Infantino pledges support to rebuild Sudan’s football culture
February 23 – Gianni Infantino’s African roadshow landed in Sudan on Monday, where the FIFA boss pledged more support for the north African country.
World Football
Gravina returned as FIGC boss as Italy plans to host Euro 2020 kick-off, with fans
February 23 – Gabriele Gravina was re-elected as president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Monday and will now lead the federation until 2024, having amassed 73.45% of the votes.
Ivory Coast backs Anouma’s bid for CAF presidency with reported €15m
February 22 – Ivorian authorities are stepping up their financial support for Jacques Anouma (pictured) in his bid to become the next Confederation of African Football (CAF) chief by pledging a staggering €15.3 million for his campaign to take over from Ahmad Ahmad, according to local reports.
Infantino keeps up the pace and politics as he criss-crosses Africa
By Samindra Kunti
February 22 – On his pan-African tour, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, addressing the general assembly of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA), in South Africa, called on African teams to step up and leave a mark on the 2026 World Cup, the first global finals to be staged in a 48-team format.
UK government scotches report it has offered to host Euro2020
February 22 – Britain’ health secretary Matt Hancock has shot down a newspaper report which suggested the UK may be ready to host next summer’s delayed Euro 2020.
Mali and RB Salzburg pair crash after altitude sickness pills land then with a doping ban
February 22 – Two Mali players with Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg have been handed three-month doping suspensions.
US women have trial date on gender discrimination case pushed back to June
February 22 – The trial date for the gender discrimination lawsuit brought by US women players against the US Soccer Federation has been pushed back from May 5 to June 16.
South Sudan kicks off new women’s league
February 22 – Women’s football in South Sudan took a major step forward this weekend with the inauguration of a new domestic league.
FIFA’s Wenger warns UEFA it could kill its Champions League with new format plans
February 19 – Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Development since the end of 2019, has hit out at proposals to overhaul the Champions League, warning that fans will be turned off if the competition is watered down.
European Leagues’ Olsson warns new CL format could ‘cannibalise’ domestic TV deals
February 19 – The president of the European Leagues Lars-Christer Olsson (pictured) has sounded a warning about the proposed Swiss model for the Champions League, saying extra European fixtures will ‘cannibalise’ domestic TV rights across the continent.
Bundesliga and Premier League slam Super League project; PL eager for fan return
February 19 – English Premier League chief executive Richard Masters (pictured) and his Bundesliga counterpart Christian Seifert have both opposed the much-rumoured plans to form a breakaway European super league to replace the Champions League.
Out in Africa: Infantino manoeuvres through CAF, Rwanda and SA pre-CAF elections
February 19 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s latest stop on his tour of Africa during the global health crisis – Africa’s football governance is similarly facing a major health crisis – has been the Central African Republic.
Fan worshipped Buffon fined for blasphemy
February 19 – Veteran Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been fined €5,000 by the Italian Football Federation for blasphemy.
Players’ union says any new Champions League format must prioritise player health
February 18 – The international men’s players union FIFpro says ongoing discussions about the future of UEFA competitions with a view to preventing a breakaway Super League must include safeguards to protect the workload placed on its members.
OL’s Aulas calls on players to share the pain with 25% pay cut, offset by a share deal
February 18 – Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas has asked his players to take a pay cut in a bid to mitigate the financial fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic and loss of Ligue 1 TV rights revenue.