Everton sign i8,Bet as regional partner but still can’t beat the Liverpool blues
December 2 – Premier League Everton have signed Asian-focussed online bookmaker i8.BET as a regional partner.
Brazil’s Cruzeiro drop member ownership in search of new investors
December 2 – Cruzeiro have become the first big club in Brazil to shift away from non-profit status to a company model, allowing the club to sell shareholdings to new investors.
Belgian’s Mouscron handed transfer ban as players go unpaid
December 2 – Belgian club Mouscron have been slapped with a transfer ban by the Belgian FA (KBVB) because of unpaid salaries to both the technical staff and players.
Premier League health warning: games delayed as fans need urgent medical care
December 2 – Two Premier League games were delayed on Wednesday night due to supporters requiring emergency medical attention.
CAF sparks row with World Leagues after boosting player call-ups for Cameroon 2022
December 1 – The World Leagues Forum, representing professional leagues from across the world, has written to FIFA and African football’s hierarchy denouncing what it claims is a unilateral decision, with no consultation, over the release of players for the upcoming African Nations Cup in Cameroon in January and February.
Burying the ESL: EU sports ministers back European Sport Model resolution
December 1 – EU sports ministers have moved to prevent European Super League plans from being resurrected after they adopted Resolution of the Council of the EU on a European Sport Model, in effect rejecting closed competitions.
50-day countdown to Women’s Asia Cup India 2022 and key pathway to WWC 2023
December 1 – There are just 50 days to go before India hosts the expanded AFC Women’s Asian Cup, a crucial tournament for the development of the national women’s game in the confederation which could see as many as eight teams at the next Women’s World Cup in 2023 being hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Mwendwa steps down from Kenyan FA after pleading not-guilty to fraud charges
December 1 – First his federation was annulled against FIFA rules, then a legal case against him appeared to have been dropped following threats of a FIFA ban.
Arab Cup kicks off with two new stadiums and a win for Qatari hosts
December 1 – Hosts Qatar kicked off the Arab Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal, with a 1-0 victory over Bahrain in the tournament’s curtain-raiser, courtesy of a second-half goal from Abulaziz Hatim. Two World Cup venues were inaugurated over the evening of football.
Bottom-slapping fan hit with three-year sports ban
December 1 – Italian police have banned a fan from all sporting events for three years after he allegedly slapped the bottom of a female reporter live on TV, a gesture that drew widespread condemnation.
England hammer 20 past Latvia to set new scoring record
December 1 – England bettered Belgium’s 19-0 victory against Armenia with 20 goals of their own against Latvia to set a new European record in Women’s World Cup qualifying.
Aussie women’s A-League secures Liberty as naming rights partner
December 1 – Australia’s A-Leagues have signed financial lender Liberty as the naming rights partner of its A-League Women’s competition with the deal starting with the season start this Friday (December 3).
Udinese celebrate 125th with extended Macron deal
December 1 – Udinese, celebrating their 125th birthday yesterday, announced the extension of their kit partnership with Macron through to June 2025.
AFC boosts its competitiveness with major changes to season calendar and foreign player rules
By Paul Nicholson
November 30 – The AFC has taken major steps to opening up its club competitions with a relaxation of foreign player rules and a realignment of its calendar which will switch from the calendar year to the European model of playing from Autumn to Spring.
Omicron variant ripped through team to trigger the Belenenses vs Benfica fiasco
November 30 – All 13 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Portugal involved players and staff of top division Belenenses, one of whose players recently returned from South Africa, according to health authorities.