December 30 – With the spread of the omicron covid variant increasing its pace of infection across Europe, Spanish health authorities have moved to reduce capacities for outside venues to 75% of capacity.
December 30 – Chinese authorities have banned national team players from sporting tattoos in order to set a “good example for society” – and will kick them out if they don’t oblige.
December 30 – Belgian club Anderlecht have announced a loss of €29 million, but the club claims that with last week’s capital injection bankruptcy has been averted.
December 30 – The Portuguese José Peseiro has been named the new coach of Nigeria, but he won’t lead the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
December 30 – Syria will continue to play their home matches in Qatar 2022 qualifying at neutral venues, including the crucial upcoming game against South Korea on February 1 which will likely decide the World Cup fates of both nations.
December 30 – Lyon and Paris FC have been thrown out of the French Cup following the hooliganism that forced their December 17 tie to be called off at half-time.
December 30 – LaLiga has become the first league to open a store on Amazon, selling merchandise from 13 of its clubs.
By Paul Nicholson
December 29 – In an end of year address, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin says that the European governing bodies most significant achievement was the protection of the European sports model.
December 29 – After months of doubt, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) looks set to go ahead in Cameroon as planned, according to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Patrice Motsepe.
December 23 – English football’s Covid-hit top flight has been shorn of two Boxing Day matches amid fears others will follow over the busy Christmas and New year programme.
By Samindra Kunti
December 23 – Top-flight football in both Germany and Belgium will return to being played behind closed doors to combat a spike in coronavirus infections because of the Omicron variant.
December 23 – The Scottish Professional Football League has confirmed its top flight will bring forward its winter break in the wake of new restrictions on capacity crowds caused by the surge in the Omicron variant.
December 23 – Belgium will be top of the men’s FIFA rankings for a fourth successive Christmas and New Year, while the US women remain top of their rankings, a position they have held since 2017.
December 23 – Manchester City’s £50 million defender Benjamin Mendy has been charged with a fresh rape count on top of the six he is already facing.
December 23 – Russian oligarch and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has settled his libel case over publication of claims that he bought the club on the orders of Vladimir Putin.