September 16 – The expanded Women’s Asian Cup kicks off this Friday with 24 nations in group action as they bid for the final 12 qualifying berths at the 16 team finals to be played next year in India from January 20 to February 6.
By Samindra Kunti
September 16 – Controversial Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis tends to dream big. His latest big idea a shake-up of the European game via an alternative ‘Super League’ with entry based on merit and which he believes could generate a €10 billion investment.
September 16 – Chinese top club Guangzhou have asked for government aid to survive, a move that could herald further and more structural ownership changes in the Chinese Super League (CSL).
September 16 – One of African football’s biggest problems across the continent is the condition and safety of stadiums. The African confederation highlighted the issues this year, even banning some from use. A UN-certified Sport Safety and Security Training and Advanced Education Programme for professionals in Africa football has been launched as a step towards finding solutions.
September 16 – Belgium remain top of the FIFA world ranking with Brazil a close second and England a newcomer on the podium, moving into third, following matches played in September’s international window.
September 16 – La Liga and Burger King have struck a deal with the fast-food brand attaching its name to Spain’s top flight for three seasons.
September 16 – UEFA has renewed another sponsor partner for the Europa League, where sponsorship now comes with the addition of the Europa Conference League, giving a sponsorship spread of 64 teams from 35 of UEFA’s 55 member associations.
September 16 – Socios.com are continuing their rapid expansion in football’s major national markets. Having announced a hook-up with Spain’s LaLiga already this week and launched their sell-out Fan Token issue with Premier League Everton, the blockchain-based crypto business has unveiled Brazil’s Flamengo as their latest partner.
September 16 – With SIGA’s Sports Integrity Week in full swing with over 100 speakers and more than 1,500 participants, it North American offshoot, SIGA AMERICA, has announced its high-level senior Advisory Board.
September 15 – Players’ union FIFPRO has again said that any change to the international match calendar – and principally the introduction of a biennial World Cup – must put players and their workload at the centre of any decision-making.
September 15 – Ricardo Teixeira’s life ban from football has been upheld after the Court of Arbitration (CAS) dismissed his attempt to overturn it on appeal.
September 15 – Defending 2020 Asian Champions League winners Ulsan Hyundai squeezed into the quarter-finals of the 2021 competition last night thanks to goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo who secured them a 3-2 penalty shoot-out win over Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale.
September 15 – Everton sold out 500,000 fan tokens in their first offering on the Socios.com platform in just four minutes this morning.
September 15 – UEFA experts labelled Euro 2020 “food for the soul of football” after a tournament bursting with goals, marauding wing-backs, dynamic number 10s and a distinct preference of coaches to field a back three.
September 15 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has declared itself open-minded over the proposal of a biennial World Cup, seeking to support the “best interests of football”.