Todger-toting Malaga coach Sanchez suspended after video goes viral
January 8 – Second-tier Spanish side Malaga have suspended their coach Victor Sanchez del Amo (pictured) after a sexually explicit video of him appeared on social media.
World Football
Duffy switches NWSL role for Orlando Pride lead
January 8 – Amanda Duffy (pictured) will step down as president of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States next month to become executive vice president of the Orlando Pride.
Saudi’s controversial €120m Spanish Super Cup ready to kick off but fans stay at home
January 7 – The revamped Spanish Super Cup gets under way in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday but few Spanish fans have made the trip amid heightened political tensions in the region and mounting criticism of the tournament being held in another Continent in a country long condemned for its human rights record.
Flamengo turmoil as Globo TV deal hits roadblock and board battle for control
January 7 – Flamengo’s new year has began under a storm cloud. The Brazilian giants have not yet reached a rights agreement with TV Globo about the upcoming Rio state championship and, on Monday, Flamengo dismissed their director of football Paulo Pelaipe.
Head injury research project expanded to test for early signs of dementia
January 7 – The University of East Anglia have intensified research into the link between football and dementia with a £1 million study that will test former players for early signs of the disease.
Nutcracker Christie banned after Celtic vs Rangers derby overheats
January 7 – Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie has been slapped with a ban after being found guilty of grabbing Rangers’ Colombian forward Alfredo Morelos by the genitals during the recent derby between Scotland’s two rival Glasgow giants.
Regional uncertainty forces US to cancel men’s team training camp in Qatar
January 6 – The US men’s squad has scrapped plans to go to Qatar for a winter training camp amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following the controversial assassination of Iran’s top military commander ordered by Donald Trump.
Boca Junior’s sweet plan for Bombonera expansion
January 6 – Argentine giants Boca Juniors want to expand their Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires to become a state-of-the-art venue with a larger capacity.
GFA cracks down on ‘illegal’ bookies offering markets on Ghana Premier League
January 6 – New Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku has acted swiftly to crackdown on the illegal betting markets being offered by bookmakers on the country’s Premier League (GPL), threatening legal action.
Great train robbery: Renard tries to track trophy down
January 6 – French international defender Wendie Renard says the trophy she received for being named in FIFA’s women’s team of the year has gone missing after being left on a train.
Full 16-team line-up for World Football Cup unveiled
By David Owen
January 5 – The Confederation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA) has disclosed the full list of qualifiers for this year’s edition of the World Football Cup.
Réunion team cause French cup sensation
By David Owen
January 5 – A team from the Indian Ocean island of Réunion has created a French football sensation by knocking second division Chamois Niortais out of the Coupe de France.
Suspicion of Ethics cover-up as Peruvian ticket scheme goes unpunished
By Paul Nicholson
January 3 – Hopes that the FBI investigations and US Justice Department indictments in 2015 had kick started a governance reform and an end to football corruption in South America are foundering after information that FIFA and Conmebol have failed to act on a Word Cup ticket re-sale scandal by former Peruvian FA (FPF) officials.
Ghana starts 2020 with clear out of all national team coaching staff
January 3 – Ghana’s Football Association (GFA) has dismissed all its national team coaches, from age-group teams through to the full senior sides.
Fahmy to challenge Ahmad for African presidency on anti-corruption ticket
By Andrew Warshaw
January 2 – Amr Fahmy (pictured), the Egyptian official sacked last spring as African football’s number two administrator for lifting the lid on the allegedly corrupt activities of his boss, Ahmad, is gunning to unseat him by going for the region’s top job himself.