over the allegation of sexual harassment of a woman at a Spanish nightclub, Catalonia’s Supreme Court has said.
Conmebol boosts club competition prize money to $300m
January 10 – Entering a new commercial rights phase, the South American confederation Conmebol has increased prize money across its club competitions to $300 million. The winner of the flagship club competition, the Copa Libertadores, can now earn as much as $28 million.
CBF gets shirty over Bolsonaro supporters’ storming of Congress
January 10 – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has condemned the far-right supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, who stormed the capital in their thousands and rocked Brazil’s democracy on Sunday, for wearing the iconic yellow shirt of the national team.
Welsh talisman and Real Madrid legend Gareth Bale calls time on his playing career
By Andrew Warshaw
January 10 – Once the world’s most expensive footballer and a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Wales captain Gareth Bale has ended his playing career at the age of 33, he announced on Monday.
Martinez takes over at Portugal and dreams big…one step at a time
January 10 – It didn’t take Roberto Martinez long to find a new role. The Spaniard has become the third foreign coach to lead Portugal, succeeding Fernando Santos.
Premier League clubs tumble as giant killers have a field day in the FA Cup
January 9 – Holders Liverpool were held to a 2-2 home draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers on a weekend when no fewer than eight of the 20 Premier League sides were dumped out of the FA Cup, the world’s oldest domestic knockout competition, at the first time of asking.
AFC sets pathway for Paris 2024 women’s qualification
January 9 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has unveiled a three-round competition structure to qualify two women’s teams for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
France to stick with Deschamps through 2026 World Cup
January 9 – French coach Didier Deschamps is to stay until the 2026 World Cup after leading his country to the final of the last two editions of the tournament.
Le Graet under fire for disrespecting Zidane
January 9 – Not for the first time, French football has been hit by an internal war of words, this time over controversial comments made by French football federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet about national icon Zinedine Zidane (pictured).
Cameroon’s Modeste M’Bami dies of heart attack, aged 40
January 9 – Former Cameroon and Paris St Germain midfielder Modeste M’Bami has died aged just 40 after suffering a heart attack.
Brazil mourns passing of goal scoring legend Roberto Dinamite, aged 68
January 9 – Brazil is once again mourning the passing of a footballing great. Following the funeral of Pele, Vasco da Gama legend Roberto Dinamite died on Sunday, also following a battle with colon cancer, aged 68.
Čeferin unopposed for third term as UEFA president, election contests set for Euro reps at FIFA
January 6 – UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin looks set for a third term as UEFA president after the deadline passed yesterday for any challengers to come forward for the April 5 election at the UEFA congress in Lisbon, Portugal.