AFC sets dates for expanded Women’s Asian Cup India 2022
January 28 – The premium women’s national team competition in Asia, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup to be played in India in 2022 will be held January 20 to February 6.
Omari removal from CAF elections again asks questions of Infantino’s weaponised ethics body
By Paul Nicholson
January 28 – The role of FIFA in African football politics is again coming under scrutiny after the world governing body surprisingly ruled out current interim president Constant Omari (pictured) from the Congo from standing for election for the FIFA Council. FIFA did however clear South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe and Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya to stand for election for presidency, which confers its own seat on the FIFA Council.
Fans hate agents, prefer domestic leagues and feel it all costs too much, finds survey
January 28 – A survey of football fans has found that generally they think agents are overpaid, that leagues are too weighted towards so-called big teams, that there are too many national team matches but not too many club games, and that it costs too much to watch whether via pay TV or in stadia.
Chicago’s second pro team to take root in Chicago Fire’s old Bridgewater stadium
January 28 – Chicago’s second professional men’s team, who will begin play in the third tier NISA for the upcoming 2021-22 season, will base themselves at the SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.
NWSL fixes dates for Challenge Cup covid-secure openers and regular season
January 28 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the US has released dates for the start of its season that will open April 9 with the NWSL Challenge Cup.
AFC completes 2021 Champions League draw; sticks with centralised venues for group stage
January 27 – The AFC today completed the draw for its expanded 2021 Champions League at headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
Losses soar at Brighton’s Seagulls as pandemic takes £25m hit
By David Owen
January 27 – Losses have widened at Brighton and Hove Albion, the progressive south-coast Premier League club, after a season described by chairman Tony Bloom as “one of the most challenging in our club’s history”.
2026 World Cup host selectors to pick 16 cities across North America by year end
January 27 – FIFA plans to appoint host cities for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico by the last quarter of this year.
NBC Sports closure raises questions over $1.3bn Premier League deal
January 27 – Premier League broadcast rights partner NBC, is shutting its Sports Network in the US and is expected to close operations by the end of 2021.
FIFA steps in to clear Motsepe and Yahya to run for CAF presidency
January 27 – World federation FIFA has cleared all four candidates, including South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe (pictured) and Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya both whose eligibility had been in doubt, to run in the presidential elections of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
FIFA’s Mosengo-Omba tells Africa they have common aims, but CAF must clean up its act
January 27 – The next president of the African Football Confederation must be “absolutely honest”, according to FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Veron Mosengo-Omba.
Thrown to the Wolves. Tuchel takes charge of post-Lampard Chelsea tonight
January 27 – As predicted, Thomas Tuchel has become the 11th full-time Chelsea manager in the ruthless 18-year Roman Abramovich era following Frank Lampard’s sacking, and takes charge of the club for the first time tonight at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Man City build on partner link forged by Mumbai City FC
January 27 – Premier League Manchester City have gone ownership local with a new partnership with life insurer Zurich International Life, who will become the Club’s Official Insurance Partner in the United Arab Emirates, the country of the club’s owner.
CAS confuses with a lose lose decision for everyone, or was it a win win? Who knows?
By Paul Nicholson
January 26 – A Court of Arbitration for Sport double ruling against the Asian Football Federation (AFC) in regard to one of its elections has renewed questions about CAS’s decision making and left observers scratching their head over the logic of the decisions and the process.
Barca’s $billion debt bubble looks ready to burst
January 26 – The full extent of the financial crisis at Barcelona, one of the biggest brands in world football, have been laid bare by staggering claims that the club is on the verge of bankruptcy.