End of the year - Everything stops or almost

We are entering the last week of the year and the vast majority of people pause to celebrate religious holidays, and say goodbye to the year that is ending, although fundamentally to welcome the new year that begins with hope and faith of greater prosperity for all.

Sports, at least most of them seem to understand the social mechanics and they too pause.

But not all sports, football does not stop, the machinery of generating money in exchange for spectacle continues as if it were any other time of the year and Europe manages the times with its national and international competitions to the rhythm of Christmas carols and Fireworks.

In the United States they are not far behind but not with soccer that is in a long break, the NFL and the NBA continue at full speed, mainly American football which is in the last two weeks of the regular season preparing everything for the playoffs, The final party is about to begin and there are even games on Christmas and New Year's nights as if nothing else existed.

Of course, the northern hemisphere is in winter and no one thinks about vacations and sunbathing on the golden beaches of the Caribbean or the Côte d'Azur. Here in the southern hemisphere, in the middle of the torrid summer, we copy the European format. Football has just finished its season, with matches played under a scorching sun and temperatures more suitable for enjoying a pool and a refreshing drink. There is a question of calendar synchronization, which means that in these latitudes we must continue the show or at least stretch it a little to coincide with FIFA dates and international tournaments.

For spectators this is excellent news, we never get bored, at least those who enjoy watching sporting confrontations of any sport. I only regret that my Bengals lost a good opportunity to ensure their participation in the playoffs by sadly losing in Pittsburgh against their bitter rivals, the Steelers. In their favor, we can mention that injuries have played against Cincinnati who saw their top figures left out for many games, too many to overcome all the difficulties.

Finally, news of great relevance has emerged in world football these days: Brazil, the world's top champion with 5 titles, is at risk of being disaffiliated from FIFA and Conmebol due to the intervention that the Rio justice system de Janeiro has carried out on the president of the Brazilian soccer confederation, dismissing him and calling elections to replace him in the framework of a court case. As we know, FIFA does not like member countries to interfere with politics and justice in local federations under the organization's autonomy from local authorities and they have acted accordingly. It is a difficult issue and difficult to solve since the confederations and associations that govern the destinies of football in each nation are subject to their laws and the autonomy of the organizations dependent on FIFA is a matter for debate.

If the threat materializes, Brazil could be left out of all international competition including the qualifiers and the 2026 World Cup itself. We will have to be attentive to the development of the next events, if it materializes it would be news of enormous importance that would touch the foundations of world football.