Drogba heads to Shanghai
By David Owen
June 21 – Didier Drogba, the Ivorian striker who starred in Chelsea’s recent European Champions League victory, has confirmed his long-expected move to Shanghai Shenhua of China.
Asia
Detained Palestinian player ends hunger strike in exchange for release
By Andrew Warshaw
June 21 – Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak, who has been on hunger strike in protest at being held in an Israeli jail without charge, has agreed to resume eating in exchange for early release, according to his lawyer.
Tributes flood in as former Syrian football boss is assassinated
By Andrew Warshaw
June 14 – Tributes poured in today for former Syrian Football Association (SFA) head Marwan Arafat who was shot dead as the country’s bloody conflict claimed its first reported prominent sports official.
China signs multi-million yuan deal with Hyundai to boost Russia 2018 World Cup campaign
By Duncan Mackay
June 11 – Hyundai have announced a major partnership with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) becoming the sport’s biggest sponsor in the country.
Three killed during skirmishes following Indonesia Super League match
By David Gold
May 27 – Three people have reportedly been killed with five others badly injured in violent clashes following a heated match in the rebel Indonesia Super League.
World Cup-winning coach Lippi takes reins at Chinese Super League outfit
By David Gold
May 19 – World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi has been appointed as manager of big-spending Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande.
Spanish star striker Raúl makes move to Qatar
By David Gold
May 15 – Qatari side Al Sadd have clinched the signing of Spain’s former international star Raúl on a reported one-year contract.
Chinese football corruption scandal endures as ex-CFA boss faces bribe trial
By David Gold
April 26 – The former chief of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), Xie Yalong (pictured), has stood trial for allegedly accepting bribes.
Bin Hammam faces uneasy two month wait to learn result of life ban appeal
By Andrew Warshaw
April 20 – Former Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam faces a nervous two months before discovering whether he has won his appeal against being banned for life for alleged bribery.
Banned former Asia chief Bin Hammam makes last-ditch attempt to clear name
By Andrew Warshaw
April 17 – Former Asia football supremo Mohamed Bin Hammam makes a final attempt to regain his credibility when he tries to overturn his lifetime FIFA ban for corruption tomorrow.
Land dispute causes UAE to cancel Iran friendly
By David Gold
April 14 – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has cancelled a friendly match, scheduled originally for Tuesday (April 17), with Iran after the Islamic Republic’s hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited an island which both countries believe they own.
Former AFC Competitions Director to work on Tokyo Olympic bid
By Duncan Mackay
April 2 – Tokuaki Suzuki, the former Competitions Director of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Japan Football Association (JFA), has been appointed by Tokyo 2020 its new communications director to oversee its bid for the Olympics and Paralympics.
Indonesian football soon to learn fate as FIFA meet to discuss sanctions
By David Gold
March 27 – FIFA is meeting this week to discuss what sanctions, if any, to take against the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) after they missed a deadline to take control of domestic football in the country.
Asian football showing signs of unity as collaborative agreement is met
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – Asian football, which has not always spoken with one voice, moved towards a closer alliance today when FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured left) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) acting President Zhang Jilong (right) signed a Collaboration Agreement between the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP) and AFC.
D-Day looms for Indonesian football with no resolution in place
By David Gold
March 19 – D-day for Indonesia’s embattled Football Association (PSSI) is looming with no sign in sight of a resolution to its conflict with the breakaway domestic league.