Tonight the world football organization has revealed who are "The best" players for last year. All nominees were competing at three categories from the male and female section (top footballer, goalkeeper and coach) together with the beautiful goal and fan award. It is really not that difficult to guess who has won the main prize, but if you want to read them and see if your favourite has lift the title at the ceremony, the 8 names (along with the best 11) can be found on the website of the mentioned affiliation.
28 February 2023
27 February 2023
Little balls have formed 16 pairs for last 16
Couple of days ago at the European football organization performed the penultimate draw for phase 16 of the last two international club competitions. Just few hours later the whole schedule were released with the two famous kick off times (which can be seen on their website). From this round: the 12 group winners are going to join ; same old rivalry was paired again ; and because two clubs are coming from the same city, like it or not, one have to go out on the pitch earlier than expected, thus in total four dates will exist.
One of the hilarious fact of the Europa league draw is that two clubs will be playing again twice, out of which both of them have been placed in the same group last fall when as well had two matches. Hence at the 2022-23 season the two clubs who share the same name are going to meet each other in total four times. Dates for plays are scheduled for 09 and 16 March.
Union Berlin - Union Saint-Gilloise.
Sevilla - Fenerbahce.
Juventus - Freiburg.
Bayer - Ferencvarosh.
Sporting - Arsenal.
Manchester united - Betis.
Roma - Real Sociedad.
Shakhtar Donetsk - Feyenoord.
Conference league does not have this funny story like the predecessor, but on the contrary have another issue. For the first time in knockout stages, the last 16 is going to be played on four dates. The reason behind it is the following: one club (that comes from Rome) from this event is (literally) forced to play 48 hours earlier than the original schedule, thus this competition would be held on 07 and 09 with the first 90 minutes plus 15 and 16 March when will be staged the return legs.
AEK - West ham.
Fiorentina - Sivasspor.
Lazio - AZ.
Lech - Djurgarden.
Basel - Slovan.
Sheriff - Nice.
Anderlecht - Villarreal.
Gent - Bashakshehir.
26 February 2023
Youth competition format with a new look
Last Tuesday it was announced that in the North, Central America and Caribbean region a new format of youth tournaments were approved and those would start from April. After a conducted analysis it was decided that in the under 17 and 20 events are going to be introduced qualifying, group stage and knockout phases. Each of the knockout phases are going to be played in one duel (quarterfinal, semifinal and final). Teams who will appear at semifinal (four) would have a guaranteed spot at the Youth World Cup.
25 February 2023
Player confirmed among the casualties
Immediately after the natural catastrophe that hit Turkiye on 06 February (almost) all media have published the (exclusive) news that Christian Atsu has passed away following the disastrous earthquakes. However, part of that was true.
Just hours before, the Ghanaian player had score the last goal of his career against Kasimpasha. As days went by and as the 31-year-old was treated as missing, there was little hope that he would still be alive, where at the end, unfortunately, came the confirmation from his manager. Twelve days after the deadliest tremors the body of the midfielder was found under the ruins at the Hatay Province of Antakya.
24 February 2023
Club has equalized overall result with a ball rolled into its own net, and then were ousted on lotteries
Conference league 2022-23 season, phase of 32, leg 2:
Anderlecht - Ludogorets 2:1 ; on penalties: 3-0
Scorers: 1:0 13-own goal (12.46) Franco Russo
2:0 68 (67.22) Yari Verschaeren
2:1 70 (70.12) Igor Thiago
- Jakub Piotrowski on 97 has left Ludogorets to play with 10 men until the end due to two yellow cards.
Partizan - Sheriff 1:3
Scorers: 1:0 13 (12.58) Queensy Menig
1:1 21-pen (21.17) Cedric Badolo
1:2 45 (45.18) Mouhamed Diop
1:3 46 (46.11) Mouhamed Diop
Dnipro-1 - AEK 0:0 (neutral place)
Gent - Qarabag 1:0 ; on penalties: 5-3
Scorer: 1:0 74 (73.36) Gift Emmanuel Orban
Fiorentina - Braga 3:2
Scorers: 0:1 16 (15.59) Andre Castro
0:2 34 (33.50) Alvaro Djalo
1:2 36 (36.16) Rolando Mandaroga
2:2 58 (57.56) Riccardo Saponara
3:2 83 (82.35) Arthur Cabral
Basel - Trabzonspor 2:0
Scorers: 1:0 13 (12.45) Zeki Amdouni
2:0 76 (75.45) Andi Zeqiri
- Trabzonspor could have equalized at 27 (26.44), but the 11 metre shot from Anastasios Bakasetas missed the whole goal.
Lech - Bodo/Glimt 1:0
Scorer: 1:0 62 (62.00) Mikael Ishak
Additional information: we are going to see again Anderlecht, Sheriff, AEK, Gent, Fiorentina, Basel and Lech in next round.
Europa league 2022-23 season, round of 32, leg 2:
PSV - Sevilla 2:0
Scorers: 1:0 77 (76.31) Luuk de Jong
2:0 90+4 (94.11) Fabio Silva
Midtjylland - Sporting 0:4
Scorers: 0:1 20 (20.11) Sebastian Coates
0:2 49 (49.10) Pedro Goncalves
0:3 76 (76.18) Pedro Goncalves
0:4 85-own goal (84.21) Stefan Gartenmann
- On 38 (37.40) Paulo da Silva received his second yellow card.
Manchester united - Barcelona 2:1
Scorers: 0:1 18-pen (17.24) Robert Lewandowski
1:1 47 (46.26) Frederico Santos
2:1 73 (72.28) Antony dos Santos
Stade Rennais - Shakhtar Donetsk 1:0, after extra time 2:1, on penalties: 4-5
Scorers: 1:0 51 (51.20) Karl Toko Ekambi
2:0 105 (105.35) Ibrahim Salah
2:1 119-own goal (118.32) Jeanuel Belocian
Union Berlin - Ajax 3:1
Scorers: 1:0 20-pen (19.51) Robin Knoche
2:0 43 (43.15) Josip Juranovic
2:1 47 (46.52) Mohammed Kudus
3:1 49 (49.08) Danilho Doekhi
- Visiting midfielder Edson Alvarez was sent off at 90+6 because of two yellow cards.
Roma - Red bull Salzburg 2:0
Scorers: 1:0 33 (32.47) Andrea Belotti
2:0 40 (39.31) Paulo Dybala
Additional information: Sevilla, Sporting, Manchester united, Shakhtar Donetsk, Union Berlin, Roma have all entered into last 16.
23 February 2023
In a dull game of this level club has lost the first 90 minutes following red card
Champions league 2022-23 season, last 16, leg 1 (night 4 of 4):
Inter - Porto 1:0
Scorer: 1:0 85 (85.16) Romelu Lukaku
- Otavio Monteiro has left Porto after the midfielder received two yellow cards that turned automatically red at 77 (77.20).
22 February 2023
Humiliation of the host began after they had (solid) two goals advantage
Champions league 2022-23 season, last 16, leg 1:
Liverpool - Real Madrid 2:5
Scorers: 1:0 03 (03.11) Darwin Nunez
2:0 14 (13.53) Mohamed Salah
2:1 20 (20.13) Vinicius de Oliveira junior
2:2 35 (35.05) Vinicius de Oliveira junior
2:3 47 (46.56) Eder Militao
2:4 55 (54.51) Karim Benzema
2:5 66 (66.10) Karim Benzema
21 February 2023
Event that is brought back on original schedule
Because of special health circumstances (pandemic), like it or not the world football organization has announced that the international club tournament that was played at the end of each year, was transferred to the following one. So, from every December, the Club World Cup had to be staged two months later and therefore was the first intercontinental competition who (practically) opened the new season for three consecutive years. However, from this one everything will go back as it once was played.
Edition number 20 is going to be back staging at the original schedule which is again in the twelfth month. And this is going to be historic tournament for Saudi Arabia which would organize it for the first time from 12 until 22 December.
But, to our disappointment, this is going to be the penultimate competition that will be staged under the current 7 club format as it will be completely destroyed. It would be expanded to 32 participants beginning from June / July period of 2025. Last Wednesday were also explained (although it was never done thoroughly and on what grounds) the allocation on how teams would enter from each regions: 6 clubs are going to be from South American confederation / its North, Central neighbour together with the Caribbean part will send 4 / African continent would be represented with 4 / 12 are going to participate from Europe / Asian confederation will be present with 4 teams / together with one each from Oceania plus the host team. No one knows at this moment from where or how the other 25 teams are going to appear / come, nor the fresh format system is known.
20 February 2023
Majority of games with different leg
European international league competitions are slowly entering into the second week where matches with different meaning would be played.
There is only one kick-off time at Champions league. Still this tournament it torments itself to finish the first 90 minutes of round of 16, and that will be done (finally) with the last four duels (of this phase).
Tuesday, 21 February at 21.00 CET: Eintracht Frankfurt - Napoli.
Tuesday, 21 February at 21.00 CET: Liverpool - Real Madrid.
Wednesday, 22 February at 21.00 CET: Inter - Porto.
Wednesday, 22 February at 21.00 CET: Red bull Leipzig - Manchester city.
Without a break are the next two events with its round of 32. Here are two times which are close to one another, matches might overlap considering that all the pairs are playing the second leg, thus prolonging them would be the only option, for:
... Conference league...
Thursday, 23 February at 18.45 CET: Anderlecht - Ludogorets.
Thursday, 23 February at 18.45 CET: Cluj - Lazio.
Thursday, 23 February at 18.45 CET: Dnipro-1 - AEK (playing at Koshice, Slovakia).
Thursday, 23 February at 18.45 CET: Partizan - Sheriff.
Thursday, 23 February at 21.00 CET: Basel - Trabzonspor.
Thursday, 23 February at 21.00 CET: Fiorentina - Braga.
Thursday, 23 February at 21.00 CET: Gent - Qarabag.
Thursday, 23 February at 21.00 CET: Lech - Bodo/Glimt.
... and Europa league.
Thursday, 23 February at 18.45 CET: Midtjylland - Sporting.
Thursday, 23 February at 18.45 CET: Monaco - Bayer.
Thursday, 23 February at 18.45 CET: Nantes - Juventus.
Thursday, 23 February at 18.45 CET: PSV - Sevilla.
Thursday, 23 February at 21.00 CET: Manchester united - Barcelona.
Thursday, 23 February at 21.00 CET: Roma - Red bull Salzburg.
Thursday, 23 February at 21.00 CET: Stade Rennais - Shakhtar Donetsk.
Thursday, 23 February at 21.00 CET: Union Berlin - Ajax.
19 February 2023
Bad situation for almost all national clubs
According to reports of the Belgium football association from last Friday, clubs from first and second division has recorded a negative financial numbers for last season... again or for second consecutive year.
For 2021-22 season 25 of them had a net loss of 156 million euros, and at the infamous first place is Antwerp with 31.5 million. This new record surpasses another decline of 140 million euros that was noted from the previous year (2020-21). For the same year more than half a billion euros was injected into each club.
In this 'dark time' trend there is still some positives where (only) four clubs have managed to have their business in right direction. Anderlecht, Charleroi, Club Brugge and Courtrai (Kortrijk) are the quartet who all have earnings.
18 February 2023
Record spending money on winter time
On a report from last Thursday of the world football organization revealed that this winter time clubs around the world have spent enormously more from the previous record. In a total of 4.387 international transfers 1.5 billion euros were paid. Just for January 2023 was given 192 million euros more than in January 2018. For 14.4 percent the number of transfers has risen of the same period from 12 months ago.
17 February 2023
After goalkeeping error came the equalizing goal at last second
Europa league 2022-23 season, round of 32, leg 1:
Shakhtar Donetsk - Stade Rennais 2:1 (neutral place)
Scorers: 1:0 11 (10.21) Dmytro Kryskiv
2:0 45-pen (44.57) Artem Bondarenko
2:1 59 (58.26) Karl Toko Ekambi
Red bull Salzburg - Roma 1:0
Scorer: 1:0 88 (87.32) Nicolas Capaldo
Ajax - Union Berlin 0:0
Barcelona - Manchester united 2:2
Scorers: 1:0 49 (49.11) Marcos Alonso
1:1 52 (51.54) Marcus Rashford
1:2 59-own goal (58.28) Jules Kounde
2:2 76 (75.48) Raphael Bellolo
Sporting - Midtjylland 1:1
Scorers: 0:1 77 (76.34) Emam Ashour
1:1 90+4 (93.48) Sebastian Coates
Sevilla - PSV 3:0
Scorers: 1:0 45+2 (46.22) Youssef en-Nesyri
2:0 49 (49.10) Lucas Ocampos
3:0 55 (54.23) Nemanja Gudelj
Conference league 2022-23 season, phase of 32, leg 1:
Qarabag - Gent 1:0
Scorer: 1:0 77 (77.12) Leandro Andrade
- At 51 (50.59) a very weak penalty shot sent Ramil Sheydayev (Qarabag) from 11 metres, so it was perfectly saved.
Bodo/Glimt - Lech 0:0
Trabzonspor - Basel 1:0
Scorer: 1:0 64 (64.15) Jens Stryger Larsen
Braga - Fiorentina 0:4
Scorers: 0:1 45+1 (45.43) Luka Jovic
0:2 60 (59.47) Luka Jovic
0:3 79 (78.37) Arthur Cabral
0:4 90 (89.47) Arthur Cabral
- Home defender Vitor Tormena received a direct red card at 55 (54.33).
Sheriff - Partizan 0:1
Scorer: 0:1 44 (44.18) Ricardo Gomes
- Partizan ended this game with 10 men because on 50 (49.56) Igor Vujachic saw a direct red card.
AEK - Dnipro-1 1:0
Scorer: 1:0 84 (83.40) Angel Garcia
Ludogorets - Anderlecht 1:0
Scorer: 1:0 08 (08.15) Igor Thiago
16 February 2023
Withdrawals from its championships for this year
Due to the catastrophic earthquake that hit Turkiye and Syria last Monday morning, more and more clubs are canceling their participation at the national championships mainly because of damaged facilities, tragic deaths from officials or missing players. Until now six of them have confirmed that they want to stop playing: Hatayspor and Gaziantep (of Super league) ; Yeni Malatyaspor together with Adanaspor (from the first league) ; second division club Adiyaman ; Malatya (at the third league). The Turkiye football federation have accepted their withdrawal who announced that their rivals are going to win the remaining matches by 3:0 (forfeited) in the continuation, and that each one would keep their places in the leagues for the next season (2022-23).
In related news, because of money problems towards them two footballers have terminated their contract with one of the most affected club in this natural disaster. Arda Shengul and Dogukan Emeksiz have decided to terminate the contract today with Yeni Malatyaspor because both were not payed as far as 13 February.
15 February 2023
Trio of names selected
Who is "The best" according to the world football organization we are going to find out at the ceremony on 27 February, but until that date comes it is time to be familiar with three players that are going to be in contention for winning the prize.
Each one, who can be found on the website of the mention affiliation, are in the top three thanks from votes of journalists, coaches and captains from all teams, together with spectators who gave their online opinion as far as 04 February. Just five days later all of the results were summarized, thus on the last Monday of this month it is going to be announced who are the best players for eight awards in every men and women category together with the prize for best goal of 2022.
14 February 2023
Quiz with fantastic prizes
Lovers of Asian football can test their knowledge online where in return the confederation is going to award the lucky winners with wonderful prizes.
After registering on the site all fans can participate in the quiz that began on 09 February and is running until 05 March. When everything ends, all answers will be summarized and the two winners would be notified electronically. This test is available on three languages: Arabic, English and Farsi.
Because Champions league is playing over two matches, one spectator is going to win reward and be present on the first part of the final at 29 April, while another fan with high scores is going to attend in the second leg duel which is scheduled for seven nights later. Each one of them will receive two tickets, staying four nights in a four star hotel together with returning flights.
13 February 2023
Part three (ready) to begin
After qualifiers and group stages comes the third and final part. Usually around the middle dates of this month, are beginning the knockout rounds in all three European club international competitions. Familiar two kick off times are ahead of us next week in their first 90 minutes of play with one tiny and only thing: the number phase from the first event is different of the following two.
Champions league, round of 16.
Tuesday, 14 February at 21.00 CET: Milan - Tottenham.
Tuesday, 14 February at 21.00 CET: PSG - Bayern.
Wednesday, 15 February at 21.00 CET: Borussia Dortmund - Chelsea.
Wednesday, 15 February at 21.00 CET: Club Brugge - Benfica.
Europa league, round of 32 (also known as play-off stage).
Thursday, 16 February at 18.45 CET: Ajax - Union Berlin.
Thursday, 16 February at 18.45 CET: Barcelona - Manchester united.
Thursday, 16 February at 18.45 CET: Red bull Salzburg - Roma.
Thursday, 16 February at 18.45 CET: Shakhtar Donetsk - Stade Rennais (playing in Warsaw, Poland).
Thursday, 16 February at 21.00 CET: Bayer - Monaco.
Thursday, 16 February at 21.00 CET: Juventus - Nantes.
Thursday, 16 February at 21.00 CET: Sevilla - PSV.
Thursday, 16 February at 21.00 CET: Sporting - Midtjylland.
Conference league, round of 32 (also known as play-off stage).
Thursday, 16 February at 18.45 CET: Bodo/Glimt - Lech.
Thursday, 16 February at 18.45 CET: Braga - Fiorentina.
Thursday, 16 February at 18.45 CET: Qarabag - Gent.
Thursday, 16 February at 18.45 CET: Trabzonspor - Basel.
Thursday, 16 February at 21.00 CET: AEK - Dnipro-1.
Thursday, 16 February at 21.00 CET: Lazio - Cluj.
Thursday, 16 February at 21.00 CET: Ludogorets - Anderlecht.
Thursday, 16 February at 21.00 CET: Sheriff - Partizan.
Lots of numbers from a completed tournament
The edition number 19 of the Club World Cup 2022 (2023) has finished yesterday night, and 24 hours later it is time to look back for what was done in the whole event.
Balls into nets. In total 7 clubs gave 30 goals or 4.29 per game. Out of that figure goalkeepers received 10 in the first 45 minutes, and 20 in continuation. At the stoppage time of first half 1 goal was given, while after the 90 minutes 3 clubs have rolled the ball inside nets 5 times, and from this number Real Madrid was successful by giving 2 goals. No single player has rolled the ball into his own net.
Punishments. Either with the help of his assistants from above or their own decision, referees were in the mood to point 6 times on the white 11-metre spot. At separate duels Al hilal and Flamengo received most penalties - 2. Goalkeepers have saved 2 of them where both have been spectacularly defended in second half.
Naughty boys. Players from 5 different clubs saw red cards pointed at them. Men in blue has shown 2 yellow cards to 3 footballers, whilst the other 2 have done a really nasty fouls for a direct one.
Miracle has happened. In the end for the very first time main referees had to explain their decisions to the public after seeing the digital monitors and consulting with their colleagues in the locked room, and all this may be a revolutionary turn for this sport.
12 February 2023
Ball liked to go into the net 14 times rolled by 8 names from 2 games
Club World Cup 2022 (2023) - Morocco, classification for place 3 - 4, night 5, match 6:
Al ahly - Flamengo 2:4
Scorers: 0:1 10-pen (10.11) Gabriel Barbosa
1:1 37 (37.01) Ahmed Abdelkader
2:1 60 (59.41) Ahmed Abdelkader
2:2 77 (76.54) Pedro dos Santos
2:3 84-pen (84.01) Gabriel Barbosa
2:4 90 (90.14) Pedro dos Santos
- A weak penalty from Al ahly defender Ali Maaloul was perfectly saved at 58 (57.27).
- Khalid Abdullfatah left Al ahly on 69 (68.22) because he saw a direct red card.
Club World Cup 2022 (2023) - Morocco, final, night 5, match 7:
Real Madrid - Al hilal 5:3
Scorers: 1:0 13 (12.25) Vinicius de Oliveira junior
2:0 18 (17.36) Federico Valverde
2:1 25 (25.14) Moussa Marega
3:1 54 (53.31) Karim Benzema
4:1 58 (57.36) Federico Valverde
4:2 63 (62.59) Luciano Vietto
5:2 69 (68.23) Vinicius de Oliveira junior
5:3 78 (78.05) Luciano Vietto
11 February 2023
Natural disaster affects players as well
On Monday morning (at the worst possible time for people) two big earthquakes have hit the Turkiye - Syrian border. Here will not be mentioned the official figures of those who lost their lives nor injured (as those numbers are still frightening and changes from second to second), where some footballers was also involved in this catastrophe of natural proportions.
Unfortunately, Ahmet Eyup has passed away when he got pulled from the rubble, while earlier rescuers have found and helped his wife who survived. Three days ago the coach of Malatyaspor has confirmed the tragic news that their 28-year-old goalkeeper did not make it.
At 05 February Hatayspor have beaten Kasimpasha with a single goal when Christian Atsu scored it in stoppage time of second half. Few hours later, this catastrophe has happened and until now the 31-year-old player from Ghana is still missing, whilst his teammate Kerim Alici has pulled out from the rubble himself. Local media also reported that the sport director of the club Taner Savut may still be under the ruins. After all these disastrous news, sadly today this first division team has announced that it withdraws from the championship. Hatayspor comes from Antakya which is one of the town who is now totally destroyed in Turkiye.
Interrupted again the Super lig now would have to restart on 03 March.
10 February 2023
Officials chosen - agreements signed
At the Asian football organization functionaries on high positions were picked and couple of deals signed when the Congress met in Bahraini capital Manama on 01 February.
Most important of all, was for the presidential election process of the confederation itself. Because only one candidate existed, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa was chosen to lead the affiliation until 2027. The 57-year-old is the boss from 2013, who was twice unopposed (after 2019 and 2023) to perform this highest function.
Vice presidents, council members together with executive committee members also was on schedule to be picked for five zones of this vast continent. Each names from West, Central, South, Asean and East parts were elected for the new period out of 2023 to 2027. Officials who will execute these functions can be seen on the site of the organization.
In the end, this confederation has signed a valuable memorandum with two other counterparts. With Oceania football confederation the signatures were put for three years period, while collaboration with North, Central America and the Caribbean region from now on lasts four years. Importance of these deals are strengthening the ties with each of the two regions.
09 February 2023
European champions have entered into final
Club World Cup 2022 (2023) - Morocco, semi final 2, night 4, match 5:
Al ahly - Real Madrid 1:4
Scorers: 0:1 42 (41.36) Vinicius de Oliveira junior
0:2 46 (45.59) Federico Valverde
1:2 64-pen (64.11) Ali Maaloul
1:3 90+2 (91.59) Rodrygo de Goes
1:4 90+8 (97.33) Sergio Arribas
- We waited for so long and three games before the end it happened and finally came at this event: the first saved penalty has occurred as the Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric failed to convert it at 87 (86.43).
08 February 2023
Goals given in both stoppage times
Club World Cup 2022 (2023) - Morocco, semi final 1, night 3, match 4:
Flamengo - Al hilal 2:3
Scorers: 0:1 04-pen (03.51) Salem al-Dawsari
1:1 20 (19.53) Pedro dos Santos
1:2 45+9-pen (53.57) Salem al-Dawsari
1:3 70 (69.51) Luciano Vietto
2:3 90+1 (90.21) Pedro dos Santos
- A new disobedient player in this game became Gerson da Silva who with two yellow cards left Flamengo to fight with 10 men from 45+8 (52.38) onwards.
- In these tournaments for the first time in history a Saudi Arabian club has qualified into the final.
07 February 2023
Sole candidate was only confirmed to welcome the best teams on its soil
On the thirty third congress that the Asian football confederation had at the Bahraini capital Manama the only nominee was verified that got the rights to host the national championship that will occur in the future.
After India has pulled out of welcoming the best teams of the continent two months ago, there has been remained just one bidder. That just happened where on 01 February was confirmed that the Asian Cup 2027 would be staged in Saudi Arabia. Hence, the bulk country of the Arabian Peninsula will host the nineteenth meeting for the 24 best teams of the confederation for the first time.
Much earlier (on the presented documentation) it was announced that the fresh debutants are planning this event to be on eight stadia who are dispersed in three cities (Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam).
06 February 2023
Deciding week
In just six nights we are going to find out which club is playing the best football on the planet. But to get to that game two more have to be played in order to determine the finalists.
The Club World Cup 2022 edition (2023) slowly is entering into last week where basically the semi final pairs will decide which clubs would be classified from first to fourth place. Just four of them has remained where half has been introduced to the public, while the other two clubs will make its first appearance on the event. Also next weekend we are going to have one new kick off time.
Semi finals
Tuesday, 07 February at 20.00 CET: Flamengo - Al hilal.
Wednesday, 08 February at 20.00 CET: Al ahly - Real Madrid.
Classification duel for third - fourth place
Saturday, 11 February at 16.30 CET: losing teams from semi final pairs.
Final
Saturday, 11 February at 20.00 CET: two winners from both semi finals will clash for the title.
05 February 2023
Three clubs have scored - one does not
Club World Cup 2022 (2023) - Morocco, stage 2, night 2, match 2:
Wydad athletic club - Al hilal 1:1, on penalties: 3-5
Scorers: 1:0 51 (51.10) Ayoub el Amloud
1:1 90+3-pen (93.01) Mohamed Kanno
- Yahya Jabrane just love to argue with the referee: the Wydad athletic club midfielder only talked and talked and talked... so at the end he received two yellow cards in a space of 72 seconds - which those turned automatically red at 90 (90.07). From the opposite side, just 182 seconds have passed of the first extra time when Mohamed Kanno also saw a red colour card.
Club World Cup 2022 (2023) - Morocco, stage 2, night 2, match 3:
Seattle sounders - Al ahly 0:1
Scorer: 0:1 87 (87.15) Mohamed Morsy
- This match began 30 minutes early from the original schedule.
04 February 2023
Unusual card colour issued
Yellow and red warnings are first used in this sport beginning from the World Cup at 1970. Since then these two were constantly given, and 53 years later a new colour has emerged.
During the female game from 21 January between Benfica and Sporting on a surprise of many in the stadium at the forty fourth minute spectators saw a white card. Because one of the substitute players felt weakness, a joined medical stuff from both teams has intervened and treat her, and after that referee have shown this strange colour card to both benches.
And thus the symbol number three has been born (issued) for the first time in football. Recently the world football organization has introduced this fair-play card to promote sportsmanship, by presenting ethical values where until now is extremely very rare in this sport.
03 February 2023
Relocated club match and more of them to be staged on a team level
With one club and two team news that was announced on 25 January practically the European football organization has switched the system of play for two qualifying tournaments.
Even birds on trees know that in Russia will not going to be played any competition (soon), thus Kazan (automatically) lost the rights to stage the Super Cup event. Now the annual match was moved to the Greek capital Athens. Georgios Karaiskakis stadium would host this game who is scheduled to kick-off on Wednesday 16 August at 22.00 local time between the winners from Champions and Europa (old name Uefa Cup) league (from this year) for the forty eighth time.
In the future eliminations for the European championship is going to alter its format, and this rule would be in effect after the 2024 edition. Out of 12 groups, 4 or 5 teams are going to be in them where only the champions would automatically participate for the main tournament or the World Cup. Some second placed team/s either will also qualify directly or would have to torment a little bit more by playing play off games with teams from Nations league.
And at the end, the just mentioned Nations league event is being also subject to change. Beginning from its new season (2024-25) more duels are going to be staged and those are going to be known as quarter finals. Usually group phases are finishing in November with finals in June next year, and to fill the (big) gap (between these months) play off matches are going to be played in each of the four leagues. Just to have its continuity, these additional home and away games would be completed in March.
02 February 2023
Was anxious to leave before the final whistle
Club World Cup 2022 (2023) - Morocco, phase 1, night 1, match 1:
Al ahly - Auckland city 3:0
Scorers: 1:0 45+1 (46.11) Hussein Ali Elshahat
2:0 56 (55.33) Mohamed Sherif
3:0 86 (85.39) Percy Tau
- For the first time in football the main referee of the game had to explained to the public (his final decision) that the foul was done outside the penalty area (so that the 11-metre punishment was modified into free kick), and at the same time the Auckland city defender Adam Mitchell received a direct red card (for the mentioned foul) on 90+7 (96.22).
01 February 2023
Known schedule for final four games
On 25 January it was performed the draw of the last four games for the European version of Nations league 2022-23 season. Four teams are participating in the final tournament, and although the first two pairs are known, the last two remained a mystery, but thanks to the layout now everything is revealed.
Netherlands is the host for the whole event which would be played between 14 and 18 of June. Two cities are going to welcome group A winners, and out of this quartet one Balkan country will make its debut to the final-four system.
At Rotterdam on Wednesday, 14 June the home team is going to clash with Croatia, while 24 hours later Spain and Italy in Enschede would complete the semi-final line-up. Both of this matches will kick-off at 20.45 CET. In Enschede from 15.00 CET the loosing semi-finalists would play the classification duel for third-fourth place, while again from 20.45 CET is the big final that will feature meeting of the winners in Rotterdam, and each of them are scheduled to be staged on Sunday, 18 June.
