Pep Guardiola has "closed the door on a return to Barcelona, saying he will never become the Catalan club's president." After the Man City boss said earlier this week that he felt he was "approaching the end" of his coaching career, Fabio Capello suggested the 45-year-old may "already be thinking of a return to Barca." However, Guardiola -- who previously ruled out returning to the Camp Nou as manager -- has now dismissed the possibility of returning as the club's president. Guardiola said, "I was lucky to be trained by Fabio Capello and I would like to tell him I will never be president of FC Barcelona" (ESPN.com, 1/5).
Another former coach from League Two side Crewe Alexandra, described as a "long-standing club stalwart" because of his work with its youth-team players, "has been suspended" by the FA. Paul McCann worked for Crewe in the '80s and '90s and "at one stage was the assistant coach in charge of the club's youth team." Dario Gradi, Crewe's former manager and current director of football, has already been suspended. McCann was involved at Crewe during Gradi's time as manager, "working with the reserve team, the youth setup and sometimes refereeing matches involving the younger children" (London GUARDIAN, 1/4).
Egyptian authorities confirmed that Confederation of African Football President Issa Hayatou "will be hauled before the country's General prosecutor for corruption charges." Sports website KingFut.com said that "the allegations border on broadcasting rights for football championships." The Egyptian Competitions Authorities said that "evidence proved that Hayatou contravened articles (8) sections A, B, C, D and E as contained in the Protection of Competition Act." By that, he "abused his current position" and gave broadcasting rights to Lagardère Sports "unilaterally." CAF has yet to issue a response but Lagardère said that "the allegation is without basis" (AFRICA NEWS, 1/5).
Papat Yunisal, a member of the exec committee of the Indonesian FA (PSSI), said the organization will "consider the establishment of a professional league for women" in '17. The PSSI is set to hold a congress on Jan. 8 under the chairmanship of Edy Rahmayadi, who was elected to head the organization in November. Yunisal is the only woman on the PSSI exec committee, which is "the second-highest authority in the association." (JAKARTA GLOBE, 1/4).
