El Corte Inglés signs on for one-year sponsorship journey with La Liga
October 10 – Spain’s LaLiga has added another top tier sponsor partner for the Spanish market. El Corte Inglés has signed a one-year deal for LaLiga’s top two divisions.
Author: Paul Nicholson
World Cup heartache: Irish slay Welsh dragon, Croatia gamble pays off against Ukraine
October 10 – How quickly emotions change in football. Having reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 against all odds, Wales’ 60-year wait for a place at the World Cup continues as they were beaten 1-0 by the Republic of Ireland in a winner-takes-all showdown for a playoff place for Russia.
USL sets new attendance record as preferred suppliers roster builds
October 10 – The fast-growing second tier of US professional football (soccer), the USL, has set a new league record surpassing the 2 million attendance milestone for 2017 as the season enters the final round of matches before the play-offs.
Giroud’s ‘Scorpion’ battles Castellanos and Masuluke for Puskas Award
October 10 – Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud’s much-acclaimed ‘scorpion’ kick is through to the final stage of the Puskas Award for the best goal of last season.
India showcases its best and worst at opening games of U17 World Cup
By Samindra Kunti in New Delhi, India
October 9 – India were outclassed 0-3 by the United States in their opening game of the U-17 World Cup, but local organisers have struggled with ticketing and basic services at venues on the tournament’s opening weekend.
Facebook enters the game but watches the big leagues from the bench
By Paul Nicholson
October 9 – Expectations that Facebook will be the next premium tier sports rights buyer that pushes broadcast fees into the next level financial stratosphere are likely premature. While the global social media giant has plenty of cash and bandwidth, it is its bandwidth it is selling and not its cash it is spending.
Qataris dismiss report on 2022 construction crisis as geo-political skulduggery
By Andrew Warshaw
October 9 – Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organisers have angrily dismissed claims that the Saudi-led political and trade blockade of the Gulf state could see it stripped of hosting rights because of inability to complete essential infrastructure projects in time.
US judge pushes sentencing of former CONCACAF chief Hawit back into 2018
October 9 – Former CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit has had his sentencing for his role in the FifaGate scandal delayed until March next year.
Pay equality: Norway raises women’s wages to match men’s team
October 9 – In a first for footballing financial equality, Norway’s male and female players are to receive the same amount for representing their country.
Egyptian joy as Salah winner books the Pharaohs a trip to Russia
October 9 – Mohamed Salah’s dramatic injury-time winner against Congo ended Egypt’s 28-year exile from the World Cup, sending the football-mad country into a massive celebration.
Ghana demand replay after match officials in Uganda qualifier rule out ‘perfect’ goal
October 9 – Ghana have sent an official protest to FIFA over a disallowed goal in their World Cup qualifier against Uganda in Kampala.
What can you buy for £25m? Bolton, their ground, a hotel and 40-acres of land
October 9 – Ken Anderson, owner of English Championship Bolton Wanderers will sell his 94.45% stake in Burnden Leisure, the club’s holding company, for £25 million.
World’s dumbest match-fixers? Refs banned after fixers go to police to claim money back
October 9 – In what is probably the most peculiar case of match-fixing to date, four match officials in Malawi have been banned after the fixers went to the authorities for help to get their money back after they didn’t get the result they wanted.
India set for debut on world football stage with all eyes on U17 opener vs the US
By Samindra Kunti in New Delhi, India
October 6 – India are set to make their World Cup debut in a historic opening match against the United States with Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister, on hand to welcome teams.
Syria stay in 2018 World Cup qualification hunt with last gasp draw against Australia
By Andrew Warshaw
October 6 – The dream, remarkably, is still alive. Striker Omar Al Somah blasted home an 85th-minute penalty to keep war-torn Syria in the hunt for World Cup qualification as they drew 1-1 draw with Australia in the first leg of their Asian Football Confederation playoff.