Fifpro survey finds stadium security needs improvement
January 12 – Security in stadiums must be improved and sanctions strengthened to deter physical and verbal abuse of footballers, according to a survey by the players’ union Fifpro.
Year: 2024
AFCON set for weekend kick-off with hosts Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau
January 12 – Just as the Asian Cup kicks off in Qatar, so Africa’s showpiece event, the African Cup of Nations, gets under way on Saturday in the Ivory Coast which has invested at least $1 billion on hosting the tournament having built four new stadiums while renovating two others.
FIFA database names and shames clubs banned from signing new players
January 12 – FIFA has published a new database of clubs serving bans on registering new players.
Transfer talk: Chelsea target Brighton’s Ferguson, Ten Hag wants more help from Ajax
January 12 – Chelsea are reportedly interested in Brighton’s 19-year-old Irish striker Evan Ferguson (pictured) as the blues continue their search for a long-term striker.
Qatar open Asian Cup with stylish 3-0 win over Lebanon
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
January 12 – Hosts Qatar kicked off their own party at the Asian Cup with a 3-0 victory over Lebanon with goalscorers Akram Afif and Almoez Ali once again proving their value to the defending champions.
End Malaria campaign harnesses AFCON to boost awareness
January 12- The RBM Partnership to End Malaria and Zero Malaria F.C. have combined for a campaign driven by football legends and music stars to increase malaria awareness and urge greater action against the deadly disease.
Australia and India start open Group B with both aiming for deep runs into knockout phase
January 12 – India and Australia kick off their Asian Cup campaign on Saturday (January 13) seeking to establish themselves firmly as a part of their regional football firmament.
Benfica’s €500m academy sales business tops world ranking
January 12 – The latest report from the CIES football observatory has ranked Liga Portugal side Benfica as the club with the most profitable academy in world football.
AFC renews its war on match-fixing with renewal of Sportradar integrity deal
January 12 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has extending its sports integrity partnership with Sportradar for a further three years through to 2027.
Dorival Jr tells Brazil that fans must get with the programme if they are to start winning again
January 12 – New Brazil manager Dorival Jr has asked supporters to rally behind the national team in a bid to get the team back on the rails and regain self-esteem.
Qatar have point to prove as they open Asian Cup finals and title defense in the Lusail
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
January 12 – Hosts and defending champions Qatar take on Lebanon in the curtain raiser of the Asian Cup on Friday with a point to prove on home soil after a disastrous World Cup campaign and the shock dismissal of Carlos Queiroz last month. Captain Hassan Al Haydos believes the team needs to send a message to the fans.
Japan’s pioneering women’s refs to make history again with Aus-Ind group game
January 12 – Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita will become the first woman referee in AFC Asian Cup history to take charge of a men’s game at the finals when she leads out Australia and India for their opening group game on January 13.
Palestinians look to send messages of hope and life as they aim for group qualification
January 12 – The Palestinian squad at the Asian Cup said they want to deliver a message of ‘life’ to the world by qualifying for the tournament knockout rounds, while also bringing at least a little happiness to people trapped in the violence of the war in Hamas.
Asian Cup 2023 in Qatar is bursting to get out the starting gates
By Paul Nicholson
January 11 – The Asian Cup 2023 that was originally scheduled for last summer in China but was switched Qatar after the Chinese pulled out, opens in a day’s time and is pretty much bursting to exit the starting gates.
Gambian national team escapes death after AFCON flight turned back due to lack of oxygen
January 11 – The Gambia’s African Nations Cup preparations took a turn for the worse on Wednesday when their flight to Ivory Coast had to return to Banjul airport because of a lack of oxygen on the aircraft. Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet said “they escaped death.”