Qatar open 5th World Cup stadium, Al Thumama, with Amir cup final
October 25 – Qatar has inaugurated a fifth World Cup venue with Al Sadd defeating Al Rayyan from the penalty spot in the final of the Amir Cup at the Al Thumama stadium.
Police investigate whether anti-Saudi banner at Crystal Palace vs Newcastle was racist act
October 25 – Police are investigating a graphic banner displayed by Crystal Palace fans that targeted the Saudi Arabian-led takeover of Newcastle United.
European Leagues warn FIFA’s push for a biennial World Cup is still very alive
By Andrew Warshaw
October 22 – Europe’s top leagues have cautioned that FIFA’s controversial biennial World Cup plan may not, after all, have been abandoned and have stressed their firm opposition to the idea as well as to any overhaul of the international match schedule.
Motsepe calls for Super League to break African football’s financial poverty
October 22 – Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe has again called for the launch of an African Super League on the continent.
Bayern’s Hainer says FIFA must not ‘sacrifice’ football at the money alter
October 22 – Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer has become the latest high-profile football figure to oppose FIFA’s biennial World Cup proposal, saying that “you must never sacrifice football on the altar of financial interests.”
More Afghans evacuated as FIFA calls for international help to house refugees
October 22 – A further 57 people linked to football and sport were evacuated from Afghanistan, arriving in Doha, Qatar, on a Qatar Airways Charter flight on Wednesday.
EU states write to Luxembourg court to formally oppose Super League plan
October 22 – The isolation of Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona over their belligerent insistence on trying to keep their Super League ambitions alive in the European courts, was highlighted again this week.
Ligue1 targets China with Lyon vs Monaco regular season game
October 22 – France’s Ligue 1 giants Lyon and Monaco have agreed to play a regular season domestic league match in China in February next year.
AFC set for centralised U23 Asian Cup qualifiers kick-off this weekend
October 22 – Asia will see a return of national team age-group competition this weekend with centralised qualifiers for the AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022.
Mourinho blames Roma’s 6-1 thumping by Bodo/Glimt on having ‘limited’ players
October 22 – Jose Mourinho is in the headlines again. On Thursday, the Portuguese coach suffered the biggest defeat of his career with AS Roma at the hands of Norway’s Bodo/Glimt, but Mourinho blamed his players for the 6-1 result.
ELEVEN and OneFootball agree bundled media rights deal for nine European Leagues
October 22 – Nine European leagues, members of the Association European Leagues Association, have agreed a joint international broadcast deal with ELEVEN and OneFootball that includes both live rights and highlights.
Man City top Big 5, big chance, ranking but Partizan Belgrade are world leaders
October 22 – Manchester City tops a ranking of the five major European leagues of clubs who create the most ‘big’ chances against chances conceded.
Court filing alleges AEK owner Melissanidis funnelled stolen money into Greek club
By Paul Nicholson
October 21 – Details are emerging of how controversial AEK Athens owner Dimitris Melissanidis allegedly misappropriated money from his now bankrupt shipping business to fund his own lavish lifestyle and the Greek club.
FIFA push Club World Cup back into 2022 with UAE as new hosts
October 21 – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will replace Japan as hosts for the 2021 Club World Cup, with the tournament that should have taken place in December now to be rescheduled for early next year.
Infantino backs controversial Lekjaa as he expands career into Moroccan politics
October 21 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has shielded Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) president and FIFA Council member Fouzi Lekjaa over his new role in the Moroccan government, claiming that FIFA is politically neutral.