Headbutting Italian ref given year ban
February 12 – An Italian referee has been banned for a year for losing his cool and headbutting a goalkeeper he had sent off during a minor league game.
Frustrated Klinsmann quits touchline role for board seat at Hertha
February 12 – In what is surely one of the shortest high-profile managerial stints on record, former German national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann has stepped down as Hertha Berlin’s interim head coach after just 10 weeks in charge citing a lack of support and trust.
Canal+ and beIN Sports tie knot on landmark French distribution deal
February 12 – French media giant CANAL+ Group and Qatari pay broadcaster beIN SPORTS have closed the distribution and sub-licensing deal announced last December.
InterMilan launch esports team in partnership with gaming hothouse QLASH
February 12 – InterMilan have become the latest club to set up its own esports team, signing two players in a collaboration with QLASH.
FIFA joins with FIFPro to set up $16m fund as safety net for unpaid players
February 11 – In a ground-breaking move, FIFA and FIFPro – the world players’ union – have joined forces to set up a global fund to protect players’ salaries.
Chelsea show €205m profit in transfer market as Villa post €167m loss
February 11 – Chelsea were the big financial winners in the summer 2019 and winter 2020 transfer market ending up their dealings €205 million ahead. In contrast Aston Villa showed a loss of €169 million, the second highest in Europe behind Real Madrid’s €181 million. Barcelona showed a €166 million loss.
FIFA scrutineers arrive in Antipodes for next leg of 2023 WWC bid inspection tour
February 11 – On the eve of the FIFA delegation’s on-the-ground inspection of Australia and New Zealand’s bid for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Football Federation Australia boss James Johnson has expressed his confidence in the Antipodean quest to co-host the tournament.
Man Utd take step towards safe-standing at Old Trafford
February 11 – Manchester United have taken a step closer installing a small standing area at their Old Trafford ground by submitting a formal request.
Belgium’s top tier leagues report combined clubs losses of €87m
February 11 – Belgium’s professional clubs suffered a combined record loss of €87 million in the 2018-19 season, the Belgian FA (KBVB) has revealed. Anderlecht incurred the lion’s share with €25 million.
TV deals show balance shift to OTT as NENT adds Bundesliga to Premier League
By Paul Nicholson
February 11 – The likely shape of Europe’s premium broadcast deals in the future is starting to reveal itself, and it will be a case of evolution rather than revolution.
Man Utd put China pre-season tour talks on hold over coronavirus fears
February 11 – Manchester United are reported to have stalled talks over a possible pre-season visit to China because of the coronavirus outbreak which has now infected over 43,000 people (more than 42,500 in China) with more than 1,000 dead.
Pele too ‘embarrassed’ by ill health to make public appearances
February 11 – The world’s most famous footballer, Pele, has become a virtual recluse according to his son because he cannot walk unaided.
CAF audit: Former finance boss disputes PwC’s ‘vague assumptions’ on 2015 accounts
By Osasu Obayiuwana
February 10 – Suketu Patel, who was CAF’s first Vice-President and the Chairman of the body’s Finance Committee in 2015, says Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) did not contact him, concerning its recent forensic audit of the African football governing body’s accounts and professional practices.
CAF in crisis: PwC audit report finds financial records ‘untrustworthy’ and full of holes
By Osasu Obayiuwana
February 10 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is said to have financial records that are “unreliable and not trustworthy” by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), the international accounting and management consulting firm, which completed its forensic audit of African football’s governing body in November 2019.
The ‘looting’ of CAF: PwC audit shows ‘daylight robbery’ and ‘crimes against humanity’, says Bility
By Paul Nicholson
February 8 – Early reports of the independent audit of Confederation of African Football (CAF) finances for the period 2017 to 2019 looks likely to be the long overdue dynamite that explodes both the term of CAF president Ahmad Ahmad, as well as many of his most trusted and protected lieutenants.