By Andrew Warshaw
December 19 – Disgraced former FIFA and UEFA powerbroker Ángel María Villar has stoked up fears of his native Spain being barred from the World Cup as he tries to cling on to his role as head of his national federation (RFEF).
December 19 – The jury in the FIFA-gate corruption trial of three former South American powerbrokers is set to resume deliberations today with a verdict imminent.
By Mark Baber
December 19 – ‘Tis the season to be merry, for gifts, family and, naturally, Player of the Year awards. Sunday saw the CONCACAF Premios Univision Deportes awards ceremony in Miami whilst the Confederation of African football has announced the nominees for its 2017 awards.
December 18 – Sudan’s leading club has been reprimanded after supporters taunted rival fans by erecting banners displaying an image of Adolf Hitler during a bitter championship decider.
December 19 – Juventus president Andrea Agnelli’s one-year ban for his alleged role in the sale of match tickets to the club’s ultras fans has been lifted but his fine has been increased while the club has also been hit harder than its original sanction.
December 19 – Football Federation Australia says it will continue to experiment with video technology in the A-League despite a series of suspect decisions.
December 19 – Barcelona players are more likely to be key players for their countries than those at Manchester United, Spurs, Bayern Munich or Juventus. A survey of minutes played by national A team players in 2017 saw Barca players rack up 139 matches and 10, 846 minutes.
December 19 – Former World player of the year and Ballon d’Or winner George Weah has had his bid for political power stymied once again after the country’s current Vice President Joseph Boakai called for a postponement of the second round of presidential elections before the Supreme Court.
December 19 – New Zealand is the latest country to face a match-fixing scare in football, again proving that the phenomenon respects no boundaries and is adept at evolving new techniques to prey on players.
December 19 – Sports supplement supplier Healthspan has added Tottenham Hotspur to their roster of Premier League clubs alongside Southampton. The also supply Nottingham Forest in the Championship.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 18 – It’s an unthinkable scenario but Spain’s participation in next year’s World Cup could technically be under threat if the Spanish government meddles in the election of a replacement for disgraced Spanish FA (RFEF) president Angel Maria Villar, the former FIFA and UEFA bigwig who was forced to relinquish his posts over corruption charges.
December 18 – AC Milan’s troubles on and off the pitch have taken a massive hit after UEFA rejected a request to waive Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, saying they remain unconvinced about the club’s Chinese backers.
By Samindra Kunti
December 18 – The Brazilian football association (CBF), has moved swiftly following the 90-day suspension of president Marco Polo Del Nero, appointing Antonio Carlos Nunes on an interim basis.
December 18 – Real Madrid were crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions for the second year in succession at the weekend in the United Arab Emirates, beating Brazil’s Gremio 1-0 in the final.
By Samindra Kunti
December 18 – FIFPro, the World Player’s Union, has published a report exposing gender inequality in the game, urging football’s authorities to support the professionalisation of the women’s game.