By Andrew Warshaw
February 5 – FIFA’s strict (some might argue over-the-top) directive to its member federations not to break any rules during the current lobbying campaign for the 2026 World Cup has led to understandable irritation at the head of African football’s leadership.
February 5 – The bitter in-fighting over who runs the game in Sierra Leone has burst back into the spotlight after FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura (pictured right with Isha Johansen) with wrote to the country’s sports minister, Ahmed Khanou, warning him not to interfere.
By Samindra Kunti in Casablanca, Morocco
February 5 – In the pouring rain Morocco waltzed to a superb maiden African Nations Championship title, crushing ten-men Nigeria 4-0. Morocco’s Ayoub El Kaabi, CHAN’s top scorer with nine goals, was named player of the tournament.
February 5 – The move by clubs into general entertainment television programming via reality style behind-the scenes shows has now been taken a step further with Barcelona reportedly in preliminary talks with Disney-owned Pixar over the making of an animated feature film.
February 5 – Once one of the most influential figures in European football, playing a prominent role in the European Club Association and representing that body on various UEFA and FIFA committees, former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell continues to have his assets frozen in Spain.
February 5 – Manchester City have become the first of Europe’s big clubs to confirm they will be playing in the International Champions Cup (ICC) tournament this summer in the US.
February 5 – Serie A champions Juventus have continued their marketing push in China with the addition of Shandong-based Linglong Tire as the Italian club’s Official Global Tire Partner.
By David Owen
February 2 – For the second World Cup running, FIFA is planning to test anti-doping samples at a laboratory outside the host country.
February 2 – Revenue for the esports industry hit $1.5 billion in 2017 and is predicted to grow by 26% in 2023 to more than $2.3 billion.
February 2 – The ESSA, the 26-member bookmaker betting integrity group, has announced 266 cases of suspicious betting being reported to relevant authorities in 2017, with 114 of them in the last quarter. Football made up 45 of the reported alerts.
February 2 – Sepp Blatter may be yesterday’s man but says he is not yet resigned with being for ever tarnished with having broken ethics rules.
February 2 – Cameroon has reportedly been given a provisional green light to stage the region’s flagship event, the African Cup of Nations, in 2019.
February 2 – With transfer fees having crashed through the roof once again in January, one of the unknown factors is just how much went to agents.
February 2 – A month before he was due to take part in a key vote to decide the future of video technology, Stewart Regan has stepped down as chief executive of the Scottish Football Association after eight years saying he recognised the “need for change”.
February 2 – Fans of Uruguay’s Nacional club have been condemned as “sick” for taunting Brazilian rivals Chapecoense about the plane crash which killed 71 people including 19 Chapecoense players and staff in November 2016.