FA drops Spygate probe leaving Liverpool unpunished after Man City scouting hack
February 10 – The English FA has closed its investigation into the hacking of Manchester City’s scouting database by Liverpool.
Premier League clubs unite to make ‘abusive’ fan bans league-wide
February 7 – In the latest crackdown on resurging racial abuse, all 20 English Premier League clubs have agreed to extend any bans on fans watching their team at home to the entire league.
Flamengo’s grieving families go uncompensated as club rakes in record revenues
By Samindra Kunti
February 7 – A year after the fatal fire at the Ninho do Urubu, Flamengo’s training centre, the families of seven victims remain entangled in a legal battle over compensation.
Silva loses at CAS in bid to force US to end closed league MLS structure
February 7 – US club owner and former sports media agency entrepreneur Riccardo Silva has lost his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to force US Soccer to adopt promotion and relegation in their top tier leagues.
World’s oldest boys plot a new beginning and a match before Austria vs England Euro warm-up
February 7 – English and Austrian fans will be able to warm-up for the 2020 Euros warm-up game on June 1 by watching two of the oldest clubs in the world – they have 287 years of history between them.
MLS raises salary cap to $11.6m in 5-year deal with its players
February 7 – Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Association (MLSPA) have agreed a five-year collective bargaining agreement that will increase pay and improve conditions.
Barca and Real Madrid crash out of Spain’s Copa del Rey
February 7 – The names of neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid will be on the Copa del Rey this season after both were sensationally knocked out of the Spanish cup at the quarterfinal stage.
Quinn turns Irish eyes back to football and focus on Euro 2020 qualification
February 7 – Former Irish international Niall Quinn (pictured) has welcomed the end of the crisis afflicting the Irish Football Association (FAI) following a torrid financial period that threatened to plunge the federation into liquidation.
Benfica and San Francisco Giants form cross-code trans-Atlantic business partnership
February 7 – Major League Baseball’s San Francisco Giants have partnered with iconic Portuguese club Benfica in a commercial version of moneyball.
CAF fixture pile up threatens CHAN tournament in Cameroon
February 6 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is considering scrapping the forthcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon because of fixture congestion, according to local reports.
Premier League cracks open next broadcast rights cycle with a big Scandinavian deal
February 6 – The Premier League has concluded its first broadcast deal for the rights cycle beginning 2022 and it’s a big one.
English FA to bring in new heading rules for youth training but not matches
February 6 – The English Football Association is to introduce new guidelines limiting the amount of heading children will be allowed to do in training.
French police hold Ligue 1 Angers president Chabane after sexual assault allegations
February 6 – The president of French Ligue 1 club Angers, Said Chabane (pictured), was detained and questioned by French police on Wednesday after allegations of sexual assault by an employee at the club. Chabane denies the accusations, but is under formal investigation and is police custody.
Premier League realigns Summer transfer window closing with European markets
February 6 – Premier League clubs have voted to change the summer transfer window to bring it in line with the rest of Europe.
Player power: Messi turns heat on Abidal over criticism of not working hard
February 6 – Lionel Messi has criticised Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal over an interview in which the Frenchman criticised Barcelona players for not working hard.