McDonald’s adds Argentina digital deal to sponsor roster
February 4 – The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has signed up fast food giant McDonald’s in a national team sponsorship that will activate around the AFA’s digital platforms.
Exclusive: FIFA’s 100-point plan for Africa would ‘relieve’ CAF exco of key decision making roles
By Osasu Obayiuwana
February 3 – The powers and influence of the 23-man executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), to decide the affairs of the organisation and the continental game, are to be whittled down, if it is acceptable to CAF’s General Assembly.
Premier League clubs fork out 98% of £230m winter transfer spend on foreign talent
February 3 – Premier League clubs spent close to £25 million on the final day of the January transfer window, pushing their overall spending to a total of £230 million, £50 million more than last year but still well short of the £430 million record of 2018.
Out of Africa: CAF exco turn back on Samoura as FIFA’s 100-point plan floated
By Andrew Warshaw
February 3 – She came, she saw, but what did she actually manage to conquer? FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura has ended her six-month secondment to clean up the administration of the scandal-plagued African Football Confederation (CAF) but the jury will be out for some time in terms what she achieved.
AFC calls emergency meeting to discuss coronavirus action plan
February 3 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has called an emergency meeting of all its stakeholders – member associations, leagues, clubs and commercial parties – participating in the East Zone of the AFC Champions League to discuss the spread of the coronavirus.
Denmark to host May finals of FIFA eNations Cup
February 3 – FIFA’s eNations Cup 2020 will be hosted in Copenhagen by the Danish Football Association (DBU) May 22-24. It will be the first time the finals have been played in front of a live audience.
More CAF Champions League chaos as Sudanase riot police called in to protect players
February 3 – Chaos reigned once again in the African Champions League when Sudanese riot police had to take over the centre of the pitch to protect players and officials and control fans during a match between Sudanese team Al Hilal Omdurman and Egypt’s Al Ahly in Group C of the competition at the Al-Jawhara Stadium in Khartoum.
OM losses mount with latest figures hitting €91.5m
February 3 – Olympique Marseille are starring down the barrel of financial disaster again after the accounts of holding company Eric Soccer revealed a deficit of €91.5 million for the 2018-2019 season, surpassing the mammoth €78.5 million loss of the 2017-2018 financial year.
PSG land 3-year Qatar Airways sponsorship
February 3 – Qatar Airways has signed up as the latest sponsor of French club Paris Saint-Germain in a three-year deal, becoming a premium partner of the club.
Brighton fan given jail sentence for racist abuse
February 3 – A Brighton and Hove Albion fan has received a rare prison sentence for racist abuse in English football.
AFC Women’s Olympic qualifiers get new Sydney dates as Chinese wait to clear quarantine
By Paul Nicholson
January 31 – With the Chinese Women’s team currently quarantined in a Brisbane hotel until February 5, the Football Federation Australia (FFA) have announced a revamped schedule for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Qualifiers that will start February 3.
Government orders Mauritius team home from CAF Futsal finals
January 31 – Mauritius has followed the lead of South Africa by becoming the second country to pull out of the ongoing Futsal Africa Cup of Nations being staged in Laayoune in the disputed region of Western Sahara.
Mourinho shops with Spurs’ cash as winter transfer window tops £185m
January 31 – Transfer spending by English Premier League clubs in January increased from last year’s winter window following two major deals on the penultimate day of business.
Irish government bails out FAI with promise of annual €2.5m loan, interest free
January 31 – The future of the embattled Irish Football Association (FAI) has been saved after the Irish Government agreed to double its funding and give the federation an interest free loan of €2.5 million annually for the next three years as part of a refinancing arrangement.
Flamengo now locked in TV rights battle with TV Globo over Brasileirao
January 31 – Brazilian giants Flamengo have taken legal steps against broadcast behemoth TV Globo over the league’s broadcast rights contract. Earlier this season, Flamengo and Globo fell out over a rights deal for Rio de Janeiro’s state championship.