McDonald’s adds Argentina digital deal to sponsor roster
February 4 – The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has signed up fast food giant McDonald’s in a national team sponsorship that will activate around the AFA’s digital platforms.
World Football
Exclusive: FIFA’s 100-point plan for Africa would ‘relieve’ CAF exco of key decision making roles
By Osasu Obayiuwana
February 3 – The powers and influence of the 23-man executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), to decide the affairs of the organisation and the continental game, are to be whittled down, if it is acceptable to CAF’s General Assembly.
Out of Africa: CAF exco turn back on Samoura as FIFA’s 100-point plan floated
By Andrew Warshaw
February 3 – She came, she saw, but what did she actually manage to conquer? FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura has ended her six-month secondment to clean up the administration of the scandal-plagued African Football Confederation (CAF) but the jury will be out for some time in terms what she achieved.
AFC calls emergency meeting to discuss coronavirus action plan
February 3 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has called an emergency meeting of all its stakeholders – member associations, leagues, clubs and commercial parties – participating in the East Zone of the AFC Champions League to discuss the spread of the coronavirus.
More CAF Champions League chaos as Sudanase riot police called in to protect players
February 3 – Chaos reigned once again in the African Champions League when Sudanese riot police had to take over the centre of the pitch to protect players and officials and control fans during a match between Sudanese team Al Hilal Omdurman and Egypt’s Al Ahly in Group C of the competition at the Al-Jawhara Stadium in Khartoum.
Government orders Mauritius team home from CAF Futsal finals
January 31 – Mauritius has followed the lead of South Africa by becoming the second country to pull out of the ongoing Futsal Africa Cup of Nations being staged in Laayoune in the disputed region of Western Sahara.
Irish government bails out FAI with promise of annual €2.5m loan, interest free
January 31 – The future of the embattled Irish Football Association (FAI) has been saved after the Irish Government agreed to double its funding and give the federation an interest free loan of €2.5 million annually for the next three years as part of a refinancing arrangement.
Flamengo now locked in TV rights battle with TV Globo over Brasileirao
January 31 – Brazilian giants Flamengo have taken legal steps against broadcast behemoth TV Globo over the league’s broadcast rights contract. Earlier this season, Flamengo and Globo fell out over a rights deal for Rio de Janeiro’s state championship.
Platini is ‘happy’ but he still doesn’t like Blatter or VAR
January 31 – Free to work in football again now that his ban from the game is over, Michel Platini says he is a happy man despite never realising his ambition of running FIFA and instead seeing his reputation shattered.
Atletico Madrid secure Ottawa franchise for CPL’s second season
January 30 – The Canadian Premier League (CPL) has green lighted an Ottawa franchise team run by Spanish club Atletico Madrid.
Canada’s Sinclair creates history, smashing world scoring record
January 30 – Forget the US women superstars, it is Canada’s Christine Sinclair’s name will now be etched into the record books. On Wednesday, the Canadian striker scored twice in a 11-0 win over Saint Kitts and Nevis in Olympic qualifying to become the all-time top scorer in international football, surpassing previous record holder Abby Wambach of the United States.
Gold Cup 2021 qualifiers see Trinidad, Guatemala and Haiti still battling for slots
January 30 – With 12 teams now qualified for the 2021 Gold Cup – the 16th edition of Concacaf’s blue riband national men’s team competition – the draw for the play-offs for the final four spots has been released. The deciders will be via elimination rounds in the March 2020 international window before a final round of play-offs in June 2020.
Manchester City fans fly into trouble with Munich air crash taunt
January 30 – Manchester’s two rival clubs face being sanctioned after tensions ran high between both sets of supporters during their League semi-final second leg tie on Wednesday.
Samoura unclear of her future as FIFA’s African overseer
January 29 – FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura is refusing to say whether her remit for getting African football’s house in order will continue after her six-month contract runs out on February 1.
Belgian corruption probe sees police swoop on home of Standard Liege chairman Venanzi
By Samindra Kunti
January 29 – Belgian police swooped on the home of Standard Liege chairman Bruno Venanzi (pictured) and carried out searches at the club’s stadium Sclessin on Wednesday morning as part of the investigation into football agent Christophe Henrotay.