Welsh boss Page wants to keep Bale involved with national team
January 11 – Wales manager Rob Page wants Gareth Bale to stay involved in the international set-up after the superstar forward announced he was hanging up his boots.
Europe
Alves faces sexual harassment allegation after night in Barcelona night club
January 11 – Former Barcelona and Brazil star Daniel Alves is under investigation over the allegation of sexual harassment of a woman at a Spanish nightclub, Catalonia’s Supreme Court has said.
Welsh talisman and Real Madrid legend Gareth Bale calls time on his playing career
By Andrew Warshaw
January 10 – Once the world’s most expensive footballer and a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Wales captain Gareth Bale has ended his playing career at the age of 33, he announced on Monday.
Martinez takes over at Portugal and dreams big…one step at a time
January 10 – It didn’t take Roberto Martinez long to find a new role. The Spaniard has become the third foreign coach to lead Portugal, succeeding Fernando Santos.
Premier League clubs tumble as giant killers have a field day in the FA Cup
January 9 – Holders Liverpool were held to a 2-2 home draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers on a weekend when no fewer than eight of the 20 Premier League sides were dumped out of the FA Cup, the world’s oldest domestic knockout competition, at the first time of asking.
France to stick with Deschamps through 2026 World Cup
January 9 – French coach Didier Deschamps is to stay until the 2026 World Cup after leading his country to the final of the last two editions of the tournament.
Le Graet under fire for disrespecting Zidane
January 9 – Not for the first time, French football has been hit by an internal war of words, this time over controversial comments made by French football federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet about national icon Zinedine Zidane (pictured).
Čeferin unopposed for third term as UEFA president, election contests set for Euro reps at FIFA
January 6 – UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin looks set for a third term as UEFA president after the deadline passed yesterday for any challengers to come forward for the April 5 election at the UEFA congress in Lisbon, Portugal.
Football mourns the loss of Italian legend Gianluca Vialli, aged 58
January 6 – The football world has lost yet another iconic and hugely popular figure with tributes pouring in following the death at just 58 of former Italian great Gianluca Vialli.
Serie A hits Lazio with ‘curva nord’ closure after racist chanting at Lecce
January 6 – Lazio have been handed a partial one-match stadium restriction after fans directed racist chants at Lecce defender Samuel Umtiti and winger Lameck Banda in an away Serie A game earlier this week that prompted widespread outrage.
Lazio racism: abuse of Umtiti and Banda attracts global condemnation
January 5 – Supportive messages have poured in, including from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, after French international Samuel Umtiti was racially abused by Lazio fans who have once again tarnished the sport in Italy.
Bastia rebuilding but former boss Geronimi charged with embezzlement
January 5 – Corsican businessman Pierre-Marie Geronimi (pictured), former president of SC Bastia, has been charged with fraud, bankruptcy and misuse of corporate assets as part of a judicial investigation into possible financial embezzlement before the club’s 2017 liquidation.
Parker promises wins and ruthlessness at Belgian champions Club Brugge
January 5 – Just four months after his dismissal by Bournemouth, Scott Parker has succeeded Carl Hoefkens as head coach of Belgian champions Club Brugge.
Nigel de Jong takes over as director of football at Dutch FA
January 5 – In a surprise appointment, Nigel de Jong will become the new director of football at the Dutch FA (KNVB), succeeding Jan Hoogsma.
The Three versus The Six: how politics brought Charlton and Beckenbauer back to Wembley 50 years ago
By David Owen
January 3 – Today marks the 50th anniversary of a very odd football match at Wembley Stadium.