Paraguayan police question Ronaldinho over fake passport
March 5 – Former Brazil and Barcelona star Ronaldinho is being investigated by police in Paraguay for allegedly using a false passport to enter the country.
South America
Uruguay’s Valdez handed year ban by FIFA Ethics
February 26 – Despite efforts to shake off its tarnished image, Conmebol has been rocked by yet more scandal after its former FIFA Council member Wilmar Valdez (pictured) was banned for one year for breaking his duty of loyalty.
Juninho continues at CBF after conflict of interest issues with Ituano player profits ruled out
February 24 – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has retained Juninho Paulista as national team coordinator after a conflict of interest arose over Paulista’s ties with Sao Paulo club Ituano.
Rio prosecutor tells Flamengo to increase compensation to families over fire deaths
February 17 – Rio de Janeiro’s public prosecutor and the state’s public ministry have demanded greater compensation from Flamengo for the families of the ten youth players who perished in a fire at the club’s training complex last year. The fire will no longer be treated as a ‘collective accident’.
UEFA and Conmebol buddy up for referee and new competition talks
February 13 – UEFA has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with South American confederation Conmebol covering collaboration across a number of areas from education to refereeing and new competitions.
Pele too ‘embarrassed’ by ill health to make public appearances
February 11 – The world’s most famous footballer, Pele, has become a virtual recluse according to his son because he cannot walk unaided.
Flamengo shuts victims’ families out of remembrance events
February 10 – On Saturday, on the first anniversary of the fatal fire at Flamengo’s training complex that killed 10 youth players, the Rio club excluded families of the victims from participating in remembrance events. Flamengo fans today will protest at the club’s headquarter to express their disapproval.
Brazil squeeze through qualifiers to defend Olympic title in Japan
February 10 – Defending champions Brazil have qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer after overcoming rivals Argentina 3-0 in a crunch qualifier. The Argentineans had already booked their ticket.
Flamengo’s grieving families go uncompensated as club rakes in record revenues
By Samindra Kunti
February 7 – A year after the fatal fire at the Ninho do Urubu, Flamengo’s training centre, the families of seven victims remain entangled in a legal battle over compensation.
Boca complaint fails as CAS lets River Plate keep their 2018 Libertadores title
February 5 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed that Argentina’s River Plate are the 2018 Copa Libertadores champions after rejecting the appeal of cross-town rivals and losing finalists Boca Juniors.
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.
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.
Globo refuse to meet Flamengo terms leaving Carioca kick off without broadcast coverage
January 20 – Flamengo’s curtain raiser in the Rio state championship, a 0-0 draw with Macae on Saturday, was not broadcast after the club and TV Globo failed to reach a rights agreement.
Argentina is major source of players for South American leagues, as Brazilians go global
January 14 – An analysis of the four leading leagues in South America – Brazil’s Serie A, Argentina’s Superliga, the Chilean Primera División and the Mexican Liga MX – has thrown up a number of differences, most interestingly in the movement and development of playing talent.
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.