By Andrew Warshaw
January 14 – Kosovan football authorities are celebrating a major breakthrough after FIFA finally cleared the national team and clubs to play friendly matches after a long-running dispute that was in danger of derailing any meaningful progress.
January 14 – With just one round of group games left, the semi-finalists in the CONCACAF Women’s Under 20 Championship are now known. The final group game, between Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago who have both qualified for the next round, is all about who will draw (or avoid) a powerful US team in the semis.
By Paul Nicholson
January 14 – CONCACAF has passed a new protocol for dealing with racist incidents during matches, The protocol becomes effective immediately and deals with serious and discriminatory behaviour by fans including chants, insults and banners.
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 13 – Poland’s ITI Group has sold Legia Warsaw to Boguslaw Lesnodorski, the club’s chief executive, and his business partner Dariusz Mioduski.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 13 – Spanish football authorities, many of whose clubs are struggling financially, have launched an ambitious new tournament designed to increase brand awareness overseas. The so-called ‘LFP World Challenge’ will see friendly games played in Europe, North and South America and Asia between the 2014/15 and 2016/17 seasons.
January 13 – Lazio and Italy midfielder Stefano Mauri will be back in action on February 2 after his nine-month ban for failing to report match-fixing was reduced on appeal.
January 13 – Barcelona’s signing of Brazilian forward Neymar last June has attracted intense attention from the Spanish courts following a complaint by Barcelona club member Jordi Cases, who wants clarification of how the €57.1 million fee was distributed.
By Paul Nicholson
January 10 – Nike and adidas have been referred to the UK government’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) anti-cartel unit following their decisions to supply major outlets only. So far, though, adidas have not been contacted by the OFT regarding an investigation.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 10 – The controversial French comic whose alleged Nazi-style gesture was copied by former French international Nicolas Anelka, prompting a global outcry by anti-racist groups, was banned from performing this week by the highest court in France – just before he was about to go on stage.
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 10 – Poland’s Korona Kielce has signed a sponsorship deal with Kolporter, one of the country’s largest press distribution companies. Under the contract, which will be effective “until at least end of June 2018”, the club’s stadium will be renamed Kolporter Arena.
January 9- FIFA have globally banned yet another El Salvador player in relation to the ongoing match-fixing investigation conducted by the El Salvador Football Association.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 9- A top-flight Dutch club is at the centre of a diplomatic storm after going ahead with a winter-break warm weather trip to the United Arab Emirates despite an Israeli defender on its books being refused permission to enter the country.
January 9 – Malaysian second tier club Kedah have denied that they have been forced to change their colours from green and yellow to red as a result of fresh investment by controversial Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan.
By Paul Nicholson
January 9 – The messages of anti-discrimination and social inclusion of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people might be starting to get through as more high profile athletes and governing bodies are taking stands. Thomas Hitzlsperger became the biggest name footballer to come out as gay, while in the US the National Soccer Coaches Assn. of America has added a ‘Gay, Lesbian and Ally’ page to its website.
January 9 – The CONCACAF Women’s Under 20 Championship kicks off toady in the Cayman Islands with a double headed opener with Guatemala taking on Jamaica, followed by two-time defending champion United States against Costa Rica.