September 2 – The US overhaul of its youth training and playing structures have continued with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the world’s largest coaches organisation, unveiling a suite of new coaching education programmes and qualifications that focus on small-sided games.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 1 – Despite continually protesting his innocence over any involvement in manipulating the vote that handed Germany the 2006 World Cup, Franz Beckenbauer, his country’s most revered footballing figurehead who led the bid process, is being investigated by Swiss prosecutors as part of a corruption probe.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 1 – He described his original $2 million pay offer as “insulting” yet now he is getting even less. Or is he? After six months in charge, and having failed to sign a contract that had been on the table since March, Gianni Infantino has now apparently agreed an annual salary of 1.5 million Swiss francs.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 1 – Of all the countries taking part in the forthcoming World Cup qualifying programme, none is surely anticipating the occasion with more relish than Kosovo who make their competitive international debut on Monday. Yet the Balkan state, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, still needs confirmation from FIFA whether a raft of players can switch nationality to join them.
September 1 – Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer has expanded its sponsorship portfolio into Asia agreeing a four-year deal with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It will become the Official Timekeeper & Official Watch of the AFC’s national competitions including the 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Final Round (that starts tonight), the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup and the AFC Asian Cup in 2019.
September 1 – The idea of scrapping extra time after draws in knockout European matches was discussed at UEFA’s annual seminar for elite coaches and ex-coaches this week.
September 1 – Manchester City has expanded its regional sponsorship agreeing an ‘Official Beer Partner’ deal with Nigeria’s Star brand, owned by Nigerian Breweries.
September 1 – A Russian panel which handles player contract disputes is unfairly weighted in favour of executives from the league and clubs according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
September 1 – Aleksander Ceferin, the Slovenian hoping to succeed Michel Platini as the president of the UEFA in two weeks’ time, said he plans to clamp down on corruption, doping and match-fixing if he is elected.
September 1 – English Premier League clubs forked out more than £155 million on transfer deadline day as summer window spending reached an eye-watering record £1.165 billion.
By Paul Nicholson
August 31 – With 2018 World Cup qualifiers starting this week, Syria, who have made it through to the final group stage of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualification, have been informed by the Macau FA that they will not now be able to host their ‘home’ matches.
August 31 – Manchester United’s rate of Twitter growth slowed last week against the previous week, from 85,000 new followers to 70,500. In contrast Manchester City grew their weekly new followers to 22,100 and can be expected to grow again on the back of exciting Premier League performances.
August 31 – The Brazilian FA, the CBF, and Japanese video games maker Konami have struck a two-year partnership deal for the Pro Evolution Soccer video game.
August 31 – Premier League clubs look set to take their summer spending through the £1 billion barrier for the first time in what is expected to be the usual frenzied final day of business today before the window slams shut for six months.
August 31 – Controversial US goalkeeper Hope Solo has decided not to play for her club side Seattle Reign for the rest of the season saying she is not in the right mental state.