By Samindra Kunti in Brasilia
November 18 – Brazil have won the U-17 World Cup on home soil, coming from behind to defeat Mexico 2-1 in dramatic style, a considerable feat as the Brazilians had initially failed to qualify for the tournament. Substitute Lazaro was Brazil’s hero again with a 93rd-minute winner.
November 18 – With debate over the format of the 2021 Club World Cup guaranteed to dominate headlines over the next two years, FIFA hosted the inauguration of a new club organisation in Zurich last week.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 15 – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hit back at Michel Platini’s claim that he voted for Qatar to stage the 2022 World Cup, saying Platini’s recollection of events is “totally untue” and that he backed the losing United States bid.
By Samindra Kunti in Sao Paulo
November 15 – In a dramatic semi-final Brazil upset favourites France 3-2 to reach the final of the U-17 World Cup on home soil against Mexico. The Mexicans eliminated Holland after a penalty shoot-out.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 14 – After all manner of rumour about where he might up next, Arsene Wenger is finally returning to the game, not in dugout as most anticipated but as FIFA’s new chief of global football development.
November 13 – Manuel Burga, the Conmebol bigwig acquitted in the United States two years ago for his alleged role in the FifaGate scandal, has been banned for life by FIFA for taking bribes.
By Samindra Kunti in Sao Paulo
November 12 – Brazil have set up a mouth-watering semi-final with France following a 2-0 win over Italy in the last eight of the U-17 World Cup. The French demolished Spain 6-1 in their semi.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 12 – Just over a year after being hammered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Jerome Valcke, the forgotten man of world football mismanagement, is refusing to give up and is reported to be going to the European Court of Human Rights in a final attempt to have his 10-year ban from the game overturned and clear his name.
November 11 – The Nigerian FA says it is favourite to land Africa’s first ever Under-20 Women’s World Cup next year following a visit by a FIFA inspection team back in August.
November 11 – Yet another African footballing figure has found himself out guilty of corruption and kicked out, with former Tanzanian FA chief Jamal Emil Malinzi banned for 10 years by FIFA.
By Samindra Kunti in Cariacica
November 8 – Brazil and Italy will headline the quarter-finals of the U17 World Cup. In the round of 16, all the African teams were eliminated, including record-champions Nigeria.
November 8 – FIFA and the World Leagues Forum, the body representing professional leagues at worldwide level, have signed a cooperation agreement to work together on the development of the game despite previous disagreement over Gianni Infantino’s plans to revamp the international calendar.
November 7 – Regular readers will know that Insideworldfootball is fond of corny headlines and the odd game of word association football, so you can imagine our delight at the press release from adidas and UEFA revealing that official ball for Euro 2020 will be called Uniforia.
November 5 – The aftermath of the tragic death of Argentine striker Emiliano Sala has taken a potentially pivotal twist with Cardiff City threatened with a three-window transfer ban by FIFA if they fail to make an initial payment of €6 million to Sala’s previous club Nantes.
By Samindra Kunti in Cariacica, Brazil
November 5 – On Tuesday, Angola and South Korea will kick off the knockout phase of the U-17 World Cup. Brazil, Nigeria and France have emerged from the group stages as favourites to lift the trophy.