AFC draws qualifying groups for covid-delayed Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025
October 18 – The AFC has drawn the groups for the 2025 Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025 with 19 teams to play in four centralised locations January 11-19, 2025.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Levski Sofia delivers Lacrima sleeve sponsorship
October 18 – Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia has signed a sleeve sponsorship deal with dairy producer Lacrima, one of the largest Bulgarian companies producing dairy products.
Tebas tells Infantino to cancel Club World Cup warning it will take FIFA funds from federations
October 17 – Outspoken LaLiga president Javier Tebas has called on Gianni Infantino to call off his pet project, the expanded Club World Cup, arguing that “it is not necessary for the players, nor for the clubs, nor for FIFA, and all it does is cause disorganisation.”
Tired and angry, Nigerian team return home after being trapped in Libyan airport
October 17 – The Nigeria national team are back home after being trapped in a Libyan airport for more than 16 hours, their treatment being labelled as being ‘like a hostage situation’.
Real Madrid, Barca and Man Utd have most overseas support, finds report
October 17 – Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United have emerged as the most globally supported football clubs by fans outside their home nations, according to a new report by sports blockchain company Chiliz.
UEFA hits Romania with partial stadium closure and fine for anti-Kosovo chants and racism
October 17 – UEFA have fined the Romanian Football Federation €52,500 for racist fan behaviour during the side’s Nations League clash with Lithuania in September.
Win 2026 or bust. Tuchel will be judged on one task in his new English role
October 17 – In his first press conference just hours after he was appointed England’s new manager, Thomas Tuchel said all the right things as the German won over the sceptics with an effortless blend of honesty, self-assurance and charm.
Costa Rica and Jamaica lead CNL quarter final challenge to Concacaf’s Big Four seeded nations
October 16 – The USA will face Jamaica in the quarter finals of the Concacaf Nations League next month in a match that has the feeling of a must-win for both nations.
Benfica in corruption cauldron again as prosecutors call for club to be banned
October 17 – One of the legendary names of European football, S. L. Benfica, is being investigated for possible match-fixing between 2016 and 2019. The two-time champions of the European Cup have called the accusations “unfounded”.
Is football betting on crypto to fill the gap left by bookmaker sponsors?
October 17 – The gambling industry that has had its hooks into the clubs, players, and fans of the Premier League will have to face a future without their names and logos plastered over the front of jerseys (sleeve partnerships are exempt).
Mexico’s Aguirre beats USA’s Pochettino in battle of the newbies; but old chant remains
October 17 – For the first time in five years, Mexico have beaten their northern neighbours, USA, and to make it all the sweeter, by the scoreline of ‘Dos a Cero’, 2-0.
Corinthians refuse to drop betting sponsor as gaps appear in Brazil licensing rules
October 16 – Brazil’s clubs are proving reluctant to give up their betting sponsors despite the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) saying it will enforce a ban on club sponsorship by bookmakers across all levels of Brazilian football who do not hold state betting licenses.
Inter Milan acquire license to market club in Saudi Arabia
October 17 – Italian Serie A holders Inter Milan have announced the acquisition of a Saudi Arabian Ministry of Investment (MISA) licence, formalising their commitment to a strategic expansion in Saudi Arabia to further extend the club brand presence in the Middle East and grow their fanbase.
Turkey’s Akturkoglu breaks European football’s silence and condemns Israel’s destruction of Palestine
October 17 – Turkish international Kerem Akturkoglu (pictured) has used social networks X and Instagram to express his outrage at what is happening in the Gaza Strip and the actions of Israel over the past year.
Player injuries have cost Big 5 league clubs £2.3bn over past four years, finds report
October 16 – Injuries across Europe’s top five leagues have cost clubs a staggering £2 billion over the last four seasons, fuelling an increasingly hot topic over player welfare and an expanding international calendar.