January 29 – The AFC’s executive committee has restated its decision that Champions League match-ups between Qatari, Saudi and UAE clubs will be played on a home and away basis despite an ongoing political and economic blockade of Qatar by its neighbours.
By Tim Rohn and Andrew Warshaw
January 26 – The growing sense of unease pervading FIFA under the regime of Gianni Infantino has been exposed by a blatant attempt to undermine a scathing report into the organisation’s record on governance by the Council of Europe. FIFA’s lobbying fell on deaf ears as the council overwhelming voted in favour of adopting the report with 131 votes in favour and just five against.
January 26 – Every club in the Premier League recorded more than 96% of their stadia full for Round 24 of the Premier League season, a record attendance capacity for the league as a whole for the past two season.
By Anthony Harwood
January 26 – Another World Cup, another flurry of complaints about the poor condition of some pitches that teams will have to play on.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 26 – A part-time English team is going where bigger clubs fear to tread by taking a stand against betting sponsorship, partly because of the scourge of match-fixing pervading the sport.
By Samindra Kunti
January 26 – Saint Petersburg will carry out a massive 11,000 police officers strong law enforcement operation during the 2018 World Cup when the city will host six matches, including one semi-final, to ensure the safety and security of travelling fans. To date supporters from around the world have requested more than 4 million tickets during the second sales window of World Cup tickets.
January 26 – Bayern Munich, chasing their sixth consecutive Bundesliga title, has defended sponsorship and training links with Qatar after criticism from Wenzel Michalski, the director of Human Rights Watch Germany.
January 26 – Angola and Congo-Brazzaville booked the last spots for the quarterfinals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) as the tournament’s knockout stages begin this weekend.
January 26 – Manchester City have made a significant step towards raising the profile of the women’s game and recognising greater gender parity with the launch of a media campaign titled Same City, Same Passion.
January 26 – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has signed a contract extension until 2020, with the option of a further year.
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.
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.
January 25 – A report by Russia’s state-run newspaper Pravda has accused neighbours Ukraine of trying to disrupt next summer’s World Cup.
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.
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.