Italy fire Ventura after failure to qualify for Russia 2018
November 17 – Italy have sacked coach Giampiero Ventura after the four-time champions failed to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1958.
Author: Paul Nicholson
FIFA to rethink World Cup seedings and ranking system after Russia 2018
November 17 – A loophole that allows national teams to boost their seedings for the World Cup by deliberately avoiding playing too many friendly matches is likely to become a thing of the past after next year’s finals in Russia.
Man Utd hit £141m for first quarter as matches ramp up the cash pile towards £585m target
By Paul Nicholson
November 17 – Manchester United are immediately showing the importance of their return to Champions League football announcing a 17% revenue rise to £141 million for the first financial quarter of 2018 ended September 30.
North Carolina exits NASL to continue D2 play in the USL for 2018 season
November 17 – The United Soccer League (USL), the second tier of US professional football announced their third expansion team in a week for the 2018 season. North Carolina FC are exiting the under pressure North American Soccer League (NASL) – stripped of its second tier status for next season by the US Soccer Federation – to continue Division 2 play in the USL.
CONCACAF revamps competitions with unveiling of three division League of Nations
November 17 – UEFA launched its Nations League last month, now CONCACAF has launched its new League of Nations national team competition. Like UEFA’s new format, CONCACAF will also be based their competition on a league structure.
Al Hilal’s Syrian striker Khribin has Urawa Red Diamonds and CL title in his sights
By Ian Griffiths
November 16 – Al Hilal striker Omar Khribin is adamant that his rich vein of goalscoring form will count for nothing when the Saudi Arabian giants take on Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in the first leg of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League final on Saturday.
Going for the jugular: Burzaco details money and meetings in FIFA bribery case
By Paul Nicholson
November 16 – The second day of testimony by Alejandro Burzaco in the FIFA bribery case brought more drama to the Brooklyn court after one of the defendants, Peruvian Manuel Burga, was accused of twice making slashing motions across his throat towards Burzaco.
Argentine Delhon takes own life after being named in FIFAgate corruption trial
By Andrew Warshaw
November 16 – The drama of the FifaGate corruption scandal trial in New York has taken a tragic turn with a one-time Argentine government official taking his own life just hours after being accused of bribery.
Israeli pressure group complains to FIFA of Palestine’s Rajoub using Nazi comparison
By Andrew Warshaw
November 16 – An Israeli-based media watchdog is urging FIFA to throw the book at the head of Palestinian football for comparing Israel to a Nazi state in the latest escalation of Middle East footballing tensions.
Japan’s DMM takes control at Sint-Truiden as Duchatelet exits Belgian football
By Samindra Kunti
November 16 – Japanese online company DMM is the new owner of Belgian topflight club Sint-Truiden. Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet (pictured) has sold his shares, ending his ties to Belgian football.
No money, no match ticket. Young English fans priced out of the game, finds survey
November 16 – Although the majority of ticket prices to watch top-flight football in England have been frozen or have fallen for a third year in succession, young fans say they are still being priced out of the market.
Peru beat New Zealand in play-off to complete line-up for Russia 2018 finals
November 16 – Peru became the final side to qualify for the World Cup with a 2-0 play-off victory over New Zealand on Wednesday as they reached the finals for the first time since 1982.
China splits women’s team into Shanghai and Beijing squads, in bid to boost performance
November 16 – China has moved to boost its national womens team’s competitiveness with the establishment of two teams – called the Red Team and the Yellow Team.
MLS’s Atlanta United owners to add a second tier team in the USL, Penn FC join up too
November 16 – Atlanta United owners, currently enjoying a successful first season in the MLS with sell out crowds and a trip to the play-offs, have made their next expansion move by entering a team in the USL, the second tier of US football, for the 2018 season.
UEFA splits off its womens rights and hunts for agency in bid to accelerate growth
November 16 – In a bid to make the women’s game more sustainable and accelerate the growth of the game, UEFA is unbundling commercial rights for its women’s competitions and appoint a sales agency specifically for women’s football sponsorship.