Man Utd join Alibaba for major content-driven foray into China
December 6 – Manchester United have unveiled a partnership with Alibaba Group that will see club content on Alibaba’s digital platforms for the first time in China.
Four years after Blatter left, Infantino is set to gain admission to Olympic club
By David Owen
December 6 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino is finally set to enter world sport’s most prestigious club. The 49-year-old is one of three new International Olympic Committee (IOC) members proposed for the next IOC Session in Lausanne on January 10.
Clearer, faster, less invasive. UEFA’s Ceferin demands shake-up of VAR ‘disaster’
December 6 – Amid growing criticism across Europe over the inconsistent way VAR is being interpreted, UEFA are to ask football’s lawmakers for greater clarification according to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
Italian whitewash. Institutionalised racism now making the headlines?
December 5 – A leading Italian sports daily has been widely criticised for a headline reading ‘Black Friday’ featuring two leading black Serie A players.
After 5-year hiatus, Sierra Leone’s Premier League is back in action
December 6 – A new chapter has begun following Sierra Leone football’s troubled recent past, with the Premier League having resumed for the first time in more than five years.
Saudi squeeze past Qatar in Doha to set up Gulf Cup final with Bahrain
December 6 – Saudi Arabia and Qatar ended 2019 the way they had began it with a blockade derby. This time the venue was Doha’s al-Janoub Stadium, with the Green Falcons winning thanks to a first-half goal from striker Abdullah al-Hamdan. The Saudis will now meet Bahrain in Sunday’s Gulf Cup final.
Concacaf set draw date for final four Gold Cup 2021 qualifiers, with big names still in the pot
December 6 – With 12 teams already qualified for the 16-team 2021 Gold Cup, Concacaf have announced the knockout draw for the final four slots will take place December 11.
Nantes have to wait on Sala €6m as CAS set Cardiff’s appeal ruling for June 2020
December 6 – The final decision on whether Cardiff City have to pay the first instalment of €6 million to Nantes for €17 million striker Emiliano Sala will not taken until June 2020.
PAOK fiercely deny Savvidis dual ownership and point finger at Olympiacos
By Paul Nicholson
December 5 – Greek champions PAOK, and their fans, have responded furiously to allegations that owner Ivan Savvidis also controls Greek Super League club Xanthi FC.
UEFA expands women’s Champions League with group stage added
December 5 – UEFA has announced the introduction of a new 16-team group stage for the Women’s Champions League from the 2021-22 season with centralised marketing and TV sales programme raise revenues and the profile of the women’s club game.
Brighton swoop back into the red as staff costs jump
By David Owen
December 5 – Brighton and Hove Albion, the south coast club winning plaudits for their adventurous style under new head coach Graham Potter, slipped back into loss in their second season in the Premier League.
UEFA wants to add Nations League Qatar 2022 qualification route
December 5 – UEFA wants to tweak the qualifying process for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, allowing a pathway via the Nations League to reach the global finals.
Lagardere in African limbo as CAF contract dispute heads for Swiss courts
By Osasu Obayiuwana
December 5 – The consequences of the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to terminate its $1 billion, 12-year marketing contract with Lagardere Sports (LS) continue to reverberate at the French company, with staff of its Africa Division uncertain of their future.
East Africa’s Cecafa Cup reduced to nine teams as nations withdraw
December 5 – East Africa’s flagship competition the Cecafa Cup will kick off with a depleted participants field after South Sudan, DR Congo and Ethiopia all withdrew from the competition.
Mediapro take UEFA court over TV deal-making with beIN and Canal Plus
December 5 – Spanish TV group Mediapro are taking UEFA to court for allegedly altering submission bids for the Champions League for 2021-2024 in favour of France’s Canal Plus and Middle East broadcasting giant beIN Sports.