South Sudan kicks off new women’s league
February 22 – Women’s football in South Sudan took a major step forward this weekend with the inauguration of a new domestic league.
World Football
FIFA’s Wenger warns UEFA it could kill its Champions League with new format plans
February 19 – Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Development since the end of 2019, has hit out at proposals to overhaul the Champions League, warning that fans will be turned off if the competition is watered down.
European Leagues’ Olsson warns new CL format could ‘cannibalise’ domestic TV deals
February 19 – The president of the European Leagues Lars-Christer Olsson (pictured) has sounded a warning about the proposed Swiss model for the Champions League, saying extra European fixtures will ‘cannibalise’ domestic TV rights across the continent.
Bundesliga and Premier League slam Super League project; PL eager for fan return
February 19 – English Premier League chief executive Richard Masters (pictured) and his Bundesliga counterpart Christian Seifert have both opposed the much-rumoured plans to form a breakaway European super league to replace the Champions League.
Out in Africa: Infantino manoeuvres through CAF, Rwanda and SA pre-CAF elections
February 19 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s latest stop on his tour of Africa during the global health crisis – Africa’s football governance is similarly facing a major health crisis – has been the Central African Republic.
Fan worshipped Buffon fined for blasphemy
February 19 – Veteran Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been fined €5,000 by the Italian Football Federation for blasphemy.
Players’ union says any new Champions League format must prioritise player health
February 18 – The international men’s players union FIFpro says ongoing discussions about the future of UEFA competitions with a view to preventing a breakaway Super League must include safeguards to protect the workload placed on its members.
OL’s Aulas calls on players to share the pain with 25% pay cut, offset by a share deal
February 18 – Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas has asked his players to take a pay cut in a bid to mitigate the financial fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic and loss of Ligue 1 TV rights revenue.
OM boss Eyraud says Ligue1 must reform to face post-Covid realities
February 18 – Olympique de Marseille president Jacques-Henri Eyraud (pictured) has said Ligue 1 is “no longer sustainable” and should shrink to confront a post-coronavirus reality.
Laporta says Messi is crucial to Barca’s playing and financial future
February 18 – Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has vowed to do all he can to keep Lionel Messi at the club despite another humiliating night in the Champions League.
Infantino opens African tour in Mauritania with CAF presidential hopeful Yahya
February 17 – With politicking in the election of a new president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in full flow, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has begun a tour of African nations with Mauritania his first stop.
Ukraine wait for CAS verdict over Swiss decision that cost its top tier status
February 17 – Ukraine’s appeal against UEFA’s decision to award Switzerland a 3-0 Nations League walkover win in November as a result of positive Covid-19 tests in the Ukrainian camp has been heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). But there is no update on any verdict.
Inter, Atletico, Man City and OL to win. Juve, Real Madrid, PSG and Liverpool toppled
February 17 – A new statistical model calculating the number of points clubs will have at the end of the season is predicting that the domestic long reigns of Juventus, PSG and Barca/Real Madrid will be over this season.
PSG and Mbappé blast past Barca and Messi as old guard pushed towards CL exit
February 17 – Paris Saint-Germain stormed past FC Barcelona with a brilliant Kylian Mbappé hat-trick in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Nou Camp to knock the Catalans all but out of the competition.
Head cases: English ref squares off with Ipswich player…called Judge
February 17 – Players squaring up angrily and just stopping short of a headbutt is nothing new in football but it rarely centres on the referee.