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.
World Football
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.
Football mourns the loss of Italian legend Gianluca Vialli, aged 58
January 6 – The football world has lost yet another iconic and hugely popular figure with tributes pouring in following the death at just 58 of former Italian great Gianluca Vialli.
Serie A hits Lazio with ‘curva nord’ closure after racist chanting at Lecce
January 6 – Lazio have been handed a partial one-match stadium restriction after fans directed racist chants at Lecce defender Samuel Umtiti and winger Lameck Banda in an away Serie A game earlier this week that prompted widespread outrage.
Book review: a tale of Brazilian greatness and global legacy
January 6 – Brazil 1970 and Pele will forever remain the standard bearers of the beautiful game. In the book ‘Brazil 1970 – How the Greatest Team of All Time Won the World Cup’, author Sam Kunti chronicles the story of Brazil’s landmark victory.
Brazilian media hammers former stars for failing to honour Pelé
By Samindra Kunti in Sao Paulo
January 6 – Following a media storm, Ricardo Kaka has failed to explain why he did not attend Pelé’s funeral procession. Kaka, Ronaldo and other World Cup-winners as well as Neymar have been heavily criticized for failing to pay their last respect to Pele in Santos.
Cameroon U17 squad shredded after 21 players fail age screening tests
January 5 – Cameroon football has again been rocked by an age fraud scandal with 21 out of 30 Under-17 national team players disqualified after failing MRI tests ordered by the country’s FA (Fecafoot) chief Samuel Eto’o.
Lazio racism: abuse of Umtiti and Banda attracts global condemnation
January 5 – Supportive messages have poured in, including from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, after French international Samuel Umtiti was racially abused by Lazio fans who have once again tarnished the sport in Italy.
U.S. Soccer family feud: Danielle Reyna says she told U.S. Soccer of Berhalter incident
January 5 – Danielle Reyna, the mother of US midfielder Giovanni Reyna, has come forward saying she told U.S. Soccer of the domestic violence incident involving US coach Gregg Berhalter in 1991.
Bastia rebuilding but former boss Geronimi charged with embezzlement
January 5 – Corsican businessman Pierre-Marie Geronimi (pictured), former president of SC Bastia, has been charged with fraud, bankruptcy and misuse of corporate assets as part of a judicial investigation into possible financial embezzlement before the club’s 2017 liquidation.
Estrelabet expands into Brasileirão with América shirt deal
January 5 – Online bookmaker EstrelaBet, who before Christmas sealed a deal with the Brazilian federation (CBF) for sponsorship of all its futsal clubs, has now moved into mainstream Brazilian football becoming the main sponsor of América Futebol Clube.
Parker promises wins and ruthlessness at Belgian champions Club Brugge
January 5 – Just four months after his dismissal by Bournemouth, Scott Parker has succeeded Carl Hoefkens as head coach of Belgian champions Club Brugge.