Covid outbreak now hits Man City women’s team
January 5 – Four of Manchester City women’s team have tested positive for the coronavirus, continuing the club’s covid-19 woes.
World Football
Covid fears and travel uncertainty forces Concacaf to cancel U-17 and U-20 men’s
January 5 – Concacaf has cancelled its U-20 men’s championship, which would have qualified teams for the U-20 World Cup, and its U17 men’s World Cup qualification competition scheduled for 2021.
Sportradar and UEFA Foundation for Children mark safeguarding partnership
January 5 – The UEFA Foundation for Children and Sportradar Intelligence & Investigation Services are marking a three-year safeguarding partnership that reinforces the work carried out by the foundation.
Ivory Coast FA appeals FIFA’s Xmas ‘normalisation’ gift at CAS
December 30 – The Ivory Coast FA (FIF) has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against FIFA’s appointment of a normalisation committee in the country.
Party boy Neymar organises 5-day Xmas bash for 500 at Rio mansion
December 30 – Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has come under criticism for organising a secretive celebrity blowout near Rio de Janeiro with the coronavirus pandemic still raging across Brazil.
Ceferin slams Perez’s short term European Super League thinking
December 30 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has denounced Real Madrid boss Florentino Perez’s persistent backing for a breakaway European Super League saying the Spaniard “is only interested in today, not what tomorrow will be.”
Bad bet: Atletico and England star Trippier gets 13-match worldwide ban
December 30 – England and Atletico Madrid defender Kieran Trippier has been given a 10-week worldwide ban and fined £70,000 after an English Football Association panel found he broke betting rules.
Tigres UANL overcome LAFC to keep Concacaf Champions League title in Mexico
December 23 – Tigres UANL cemented Mexico’s domination of the Concacaf Champions League after rallying to defeat Los Angeles FC 2-1 in the tournament’s final, extending Liga MX’s winning streak in the competition to 15 years.
Barca presidential hopeful Farre, puts reuniting Messi and Neymar on his agenda
December 23 – Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Farre says he plans to try and re-unite Lionel Messi and Neymar if he lands the job in succession to Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Real Madrid’s Perez says a breakaway European Super League is evolution
December 22 – Real Madrid president Florentino Perez (pictured) has once again provocatively called for the formation of a European Super League.
FIFA’s setting of Ivory Coast election rules could scupper Anouma’s CAF bid
December 22 – Reports in the Ivory Coast suggest FIFA is preparing to make public its ruling on the electoral process for the presidency of the country’s football federation (FIF), a move that could have serious consequences for Jacques Anouma’s bid for control of African football.
Mönchengladbach’s Thuram banned for spitting in opponent’s face
December 22 – Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram has been banned for five games for spitting in the face of a Hoffenheim opponent in the Bundesliga.
EFL pushes League Cup final back to April in hope more fans can attend
December 22 – The EFL has pushed its League Cup final back from February to April in the hope that more fans will be able to attend its Wembley showpiece event in London.
Failed Mediapro partnership strikes financial fear into hearts of French club football
December 21 – French football is still counting the cost of the loss of the Mediapro broadcast deal that has plunged a raft of clubs, already hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, into further financial disarray.
LAFC seek to break Mexican grip on Concacaf Champions League against Tigres UANL
December 21 – Tigres UANL and Los Angeles FC will close off Concacaf’s disrupted 2020 competition season with the final of 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League on Tuesday (December 22).