South Africa volunteer to take over Club World Cup hosting from Japan
September 14 – South Africa has expressed interest in hosting the Club World Cup after Japan relinquished the hosting rights because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
FIFA
Concacaf says it is time for analysis, not ‘fearmongering’, over biennial WC proposal
September 24 – Concacaf has said that it “recognises the merits” of FIFA’s plan to create a new international match calendar – which would include a biennial World Cup – and that it will look at the proposals with an “open mind” and “positive engagement”.
CFU boss Harris believes biennial WC would help a Caribbean that is failing to compete
September 14 – Caribbean Football Union (CFU) President Randy Harris has backed FIFA’s plans for a biennial World Cup, arguing that it would offer more “high-quality playing opportunities” for his member associations.
Conmebol says ‘no sporting justification’ for biennial World Cup
By Samindra Kunti
September 13 – South American confederation Conmebol has come out against plans for a biennial World Cup, joining UEFA as a critic and powerful opponent of FIFA’s dramatic proposal to overhaul the international match calendar.
FIFA’s ‘transfer snapshot’ shows $2.08bn drop in total revenue from 2019 high of €5.8bn
September 13 – With transferred players bedding themselves into their new clubs for the coming season, FIFA has published its International Transfer Snapshot (June – August 2021), that looks at player transfer activity during the last transfer window.
Brazil back down over 5-day ban demand for Premier League players
September 13 – On Sunday, Fabinho was among the stars in Liverpool’s impressive 3-0 away victory at Leeds United. The Brazilian, alongside his compatriot Allison and other South American players, was eventually cleared to feature for his club in this weekend’s Premier League matches after football associations from South and Central America dropped their demand that FIFA impose the five-day rule.
Al-Sabah jailed by Geneva court for forgery in Kuwaiti political plot
September 13 – Olympic powerbroker Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, once a major player at FIFA, has been sentenced to at least 13 months in prison after being found guilty of forgery.
FIFA to start bid city inspections for 2026 World Cup next week
September 10 – The host city selection process for the 2026 World Cup moves on a stage next week with FIFA beginning its inspection visits September 15-23.
FIFA legends jump aboard the biennial World Cup gravy train, Wenger blows the whistle
By Samindra Kunti
September 10 – FIFA don’t do dissent, at least not when it comes to what it purports will be the ‘Football of Tomorrow’, the introduction of a biennial World Cup. In Doha, the world federation’s ultimate salesman Arsene Wenger rolled out plans for the tournament and a slate of legends nodded obediently in approval of what would be a dramatic overhaul of the match calendar.
Japan pulls out of Club World Cup hosting as fifth covid wave sweeps country
September 10 – Japan has officially withdrawn as hosts of the Club World Cup scheduled to be played in December, because of the spread of the coronavirus within the country, global governing body FIFA confirmed on Thursday.
World Leagues Forum slam biennial WC plan as a threat to football finance and player health
September 9 – Opposition against FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s plans to stage the World Cup every two years is growing, with the World Leagues Forum becoming the latest stakeholder to mobilise.
Club vs country: Premier League locked in battle with FIFA over 5-day player bans
September 9 – In the escalating club versus country row, Premier League clubs remain hopeful of selecting Brazilians for this weekend’s matches, despite a FIFA ban.
Japan looks poised to pull plug on Club World Cup hosting in December
September 9 – Japan is considering withdrawing as hosts of the Club World Cup, according to media reports.
FIFA probe Brazilian and Argentine FA’s over abandoned qualifier
September 8 – FIFA has confirmed it has opened disciplinary proceedings against Brazil’s and Argentina’s Football Associations following the farcical scenes that led to their eagerly anticipated World Cup qualifying clash being suspended after just five minutes when Brazilian health officials stormed the pitch to question the quarantine status of certain players.
Brazil want sanctions, ECA says FIFA should go easy on clubs for not releasing players
September 8 – The six English Premier League clubs who refused to release players for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers should be told – and fast – if they will be suspended by FIFA, says European Clubs’ Association chief executive Charlie Marshall.