Marseille suspend Villas Boas after claim he never wanted Celtic’s Ntcham
February 3 – It isn’t every day that the manager of a top-flight club openly and publicly criticises the way it operates and offers his resignation.
World Football
UEFA brings in single-leg knockout rule as Liverpool’s trip to Leipzig in doubt
February 3 – European knock-out ties hit by travel restrictions caused by the impact of Covid-19 could be played as one-off matches at neutral venues under new rules issued by UEFA.
Tebas calls out Infantino, agent WO1, as party to European Super League plot
By Andrew Warshaw
February 2 – La Liga chief Javier Tebas has accused Gianni Infantino of privately supporting the launch of a breakaway European Super League despite FIFA steadfastly opposing the project.
CAS throws Ahmad an election lifeline with freeze on FIFA ban pending fast-tracked hearing
By Andrew Warshaw
February 2 – In a rare and unexpected move that will raise questions over football’s judicial process at the highest level, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dramatically reinstated disgraced African football chief Ahmad Ahmad as head of his confederation pending a full appeal against his five-year FIFA ban.
Motsepe back on the CAF campaign at CHAN before he heads to Qatar for Club World Cup
By Samindra Kunti
February 1 – Patrice Motsepe is intensifying his election campaign in the race for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), hitting the campaign trail once again at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the Club World Cup in Qatar.
Palmeiras win Copa Libertadores in injury time and head for Club World Cup
February 2 – A dramatic injury-time header from substitute Breno Lopes crowned Palmeiras Copa Libertadores champions for a second time with a 1-0 victory over Brazilian rivals Santos after a final that failed to ignite until stoppage time.
‘Bankrupt’ Barca bleat over leak of Messi’s €138m salary
February 1 – Reportedly on the verge of bankruptcy with massive debts, Barcelona say they will take “appropriate legal action” against Spanish newspaper El Mundo after it published details of Lionel Messi’s eye-watering contract.
Marseilles chaos as ultras storm training ground
February 1 – Marseille officials have denounced a “frenzy of violence” after their game against Rennes in France’s Ligue 1 on Saturday was postponed when hundreds of protesting supporters broke into the club’s training ground and caused widespread damage.
Motsepe gets 14-nation Cosafa backing as he ramps up CAF presidential electioneering
January 29 – The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) has endorsed the candidature of South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe (pictured) for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidency, just days after FIFA concluded the vetting process for the March elections.
Chelsea and Everton assets of Abramovich and Usmanov targeted by British politicos
January 29 – The British government has been challenged by a group of lawmakers to impose sanctions on two billionaire oligarchs linked to English top-flight clubs following the detention of Russia’s opposition leader Alexei Navalny that has caused outcry among western democracies.
Agnelli scorns breakaway Super League plan in favour of UEFA’s ‘Swiss system’ reform
January 29 – Andrea Agnelli, the highly influential Juventus boss and head of the European Clubs Association, has dealt a potential blow to closed-shop European super league talks by instead backing UEFA’s Champions League reforms.
Palmeiras and Santos play off for Copa Libertadores final and a trip to Qatar next week
January 29 – On Saturday, Sao Paulo giants Palmeiras and Santos will seek to succeed Flamengo as winners of the Copa Libertadores in a final that will be played behind closed doors at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium.
Azerbaijan’s Qarabağ FK loses UEFA appeal over racist sanctions
January 29 – UEFA’s appeals body has upheld a €100,000 fine imposed last November on Qarabağ FK and rejected the club’s appeal.
Concacaf sets draw and dates for 16-team Champions League
January 29 – Hard on the heels of the AFC’s Champions league draw earlier this week, Concacaf have said they will hoid their 16-team Champions League draw February 10.
UEFA extends decision deadline on 12-city Euros in hope it can get fans into stadia
By Andrew Warshaw
January 28 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says he remains committed to staging next summer’s delayed Euros in the current format of 12 cities despite recent surges of the coronavirus pandemic across the continent.