UEFA opens tender process for VAR and GLT services
January 23 – UEFA is tendering for solutions to fulfil four key technology service areas for its competitions from 2021, including men’s and women’s club and national team competitions.
More CAF chaos as World Cup qualifier dates pushed back amid commercial uncertainty
January 22 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has carried out the draw for African 2022 World Cup qualifiers but at the same time announced that matches will now not start for another nine months. The big news from the draw itself is that either Cameroon or Ivory Coast will not qualify for the Qatar World Cup after the teams were paired together.
Spanish court hears Osasuna director Vizcay detail culture of match-fixing in LaLiga
January 22 – Top-flight Spanish club Osasuna rigged matches over two seasons in an attempt to avoid relegation, a court heard on Tuesday in the latest match-fixing revelations to strike at the heart of European football.
Saudi overcome Uzbeks to secure AFC U23 final place and berth to Japan 2020 Olympics
January 22 – Saudi Arabia have become the first Asian country to qualify for the Olympic football tournament, alongside hosts Japan, after defeating reigning champions Uzbekistan 1-0 in the semi-finals of the AFC U-23 Championship in Bangkok, Thailand.
UAE steps in as secure host for Iranian clubs’ opening games in Asian Champions League
January 22 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed it is moving two Asian Champions League preliminary matches out of Iran to neutral venues because of security concerns, a move that has infuriated Iranian authorities.
Meeting of mates. Infantino in Davos chasing Trump and an American Dream
January 22 – On the first day of Donald Trump’s impeachment trial on Capitol Hill in Washington, FIFA president Gianni Infantino courted the US president thousands of miles away at a dinner during the World Economic Forum in Davos, expressing his hope that “the ‘American dream’ becomes reality…all over the world.”
Qatar and FIFA commit to ‘sustainability’ plan covering legacy, human rights and environment
January 22 – Qatar and FIFA have jointly published a comprehensive strategy covering sustainability ahead of the 2022 World Cup, including pledges on workers’ rights and environmental issues.
Re-elected Tebas wastes no time hammering FIFA’s club expansion plans and the monied elite
By Andrew Warshaw
Januuary 21 – No sooner have we entered a new decade than outspoken Spanish league boss Javier Tebas is back on the offensive, this time slamming proposals both for a revamped Champions League and FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup and renewing his attack on what he has long described as “financial doping”.
Ireland’s Delaney leaves UEFA exco role
By Andrew Warshaw
January 21 – As the Rolling Stones famously sung, it’s all over now. John Delaney (pictured), the flamboyant Irishman who strode European football’s corridors of power until being forced to resign as chief executive of his federation (FAI) 10 months ago, has finally given up his position on the UEFA Executive Committee.
Exclusive: Lekjaa talks on CAF’s cash, contracts and FIFA relations
Fouzi Lekjaa, the 49-year-old Director of National Budget in Morocco’s Ministry of Finance, wears a few important football hats. He’s President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and second Vice-President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), as well as being the Chairman of CAF’s Finance Committee. In an exclusive interview Lekjaa spoke to Osasu Obayiuwana
Beckham takes Inter Miami pitch to Qatar for sponsorship backing
January 21 – David Beckham’s new franchise is holding talks with Qatar to secure a headline sponsorship for Inter Miami ’s first season in the Major League Soccer.
Liverpool are the cleanest team in Europe, but Premier League refs love a bit of physical
January 21 – A ranking of teams by the number of fouls committed per game see Liverpool leading the way as the team with the least fouls per match so far this season (8.1).
Iran threatens AFC Champions League boycott if clubs not allowed to play at home
January 20 – Iran is considering boycotting the Asian Champions League after the Asian Football Confederation apparently banned the country’s clubs from staging home games.
Klopp brands AFCON switch back to January a ‘catastrophe’ for Liverpool
January 20 – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has come out fuming over the decision to move the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to January, calling it a “catastrophe” for his club.
Financial blues at Chelsea and Everton show UEFA complacency is unjustified
By David Owen
You would never guess from the complacent tone of the new UEFA club licensing benchmarking report, but January 2020 may be set to go down as a turning-point in English, and therefore European, club finances – and not in a good way.