Euro-bound Poles sack head coach ahead of 2022 World Cup qualifiers
January 19 – Poland have sacked national coach Jerzy Brzeczek just five months before the European Championship and two months before the start of World Cup qualifying.
Saints explore African opportunity with Asante Kotoko in Ghana
January 19 – Southampton have signed a partnership with Ghanaian Premier League outfit Asante Kotoko SC, the club becoming the first African partner in the Saints’ international portfolio.
Motsepe on the CAF campaign trail rubs shoulders with Infantino in Cameroon
By Samindra Kunti
January 18 – On the side lines of the 2021 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon, Patrice Motsepe has been courting national FA presidents in a bid to strengthen his candidature for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidential elections.
CAF awards Hayatou honorary presidency as CHAN kicks off in Cameroon
January 18 – Ousted in 2017 in an election that brought the now disgraced Ahmad Ahmad to power, former Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Issa Hayatou has been named Honorary President of the organisation.
Serie A hedges its bets as it hunts for funds with Middle East broadcast tender
By Paul Nicholson
January 15 – Serie A, who are in the final stages of hiving off their commercial rights to venture capitalist CVC for $1.7 billion, will have an early test of that value with the league having issued a tender for the broadcast rights for the Middle East and Africa.
LFP to issue new domestic TV tender as it frantically looks to replace Canal+ deal
January 18 – The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) is to issue a new tender for French domestic TV rights after broadcaster Canal+ returned its Ligue 1 media rights to the LFP.
Neville quits England and GB ahead of Olympics as Beckham and Miami call
January 18 – Phil Neville has left his role as manager of the England women’s national team with immediate effect ahead of a switch to the men’s game as coach of David Beckham’s Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
Barca election postponed as covid-lockdown prevents voters polling
January 18 – Barcelona’s eagerly awaited and intensely contested presidential election scheduled for January 24 has been postponed due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Reims win €4.7m in damages for 2015-16 relegation
January 18 – In a case dating back to the 2015-2016 season, the French Football Federation (FFF) has been ordered to pay Ligue 1 Reims €4.78 million by a local court over a relegation debacle that occurred in 2015-16.
Hummel agree 5-year Saints deal as Under Armour exits early
January 18 – Premier League Southampton have ended their kit deal with US firm Under Armour three seasons early in favour of a new partnership with Danish sportswear brand, hummel.
Cross-sport solidarity: DFL backs German Olympians with new
January 18 – Germany’s DFL (Deutsche Fußball Liga) and its DFL Foundation is continuing its support for the German Olympic and Paralympic athletes alongside the German Sports Aid Foundation in a new agreement that will run until “at least” 2025.
Spurs’ favourite Son opens up Korean Twitter platform
January 18 – English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have launched a new Twitter account in South Korea to further engage its growing fanbase in the homeland of the club’s star forward and Korean captain, Heung-Min Son.
Euro 2020: ticket holders given Jan cancellation deadline but no comfort on venues
By Samindra Kunti
January 15 – European governing body UEFA has been caught in a storm over Euro 2020 ticketing. In the new terms and conditions, ticket holders have only until January 26 to cancel tickets for the continental finals which were postponed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
England out in the cold as UEFA lines up its candidates for FIFA positions
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – English influence will remain absent from the top table of FIFA for at least two years as a result of the fallout over Greg Clarke’s resignation as FA chairman back in November.
NZ covid restrictions force Auckland out of Club World Cup
January 15 – Having already moved its delayed Club World Cup from December to February because of the impact of Covid-19, FIFA has suffered another blow to its little-loved event after it was reduced from seven to six clubs by the sudden withdrawal of Auckland City.