Russia sues stadium builders for $50m over missed construction schedules
February 8 – Russia’s Sports Ministry is suing companies building World Cup stadiums for 2.9 billion rubles ($50.8 million) over delays in constructions schedules.
Maltese court overturns not-guilty verdict in U21 match-fixing case
February 8 – Two former members of the Under-21 Maltese national team have been declared guilty of match-fixing after a Maltese court of appeal overturned the original judgment that had cleared them.
LaLiga confirm integrity director Lorenzo Mena to attend Tackling Matchfixing conference
February 8 – LaLiga’s Integrity and Security director Alfredo Lorenzo Mena has confirmed he will be speaking at the Tackling Matchfixing conference in London, March 9-10. He will join a panel examining what Europe’s biggest leagues are doing to combat and defend themselves against match fixers.
Man City broker new sponsorship with AvaTrade for Asia and Latin America
February 8 – Manchester City has signed a new multi-year regional partnership with online trading broker AvaTrade who will become the club’s Official Online Trading Partner for China, Asia and Latin America.
Ghana football in chaos as injunction halts Congress and delays season
By Mark Baber
February 8 – Football in Ghana, including the Ghana Premier League, First Division and the Ordinary Congress of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been put on hold as Accra Great Olympics, one of the teams relegated at the end of last season, won an injunction on Monday delaying kick off of the new season until their appeal against relegation is heard.
Qatar’s $575m Al-Wakrah Stadium on course for end 2018 opening
February 8 – The 2022 World Cup venue designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid will be finished by the end of 2018, according to those responsible for the project.
Coca-Cola make eCopa a grassroots qualifier for FIFA eWorld Cup 2018
February 8 – Coca-Cola has announced that its eCOPA Coca-Cola tournament will be an official EA Sports FIFA 18 Global Series qualifier event as part of ‘The Road to the FIFA eWorld Cup 2018’ that will be played in August.
Out in the cold: Rosell suffers in prison in freezing conditions and near solitary confinement
February 8 – How are the mighty fallen. As a former president of Barcelona and a key figure in the European Clubs Association, Sandro Rosell was used to the high life. Not any longer.
Chelsea fans warned for anti-Semitic chanting
February 8 – Not for the first time, Premier League champions Chelsea have been condemned over the use of anti-Semitic language by a section of their fans.
Australia launch bid to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup
February 7 – Despite Australia’s bitterness at not winning the rights to host the 2022 World Cup still seemingly burnt deep into the psyche of the nation, its government and federation have not been put off bidding for FIFA events.
Exclusive: FIFA step in at CAF congress to gag Morocco 2026 from showcasing bid
By Andrew Warshaw
February 7 – FIFA’s obsessive attempt to ensure the 2026 World Cup bid process is fair and clean has blown up in its face following the revelation that Morocco was gagged from making a presentation to its own African region last week.
Spain’s MediaPro secure Serie A TV rights in €1.05bn deal
February 7 – Italy’s Serie A has accepted Spanish’s MediaPro offer for rights to broadcast matches for the 2018-21 seasons at just above €1.05 billion.
Unhappy ending. Thai FA chief Poomunmuang borrowed $9.5m from brothel owner
February 7 – The reputation of Thai football, for years under the control of the now disgraced Worami Makudi, has been rocked yet again – this time involving Makudi’s successor Somyot Poompunmuang, the country’s former national police chief.
Koeman returns to Holland to pick up the national team challenge
February 7 – Ronald Koeman, a legend in his playing days but whose two managerial spells in the English Premier League with Southampton and Everton ended with him being sacked, has taken over as head coach of his national team with a view to restoring credibility after the failure to qualify for the World Cup in Russia.
India offers Constantine new contract through to end of 2019 Asian Cup
By Samindra Kunti
February 7 – The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has offered national team coach Stephen Constantine an extension of his contract up to the end of the 2019 Asian Cup. The Englishman qualified India for the continental championship, but within federation circles doubts rose about his suitability to take India forward.