Gambia government caves in over FA corruption allegations and follows FIFA line
November 30 – Gambia has bowed to FIFA pressure after the country’s sports council chairman, Bori Darboe, reinstated the national FA’s executive committee.
Gremio win Copa Libertadores to take final slot at Club World Cup in UAE
November 30 – Brazil’s Gremio will complete the line-up for the Club World Cup to be played in the UAE in December, after winning the Copa Libertadores for a third time, beating Argentina’s Lanus 2-1. The Brazilian club had won the first leg 1-0.
Tebas keeps focus on PSG’s ‘financial doping’ warning if UEFA don’t act EU will
November 30 – Outspoken La Liga president Javier Tebas has hardened his resolve to take Paris St Germain to the European Union over alleged financial fair play breaches unless UEFA acts first.
Real Madrid’s Modric becomes latest player caught in Spanish tax probe into image rights
November 30 – Real Madrid’s Croatian midfield star Luka Modric has become the latest high-profile player in Spain accused of tax fraud on revenue from his image rights.
Čeferin pledges 1% of his salary to Mata’s Common Goal project
November 30 – UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has become the latest high profile football personality to pledge 1% of his salary to the Common Goal movement.
EFL lands Thai Airways as sponsor of its Wembley finals
November 30 – The English Football League (EFL) has signed airline Thai Airways as a new partner in a deal taking them to the end of the 2017/18 season and including the five finals (Carabao Cup plus the play-offs) that the league hosts at Wembley.
Australia’s Kerr and Syria’s Khribin take top player awards at AFC night of stars
November 29 – Omar Khribin and Samantha Kerr have been named this year’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Players of the Year in the men’s and women’s categories. Click here to watch the Awards highlights.
Exclusive: FIFA look set to railroad through video refs for Russia 2018
By Andrew Warshaw
November 29 – Football’s lawmakers look set to have be rushed into a decision over whether to allow video technology to be used at next year’s World Cup – one of the most important rule change considerations of recent years.
Middle East issues dominate AFC exco meeting as rights tender dates confirmed
November 29 – Meeting before their awards night in Bangkok, Thailand, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) executive committee made a number of key decisions for both competitions and management of its business.
Infantino and Mutko set to start the Russia 2018 circus, dismissing doping party poopers
By Andrew Warshaw
November 29 – It promises to be one of the most glitzy occasions since Gianni Infaninto swept into power. But if the FIFA president and Vitaly Mutko, chief organiser of next year’s World Cup, were hoping for a trouble-free environment ahead of Friday’s globally televised draw in Moscow, they have one or two unwanted distractions on their hands.
Banco Santander open their account with UEFA’s Champions League
November 29 – Spain’s Banco Santander will join UEFA’s Champions League roster of sponsors from next season in a three-year deal, one of the first announcements of sponsors for the next cycle of deal being closed by TEAM Marketing.
Infantino says there will be no racism at Russia 2018, refs can end games if there is
November 29 – Referees will have the power to stop matches if there are any obvious signs of racism by fans at next year’s World Cup, according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
FIFA reports 740,000 tickets sold for Russia 2018, and readies for second sales window
November 29 – FIFA has reported that 742,760 tickets have been allocated in the first phase of Russia 2018 ticketing. Russians account for 53% of the ticket demand to date.
Celtic look Down Under for expansion opportunity with Central Coast Mariners
November 29 – Celtic, unbeaten for 65 games in the Scottish Premier League, have reportedly turned their expansion attentions to Australia and have made an approach to buy an ownership stake in Australian side Central Coast Mariners who play in Australia’s A-League. They have also been linked with A-League champions Brisbane Roar.
Argentinean Pizzi flown in to lead Saudi Arabia’s Falcons to Russia 2018
September 29 – Juan Antonio Pizzi has been unveiled as Saudi Arabia’s new head coach following last week’s departure of previous incumbent and fellow Argentinean Edgardo Bauza.