Guinea-Bissau pays Pelé tribute with renaming of Bafatá stadium
January 6 – The government of Guinea-Bissau has become the second country to heed the call of FIFA president Gianni Infantino and rename a stadium after Pelé.
News
Cameroon U17 squad shredded after 21 players fail age screening tests
January 5 – Cameroon football has again been rocked by an age fraud scandal with 21 out of 30 Under-17 national team players disqualified after failing MRI tests ordered by the country’s FA (Fecafoot) chief Samuel Eto’o.
Lazio racism: abuse of Umtiti and Banda attracts global condemnation
January 5 – Supportive messages have poured in, including from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, after French international Samuel Umtiti was racially abused by Lazio fans who have once again tarnished the sport in Italy.
U.S. Soccer family feud: Danielle Reyna says she told U.S. Soccer of Berhalter incident
January 5 – Danielle Reyna, the mother of US midfielder Giovanni Reyna, has come forward saying she told U.S. Soccer of the domestic violence incident involving US coach Gregg Berhalter in 1991.
Man City partners with OTT giant Jio for digital push into India
January 5 – Premier League Manchester City, whose owners City Football Group (CFG) have ambitions to expand in India, has unveiled a new regional partnership with Indian digital services company Jio Platforms.
Bastia rebuilding but former boss Geronimi charged with embezzlement
January 5 – Corsican businessman Pierre-Marie Geronimi (pictured), former president of SC Bastia, has been charged with fraud, bankruptcy and misuse of corporate assets as part of a judicial investigation into possible financial embezzlement before the club’s 2017 liquidation.
Estrelabet expands into Brasileirão with América shirt deal
January 5 – Online bookmaker EstrelaBet, who before Christmas sealed a deal with the Brazilian federation (CBF) for sponsorship of all its futsal clubs, has now moved into mainstream Brazilian football becoming the main sponsor of América Futebol Clube.
Parker promises wins and ruthlessness at Belgian champions Club Brugge
January 5 – Just four months after his dismissal by Bournemouth, Scott Parker has succeeded Carl Hoefkens as head coach of Belgian champions Club Brugge.
Nigel de Jong takes over as director of football at Dutch FA
January 5 – In a surprise appointment, Nigel de Jong will become the new director of football at the Dutch FA (KNVB), succeeding Jan Hoogsma.
West Ham’s co-chair David Gold dies, aged 86
January 5 – West Ham United joint-chairman and co-owner David Gold has died at the age of 86 on Wednesday following a short illness, the English Premier League club said.
Pelé laid to rest as fans celebrate his life, but Brazil’s football stars are conspicuously absent
By Samindra Kunti in Santos, Brazil
January 4 – On Tuesday Santos and Brazil bode farewell to Pelé, the nation’s greatest icon. Almost a quarter of a million mourners and supporters, including newly sworn-in president Luiz Inacio da Silva, filed past Pele’s coffin in a serene funeral procession before a private internment.
Cape Verde is first to heed FIFA call and name national stadium after Pele
January 4 – Africa’s Cape Verde has become the first FIFA member nation to heed president Gianni Infantino’s call to rename a stadium in every country in the world after Pele.
Saints enter sports tech dev business with ‘Future of Football’ challenge
January 4 – Premier League Southampton have entered the sports tech development scene with a challenge to developers and companies to come up with the next big idea in either the football development or fan engagement space.
NFT-driven Sorare extends Eredivisie deal for three years
January 4 – The Netherlands’ Eredivisie has extended its partnership with fantasy game operator Sorare until 2025.
Berhalter forced to face his past as US Soccer plots future path
January 4 – USA men’s coach Gregg Berhalter, whose contract ended at the end of year, was threatened by a blackmailer at the Qatar 2022 over an incident in 1991, when he was 18 years old.