Questions of Infantino’s manipulation of Swiss judiciary refuse to go away
February 4 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino is under investigation in Switzerland for suspicion of bribery and potential corruption of the Swiss judiciary.
Whistleblower Rui Pinto says he acted in ‘public interest’ and fears a Portuguese trial
February 4 – The man behind a string of incriminating leaks that shook the footballing world over the past few weeks claims he would not get a fair trial if he is returned to his native Portugal because “the mafia is everywhere”.
Thai court keeps ‘political football’ Al-Araibi behind bars as he prepares appeal for April 5
February 4 – A Thai court has denied bail to part-time footballer Hakeem al-Araibi and given him until April 5 to file a written defence against Bahrain’s attempt to extradite him from Thailand before the next scheduled hearing on April 22.
Underwater searchers find Sala’s aircraft wreckage
February 4 – Air accident investigators have discovered the wreckage of the light aircraft carrying Argentine-born Emiliano Sala and his pilot which disappeared over the English Channel last month en route to Cardiff where Sala was due to make his debut for the Premier league club.
2019 Women’s World Cup refs warm-up in Qatar at Alkass International Cup
February 4 – A 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup referees workshop is being held in the Aspire Zone in Qatar for the next 12 days.
Queiroz says Iran’s Asian Cup performance was only possible with Qatar’s support
February 4 – Iran’s outgoing coach Carlos Queiroz claims the team’s participation at the just-completed Asian Cup was only possible due to the financial aid provided by Qatar
Almoez brilliance and Qatar’s defensive blockade shock Japan
Japan 1 Qatar 3
By Paul Nicholson
February 1 – The Qatar football project is bearing fruit. Ably supported by an army of Omanis who once again had driven across the border, this time in their thousands, to support them, Qatar lifted their first-ever Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi with a 3-1 win over a Japanese team that started as favourites.
Democracy vs Fear is FIFA’s biggest election battle, says Vega
By Paul Nicholson
February 1 – It is harder to get five nominations for the FIFA presidency than it is to get 100 votes in the election, said Ramon Vega, who is putting together a challenge for the top job at the world governing body.
Tebas says goods governance cannot allow PSG’s Al Khelaifi on to UEFA’s exco
By Andrew Warshaw
February 1 – UEFA has been urged to block the appointment of Paris Saint Germain supremo Nasser Al Khelaifi to its executive committee by outspoken La Liga president Javier Tebas.
Almoez and Al Rawi cleared to play in tonight’s final as AFC dismisses UAE eligibility complaint
February 1 – Game on, all players available. The protest lodged the by United Arab Emirates FA concerning the eligibility of Qataris players Almoez Ali and Bassam Al Rawi has been unanimously dismissed by the AFC disciplinary committee, just four hours before the final between Qatar and the UAE is due to take place.
Transfer bubble burst? Premier League spend tops out at £180m, £250m down on 2018
February 1 – Premier League spending in the mid-season January transfer window fell for the first time since 2012 with a quieter than usual deadline day capping off a distinctly unspectacular window.
Concacaf fall into line behind big boss Infantino
February 1 – Concacaf are the latest confederation to come out and formally support Gianni Infantino for re-election as FIFA president in Paris on June 5.
CBF exports its Brazilian football brand to China
February 1 – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has signed a deal with Chinese company Kingdomway to promote youth football development over the next 15 years by transferring knowledge and know-how to China.
African qualifiers for U-20 World Cup kick off in Niger
February 1 – Africa will compete for four berths at the U-20 World Cup in Poland at this month’s U-20 continental championship in Niger. Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal have a strong case to win the tournament as defending champions Zambia failed to qualify for the finals.
La Liga in sponsorship tie-up with revamped ‘World Cup of Tennis’
By David Owen
February 1 – La Liga has agreed to sponsor the Davis Cup, the reformatted men’s team tennis competition whose first new-look edition will culminate in November in the Spanish capital Madrid.