By Samindra Kunti
January 31 – First-time finalists Qatar will seek to make national history on Friday in the final of the Asian Cup by overcoming continental powerhouse Japan. The Samurai Blue will aim for a record fifth continental crown in a final that is predicted to go down the wire.
By Paul Nicholson in Abu Dhabi
January 31 – FIFA’s rush to become involved in the civil extradition case of Australian refugee, Bahraini passport holder and part-time football Al-Araibi has again raised questions over the validity and motivations of FIFA’s human rights policy.
By Paul Nicholson
January 31 – Ramon Vega, the former player and businessman who is challenging for the FIFA presidency, has said that lack of financial transparency would be unacceptable in any corporate boardroom anywhere in the world.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 31 – A highly sensitive spanner has been tossed into the workings of UEFA’s annual congress next week with Paris St-Germain supremo Nasser Al-Khelaifi set to join the organisation’s executive committee despite his club being under financial investigation and he himself being embroiled in a criminal case.
January 31 – The Italian football federation (FIGC) is investigating claims a referee racially abused a player in a non-league game between Serino and Real Sarno.
January 31 – Spanish authorities have reopened proceedings into the bizarre and still seemingly murky case of the liver transplant undergone seven years ago by former French international defender Eric Abidal, saying new evidence has come to light suggesting a trafficked organ was used.
By Paul Nicholson in Abu Dhabi
January 31 – The UAE Football Association has formally protested against the eligibility of two Qatari footballers who played in the Asian Cup semi-final on Tuesday.
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 31 – Uzbek’s Ravshan Irmatov has officiated more matches in the history of the Asian Cup than any other referee, having taken charge of 13 matches in a record four Asian Cup final tournaments.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – Former Swiss international Ramon Vega has confirmed he is “actively considering” launching a challenge to Gianni Infantino for the Fifa presidency in June.
January 30 – Russian businessman Maxim Demin has regained full ownership of Premier League club Bournemouth after acquiring the 25% stake held by Chicago-based private equity firm Peak6 Investments.
January 30 – The family of missing Cardiff City forward Emiliano Sala have hired a private company, paid for by fundraisers, to carry on looking for the 28-year-old after rescue workers finally called off the official search last week for the light aircraft that was carrying him to his new club but disappeared off the English Channel Island of Guernsey.
January 30 – Paris St-Germain lead all European teams when looking at the most efficient shots-to-goal ratios. PSG so far this season have scored every 4.7 shots.
January 30 – The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) and the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (PCSFN) have announced a broad partnership to promote sport integrity across America and worldwide.
January 30 – FIFA could sanction Chelsea if the governing body finds the London club guilty of breaking regulations with regard to ‘transfers’ of more than 100 under-aged players from overseas. Chelsea maintain they have complied with the rules.
January 30 – Concacaf have agreed an exclusive broadcast rights deal with digital streaming service FloSports for the new Concacaf Nations League which will start in March.