FIFA sets Club World Cup UAE 2021 date for Feb 3-12
November 29 – FIFA has set the dates for the postponed Club World Cup 2021 to 3 to 12 February 2022. The eight-team draw will take place today.
Palmeiras retain Copa Libertadores title with extra time win over Flamengo
By Samindra Kunti in Montevideo, Uruguay
November 28 – With a dramatic extra-time goal from substitute Deyverson, Palmeiras defeated Flamengo 2-1 to retain their Copa Libertadores title and win the competition for a third time in the club’s history.
End of the road: Portugal and Italy on track for winner-takes-all Qatar 2022 decider
By Andrew Warshaw
November 26 – Almost unthinkably, next year’s World Cup finals in Qatar will be conspicuous by the absence of either four-time winners and current European champions Italy or Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Swiss judiciary nominates two special prosecutors to re-start Infantino criminal probe
November 26 – The Swiss criminal investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his involvement with disgraced former federal prosecutor Michael Lauber looks set to resume, this time with two special prosecutors rather than one.
Motsepe ‘excited’ by Super League plan, and endorses Cameroon’s AFCON hosting
By Samindra Kunti
November 26 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and its president Patrice Motsepe, at the confederation’s congress today, have further endorsed the creation of a continental Super League, but provided little detail on the competition. Motsepe also reaffirmed CAF’s commitment to Cameroon hosting the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in January.
Rangnick poised for Man Utd interim role
November 26 – Manchester United are poised to appoint Ralf Rangnick as interim manager in succession to Ole Gunnar Solksjaer.
Kenyan prosecutors drop case against FA boss Mwendwa
November 26 – In response to threats of a ban by FIFA, Kenyan authorities have dropped their legal case against the president of Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Nick Mwendwa (pictured).
Napoli sign cryptocurrency Floki to shirt-back sponsorship
November 26 – Serie A club Napoli has agreed a back-of-shirt sponsorship with cryptocurrency token Floki which will initially take them through to the end of the season.
Flamengo and Palmeiras in Montevideo for all-Brazil Copa Libertadores showdown
By Samindra Kunti in Montevideo, Uruguay
November 26 – After a two-month wait, ups-and-downs and a defeat looming like a major end-of-season crisis, Palmeiras and Flamengo, two super clubs at home, will crown the 2021 Copa Libertadores winners in an all-Brazilian blockbuster.
Danish journalists’ union warns members of dangers reporting Qatar 2022 World Cup
November 26 – Denmark’s Union of Journalists is urging its members not to travel to Qatar to cover next year’s World Cup, saying the country cannot be trusted in the wake of two Norwegian reporters being arrested.
IFAB rules out 25 min halftime, but 5 subs rolls on
November 26 – Football’s lawmakers have rejected a proposal to increase halftime breaks to 25 minutes to provide the kind of entertainment that exists in US sports.
Conmebol scrap away goals rule with immediate effect
November 26 – Following in the footsteps of European governing body UEFA, Conmebol will scrap the away goals rule from its competitions with the aim of introducing greater sporting ‘justice’.
AFC complete two-year media sale of key rights to Sky New Zealand
November 26 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has made Sky Network Television Limited (Sky) as their media partner in New Zealand in a two-year deal from 2021 to 2022 for rights including the Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar, the Women’s Asian Cup India 2022, and the AFC Champions League.
The iron fist of democracy. English football heads towards government-imposed regulator
November 25 – English football has taken a step closer to being regulated by a government-backed but independent overseer whose powers could include taking control of failing clubs from their owners.
Liverpool and France tap in to the power of African playing talent, finds report
November 25 – Africa has for some time been a provider of playing talent to clubs outside the continent. With the Africa Cup of Nations kicking off in Cameroon in January next year, a report by the KPMG Football Benchmark team examines how significant their contribution has been.