Mourinho extends his Man Utd ‘privileges’ until 2020
January 26 – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has signed a contract extension until 2020, with the option of a further year.
Morocco say FIFA’s stadium criteria will not be an issue in 2026 World Cup bid
January 25 – The head of Morocco’s 2026 World Cup campaign has re-iterated that the country will be able to meet all FIFA’s requirements, not least when it comes to infrastructure.
Marin and Napout legal teams call for retrial over Burzaco ‘lies’
January 25 – Former South American powerbrokers Jose Maria Marin and Juan Angel Napout, both awaiting sentence in the United States having been found guilty in the FIFAGate corruption trials, are still fighting their corner demanding to be acquitted or face a retrial.
Party poopers. Russia ready to shut down noisy Ukrainian troublemakers
January 25 – A report by Russia’s state-run newspaper Pravda has accused neighbours Ukraine of trying to disrupt next summer’s World Cup.
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.
Neville lands England women’s job but 2012 Tweets send fur flying
January 25 – It was supposed to be a new dawn free of controversy. But the appointment of former England international Phil Neville as the new coach of the national women’s team has hardly got off to the best start.
‘Leeds Salute’ club crest redesign fails to pass muster as fans up in arms
January 25 – Iconic English club Leeds United, pushing for a return to the Premier League, have got themselves into hot water over a new club crest unveiled ahead of their centenary in 2019.
Chelsea bring in Doyen to lead image rights sales for mens and women teams
January 25 – Premier League Chelsea has signed a two-year representation deal with Doyen Global as its exclusive player endorsement agency. Doyen Global will work with the club’s commercial team on the sale of image rights of Chelsea’s men’s and women’s first teams.
Arsenal sign world-first cryptocurrency sponsorship with CashBet Coin
January 25 – Bitcoin’s value may have crashed from its stunning high before Christmas, but cryptocurrency is alive and kicking and Arsenal are the first Premier League club to take advantage of this announcing a partnership with CashBet ahead of the Initial Coin Offering (ICO) of its new cryptocurrency, CashBet Coin designed specifically for iGaming.
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.
Vietnam beat Qatar to confound the odds and qualify for AFC U23 final
By Samindra Kunti
January 24 – Vietnam booked a place in the final of the AFC U-23 Championship against Uzbekistan defeating Qatar in the semi-finals on penalties.
Platini is back…in court in last ditch bid to clear name
By Andrew Warshaw
January 24 – Former UEFA president Michel Platini, a largely peripheral figure in the game since his ban for financial wrongdoing, has decided to take one last stand to try and clear his name by going to the European Court of Human Rights, according to reports in France.
Betting on matches is part of player culture, 50% do it, says banned Barton
January 24 – A former England international who was banned by the Football Association in April last year for breaching betting rules claims 50% of professional players bet on matches and that gambling is “culturally engrained” in the sport.
Too much too soon? Ceferin questions rush to VAR implementation
January 24 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says the move towards introducing video technology is premature and could prove counter-productive if problems with the system are not ironed out.
SPFL completes on Ladbrokes title sponsorship in 2-year deal
January 24 – After a long wait the Scottish Premier League (SPFL) has officially announced Labrokes will stay as title sponsors for a further two years taking them to at least 2020.