Blatter congratulates Germany and return to one-country hosting in 2024
September 28 – Sepp Blatter took advantage of the vote to hand Germany Euro 2024 to take a further pop against his old nemesis Michel Platini.
Gold Cup 2025
El Salvador self destruct in Houston as Canada Marsch on
Canada 2-0 El Salvador
June 24 – Fresh from emerging from a Concacaf-imposed timeout, Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch returned to the technical area at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, knowing any more misbehaviour would send him back to the naughty room. He needn’t have worried as their opponents El Salvador simply imploded in a red mist.
Everton target US fanbase with launch of dedicated social media platforms
September 28 – Premier League Everton are launching two new social media platforms focused on content for American Evertonians. @EvertoninUSA will being posting content on both Twitter and Instagram starting today.
Nepalese A League returns after 3-year hiatus, live on mycujoo
September 28 – This weekend Nepal’s A Division returns after a three-year absence of top level league football following a period of turmoil, dispute and uncertainty within the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).
China boost national team performance staff with Van Puyvelde and Zhao
September 28 – The Chinese Football Association (CFA) are looking to Belgium’s Chris Van Puyvelde to help rejuvenate their international ambitions. The technical director of the Belgian Football Association (KBVB) has signed a four-year deal with the CFA joining former players Zhao Junzhe (pictured), Yang Che and Shao Jiayi among others in a bid to professionalise operations.
UEFA set to debut VAR in Champions League in 2019
September 28 – UEFA have taken the plunge and will introduce video assistant referees (VAR) in the Champions League from the 2019-20 season.
Concacaf plot route to Soldier Feld for 2019 Gold Cup final
September 28 – Chicago’s Soldier Field will be the venue for the final of the 2019 Gold Cup on July 7. The tournament, the blue riband national team competition in the Concacaf region, will be played in 15 venues across 13 cities in the US.
Germany beat Turkey 12-4 to win right to host Euro 2024
By Andrew Warshaw in Nyon
September 27 – Germany won the right to stage the 2024 European Championship today as Turkey’s dreams of taking the tournament to new frontiers were once again rejected by UEFA’s executive committee.
VAR poised to make its AFC debut at Asian Cup UAE 2019 in 100 days
September 27 – The fast forward march of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system has reached Asia with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announcing that it it will be introduced “at some stage” in the Asian Cup UAE 2019 which kicks off January 5.
PSG owners pump €316m of capital into club
September 27 – Paris St Germain, under scrutiny by UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) for its financial year to the end of the 2018 season, looks to have moved to attempt to protect its position from UEFA sanction by arranging a capital injection of €316 million from the club’s Qatar Sports Investment owners.
USL unveils new structure as it rebrands its three leagues for 2019
September 27 – The United Soccer League (USL), the fast growing organiser of the second and third tiers of US professional football, has unveiled a new organisational structure and corporate rebranding of its top three leagues. The rejig also brings its PDL development league more identifiably under the USL corporate imprint.
Bundesliga keeps time with Tag Heuer renewal
September 27 – Premium Swiss watch brand TAG Heuer has extended its three-year partnership as the official timekeeper of Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 for a further season.
Arsenal expand deal with Konami; Countinho and Beckham take PES2019 cover positions
September 27 – Premier League Arsenal have expanded their deal with video game maker Konami Digital Entertainment into a second year. Konami is the club’s Official Football Video Game Partner.
The Twin Towers have gone, now the rest of Wembley could go too with Khan sale
September 27 – The £600 million sale of England’s Wembley stadium, the home of the national team, hangs in the balance as the FA board meets today to vote on whether to take the proposal forward to the 127-member FA Council.
Poisoned Pussy Rioter blames security services but vows to return to Russia
September 27 – Pussy Riot member Pyotr Verzilov, one of four protesters who staged a pitch invasion during the World Cup final and who is believed to have been subsequently poisoned, has laid the blame squarely on Russia’s intelligence services.
Shaikh Salman to run for re-election for another term as AFC president
By Paul Nicholson
September 26 – Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has confirmed that he will run for re-election at the 29th AFC Congress on 6 April 2019.