Belgian’s Mouscron handed transfer ban as players go unpaid
December 2 – Belgian club Mouscron have been slapped with a transfer ban by the Belgian FA (KBVB) because of unpaid salaries to both the technical staff and players.
World Football
CAF sparks row with World Leagues after boosting player call-ups for Cameroon 2022
December 1 – The World Leagues Forum, representing professional leagues from across the world, has written to FIFA and African football’s hierarchy denouncing what it claims is a unilateral decision, with no consultation, over the release of players for the upcoming African Nations Cup in Cameroon in January and February.
Burying the ESL: EU sports ministers back European Sport Model resolution
December 1 – EU sports ministers have moved to prevent European Super League plans from being resurrected after they adopted Resolution of the Council of the EU on a European Sport Model, in effect rejecting closed competitions.
Bottom-slapping fan hit with three-year sports ban
December 1 – Italian police have banned a fan from all sporting events for three years after he allegedly slapped the bottom of a female reporter live on TV, a gesture that drew widespread condemnation.
England hammer 20 past Latvia to set new scoring record
December 1 – England bettered Belgium’s 19-0 victory against Armenia with 20 goals of their own against Latvia to set a new European record in Women’s World Cup qualifying.
Omicron variant ripped through team to trigger the Belenenses vs Benfica fiasco
November 30 – All 13 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Portugal involved players and staff of top division Belenenses, one of whose players recently returned from South Africa, according to health authorities.
FIFA tightens grip on Africa with normalisation committees in Chad and Guinea
November 30 – FIFA has appointed normalisation committees in Chad and Guinea, the latest two African countries unable to run their own footballing affairs. The FIFA-appointed officials will oversee elections in both national associations.
Qatar to host OFC nations for centralised 2022 World Cup qualifying
November 30 – Qatar will host the 2022 Oceania World Cup qualifiers featuring eight participants following the withdrawal of both Samoa and American Samoa, FIFA have announced.
Head thinking: UEFA draws up concussion charter
November 30 – European governing body UEFA has drawn up a concussion charter to educate stakeholders in the game and promote good concussion management.
Infantino gets backing of African pals for game-changing biennial world cup plan
By Andrew Warshaw
November 29 – Bruised by the generally lukewarm response to his case for the World Cup to be held every two years, Gianni Infantino now claims opponents of the idea are scared of change.
Former Czech FA boss Pelta jailed for fraudulent use of government sports subsidies
November 29 – A Czech court has sentenced a former head of the country’s FA to six and years in jail for fraud.
Police raid Juve offices in probe into suspected transfer fraud
November 29 – The offices of Juventus, Italy’s most successful club, were raided by police last Friday amid an investigation into transfer dealings between 2019 and 2021.
Crypto.com becomes Copa Libertadores sponsor and Conmebol’s NFT partner
November 29 – Conmebol has agreed a multi-year partnership with Crypto.com as an official partner of its showcase club competition, Copa Libertadores.
Palmeiras retain Copa Libertadores title with extra time win over Flamengo
By Samindra Kunti in Montevideo, Uruguay
November 28 – With a dramatic extra-time goal from substitute Deyverson, Palmeiras defeated Flamengo 2-1 to retain their Copa Libertadores title and win the competition for a third time in the club’s history.
Motsepe ‘excited’ by Super League plan, and endorses Cameroon’s AFCON hosting
By Samindra Kunti
November 26 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and its president Patrice Motsepe, at the confederation’s congress today, have further endorsed the creation of a continental Super League, but provided little detail on the competition. Motsepe also reaffirmed CAF’s commitment to Cameroon hosting the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in January.