Morocco to stage Club World Cup 2022 in Rabat and Tangier
January 16 – The seven-team Club World Cup Morocco 2022 will kick off in Tangier at the multi-use 65,000 capacity Tangier Stadium on February 1.
Man City’s Mendy cleared of 6 rape charges, but faces retrial on two more
January 16 – Benjamin Mendy was found not guilty of seven of the nine rape and sexual assault charges against him at Chester Crown Court last Friday.
High-flying Morocco pull out of CHAN after failing to get Algerian landing slot
January 13 – Defending champions Morocco have withdrawn from the African Nations Championship (CHAN) after hosts Algeria refused the Moroccans a direct flight into the country.
Who’s bigger – Football, FIFA or Infantino? HBS ordered to put president in TV live feeds
January 13 – FIFA’s World Cup host broadcaster was ordered to film Gianni Infantino at least once during every game he attended in Qatar and to ensure that he was not pictured while on his mobile phone, according to a news report.
Chad kicked out of U17 AFCON qualifiers for age cheating
January 13 – Chad are the latest nation to fall foul of the age testing saga rocking African football after being disqualified from the regional Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers due to start on January 12.
English leagues battle with increase in ‘football disorder’
January 13 – The number of arrests at English football matches in the first half of the season is up by 10% on the last campaign, including 28 assaults.
Eleven Sports boss says a Super League would not generate the big TV cash promised
By Samindra Kunti in Brussels
January 13 – Eleven Sports Group CEO Marc Watson has said that the creation of a European Super League would not bring more commercial money from broadcasters into the football market.
Big money Félix crash lands at Fulham derby as red card deepens Chelsea crisis
January 13 – João Félix was sent off on his Chelsea debut as his new team lost 2-1 at Fulham in the Premier League on Thursday, heaping even more pressure on manager Graham Potter.
Impact Scores highlight value buys in the Winter transfer market
January 13 – The winter transfer market has still to ignite with big money deals but a new report by the CIES Football Observatory ranks players by their ‘Impact Scores’, and perhaps pointers to where the best value lies in the transfer market.
VAR to be used in UEFA Europa Conference League knockout rounds
January 13 – UEFA is expanding the use of video assistant referees (VAR) in the Conference League to all knockout matches, starting with this season’s play-offs.
FIFA launch voting for Best Awards with release of shortlisted names
January 13 –FIFA has unveiled the shortlist for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022, with Lionel Messi being the stand-out name amongst the men’s nominees.
Simply the Best. Messi’s journey to World Champion from 2006 to 2022
January 13 – After Argentina won the World Cup for the second time in 1986, Diego Maradona was the king of football in Argentina. He was seen as a god in his country, given how well he delivered for the team. His successor, Lionel Messi was not born until June 24.
Saudi Arabia keeps up pace of women’s development hosting first international tournament
January 13 – Saudi Arabia, who have launched a bid to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, have taken a further step forward with the women’s game in the country, with Dammam hosting the Kingdom’s first-ever women’s 11-a-side international tournament.
LaLiga’s Tebas calls in EU to regulate sports model and end threat of Super League forever
By Samindra Kunti in Brussels
January 12 – La Liga president Javier Tebas has called for “less declaration, more regulation” from European institutions of the continent’s sports model to prevent the Super League proposition from its continual resurfacing as a threat to football.
Le Graët steps down at French federation while conduct probe opens
January 12 – Veteran French football boss Noël Le Graët, a member of FIFA’s all-powerful Council, has agreed to step down following an emergency executive committee meeting into his behaviour.