CD Leganes secure hattrick of main sponsors with Tourism Malawi debuting
January 22 – Tourism Malawi has become the third main sponsor of Spanish club CD Leganes, alongside Blue Crow and Rainbow.
WSL slip up: Chelsea vs Liverpool abandoned due to frozen pitch, 6 mins after start
January 23 – Chelsea women’s team manager Emma Hayes says the women’s game must be “taken more seriously” after her side’s WSL match against Liverpool on Sunday was abandoned due to a frozen pitch – six minutes after kickoff.
Nketiah and Saka power Arsenal past Man Utd to record mid-season points total
January 23 – With a sensational, last-gasp 3-2 victory over Manchester United, league leaders Arsenal backed up their title credentials, completing the first half of the Premier League season by reaching 50 points.
LAFC agree record $100m stadium naming rights deal with Canada’s BMO
January 22 – LAFC’s Banc of California stadium in Los Angeles is changing its name following a $100 million deal with the Bank of Montreal (BMO). It is the largest stadium naming rights deal in MLS.
Betsson adds title sponsorship of Chilean top flight
January 23 – The Chilean First Division kicked off its new season this weekend with online bookmaker Betsson as the league’s title sponsor.
Saudi women take step towards first FIFA ranking with home tournament win
January 22 – Saudi Arabia’s women have come away victorious from their first international tournament, topping Pakistan, Mauritius and Comoros in their home-hosted competition as they see their first FIFA ranking.
Iraq win Arabian Gulf Cup but home victory marred by stampede that crushes two fans to death
January 20 – Hosts Iraq won the Arab Gulf Cup for the first time since 1988 on Thursday with a 3-2 victory over Oman but the triumph was marred by a deadly stampede outside the Basra International Stadium.
Germany bring Voeller back to national duty after Qatar 2022 disaster
January 20 – Former German international striker Rudi Voeller will take over as general manager of the men’s national team following a disastrous World Cup campaign in Qatar.
Spanish police arrest Dani Alves over sexual harassment allegation
January 20 – Spanish police have arrested Brazil defender Dani Alves after questioning him in a police station in Barcelona over a sexual assault allegation.
Eva Kaili denied bail and ‘tortured’ in Brussels jail as deals done in Qatargate bribery case
January 20 – The former vice-president of the European Parliament Eva Kaili (pictured) will remain in prison for at least another month after a court rejected her plea to be released with an electronic tag.
Covid confusion. Comoros admit to cheating at AFCON, CAF say it was not possible
January 20 – Comoros FA (FFC) boss Said Ali Athouman has said his team cheated at the Africa Cup of Nations over positive Covid tests, but the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said that it would have been “impossible” for teams to cheat the ruling bodies’ Covid rules.
FIFA highlights transfer system reform but says it remains a work in progress
January 19 – FIFA has issued a report on the reforms it has undertaken to the player transfer system since 2017, but has emphasised that it has a “commitment to constantly adapt the regulatory framework to the current reality of football and the transfer system”.
Bayern and Tigres UANL link women’s teams to grow opportunities
January 20 – Germany’s Bayern Munich and Mexico’s Tigres UNAL have agreed an international development partnership for their women’s teams.
Betano adds Supercopa do Brasil to naming rights roster
January 20 – Online bookmaker Betano has added the naming rights to the Brazilian Supercopa to the naming rights it secured in December to the Copa do Brasil.
DAZN boosts global streaming roll-out with Prime Video distribution deal
January 20 – Sports-streaming giant DAZN has agreed a deal with Prime Video to distribute its service in Amazon’s Prime Video Channels.