CHAN enters knockout stages with Morocco leading the way
January 26 – Angola and Congo-Brazzaville booked the last spots for the quarterfinals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) as the tournament’s knockout stages begin this weekend.
World Football
Beckham’s MLS franchise in Miami looks set for formal unveiling
January 25 – After almost four years in the making, David Beckham’s dream of heading a new MLS team has moved a crucial step closer to reality.
First UEFA Nations League takes shape with groups drawn in Lausanne
By Andrew Warshaw
January 24 – It may look fiendishly unwieldly and complicated on paper but UEFA are convinced that their much-trumpeted Nations League competition, the draw for which was made today, will very quickly catch on and become an integral part of the European football landscape.
UEFA considers cap on agents fees to stop financial ‘hostage’ taking
January 24 – UEFA is considering imposing a cap on agents’ fees following a meeting of its Professional Football Strategy Group.
Del Nero faces FIFA ethics investigators saying he has done nothing wrong
January 23 – Marco Polo del Nero has maintained his total innocence of bribery and corruption laid against him by the United States Justice Department’s FIFAGate inquiry in a cross examination by FIFA’s ethics investigation.
Weah sworn in as Liberian president and vows to end country’s corruption
January 23 – Liberia’s George Weah, the former world footballer of the year who made the remarkable step of switching to politics and going all the way to becoming president of his country, was officially sworn into power on Monday and promised a crackdown on systematic corruption.
La Liga-Saudi deal puts cash before player development, says Spanish players union
January 23 – A ground-breaking agreement between Spanish football and authorities in Saudi Arabia has received a furious rebuke from Spain’s football union which says the arrival of nine Saudi players in La Liga will harm local development and is purely a money-earning exercise.
Wynalda pulls no punches as NASL backs him for US Soccer presidency
January 19 – The North American Soccer League has confirmed it is backing former US international Eric Wynalda in the U.S. Soccer presidential election race which climaxes on February 10.
CAS lifts 5-year ban on Senegal’s US Ouakam saying stadium disaster was not their fault
January 19 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS has lifted a five-year ban imposed on Senegalese club US Ouakam. In July 2017 eight people were killed by a stampede at the game US Ouakam – Stade de Mbour during Senegal’s cup final.
Estoril evacuate fans as cracks appear in stadium at half time
January 18 – Portuguese authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to a top-flight league match being abandoned at half-time and spectators evacuated on to the pitch after cracks appeared in a stand.
Swaziland league chairman Victor Gamedze gunned down in suspected contract killing
January 17 – Swaziland is in shock and all football in the country has been suspended after Premier League of Swaziland chairman Victor Gamedze (pictured) was gunned down at a petrol station in a targeted assassination on Sunday evening.
UEFA receives nine bids for 2020 European Super Cup
January 16 – Nine venues have expressed an interest in hosting the European Super Cup in 2020 between the winners of the Champions League and Europa League.
Morocco open CHAN 2018 with a win, and put a marker down in 2026 World Cup bid battle
By Samindra Kunti
January 15 – Hosts Morocco opened the fifth edition of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a thumping win against neighbours Mauritania, putting forward their credentials as a renewed force in African football both on the pitch and as hosts of major tournaments.
London awaits as World Football Cup draw takes place in Northern Cyprus
By David Owen
January 15 – The draw has been completed for the 2018 World Football Cup, to be staged in London between May 31 and June 9.
Montagliani turns to twitter to clean up Trump’s shit storm
January 15 – CONCACAF chief Victor Montagliani has wasted no time moving into trouble-shooting mode in the wake of Donald Trump’s “shithole” slur that will do little to find favour among FIFA’s federations as the bid for the 2026 World Cup enters a key phase.