January 19 – Stoke City are the most ‘efficient’ team in Europe’s Big 5 leagues, according to the latest data from the CIES Football Observatory. PSG are beaten into third place in the ranking by Villareal, while Manchester United are placed fifth.
By Paul Nicholson
January 19 – With FIFA election candidates lobbying for votes and a flamethrower as entertainment for the assembled, the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) focused on its own football activity at the weekend, for the first time holding a ‘public’ draw ceremony for the 2016 CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup in Antigua.
January 12 – Bolton Wanderers, one of the most iconic names in English football, have been given a stay of execution by avoiding an immediate winding-up order.
January 19 – Hull City, Panathinaikos and Sporting Lisbon have all settled their financial fair play issues with UEFA but Galatasaray have failed to comply with break-even rules and have been referred to the governing body’s adjudicatory chamber.
By Paul Nicholson
January 19 – The US investigation into money laundering by South American football officials has gained a wider perspective as news has broken that one of the senior bankers at Swiss bank Julius Baer has been in US custody since the autumn.
January 18 – The Spanish league has come out in support of Real and Atletico Madrid describing the FIFA transfer bans meted out to both of them as “disproportionate” and “excessive”.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – FIFA presidential candidate Tokyo Sexwale’s hopes of gaining the unanimous support of his own African confederation have suffered a further blow with Ghana saying the South African lacks the requisite leadership skills.
January 15 – The first official Futsal coaching badge in north America has been announced at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) conference in Baltimore this week. The NSCAA Diploma for futsal will be created with the co-operation of U.S. Futsal.
By Mark Baber
January 15 – Oil has dipped below $30 a barrel for third day in a row and, with oversupply likely to be exacerbated as Iran enters the market, low oil prices look here to stay. This will have quite dramatic economic consequences across the globe, from which the business of football is not immune.
By David Owen
January 15 – The wave of Chinese investment in world football has reached Europe’s premier national team competition. Hisense, a white goods and electronics company based in the east-coast city of Qingdao has been unveiled as the 10th global partner of Euro 2016, to be played for the first time as a 24-team tournament in France in June and July.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – Real Madrid and their cross-town rivals Atletico have reacted with shock and dismay after being slapped with transfer bans by FIFA for breaching regulations on the acquisition of non-Spanish minors under the age of 18.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of the body that represents Europe’s biggest clubs, has rekindled speculation about a breakaway European Super League.
January 15 – The German Football Association has expressed its interest in testing video replay technology at the highest level domestically if the game’s rulemakers give the idea the thumbs up in March.
By Paul Nicholson
January 15 – The number of emergency gatherings of football federation chiefs is growing with CONCACAF confirming its own Extraordinary Congress for February 25 in Zurich, the day before its members attend FIFA’s own Extraordinary event to elect a new president.
By Ben Nicholson
January 15 – Louisville FC, which plays in the US third tier USL, is signalling MLS ambition by commissioning planning firm Conventions, Sports & Leisure International to perform a feasibility study for the construction of a football-specific stadium.