FIFA discrimination crackdown hits 11 nations in 2018 qualifying
October 5 – FIFA has punished no fewer 11 national associations for “the discriminatory and unsporting conduct of fans” during recent World Cup qualifiers.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Bradley parachuted in to pick up the pieces at Swansea
October 10 – Former US national team coach Bob Bradley has become the first American to manage a top-flight European team after being appointed by Swansea City in succession to sacked Italian Francesco Guidolin.
Bielsa delivers a cerebral masterclass at Aspire forum
By Samindra Kunti in Amsterdam
October 4 – Marcelo Bielsa is a revered man – for both his philosophy and methodology. The Argentine rarely appears in public, but at the Aspire4Sport Global Summit on Football Performance & Science in Amsterdam he delivered the keynote address and a fascinating insight into coaching theory and practice.
World Cup’s knockout punch. Could 48 teams be the magic number?
By Andrew Warshaw
October 4 – As John McEnroe famously said, you cannot be serious. Or maybe a line from Monty Python’s ‘Life of Brian’ might be equally apt: “He’s making it up as he goes along.” Not content with proposing a 40-team World Cup as part of his election manifesto, FIFA president Gianni Infantino now says he wants to go even further and expand the finals to 48 nations.
Jersey appeal to CAS in bid to become a UEFA member
October 4 – The Jersey Football Association (JFA) have lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in an attempt to overturn UEFA’s rejection of their membership bid.
Jersey believe they have just as strong a case as the likes of new members Gibraltar and Kosovo and are testing this at sport’s highest court.
The JFA say they have been told by UEFA that the Channel island fails to meet the criteria for affiliation because Article 5 of the UEFA Statutes,
Man Utd top table of highest value squads on the planet
October 4 – Manchester United have the most expensive squad on the planet, the most money ever spent putting a football team together. Local rivals Manchester City rank third in the big money team stakes – with Real Madrid and Barcelona either side of them.
Belgians launch probe into players betting on their own matches
October 4 – The Belgian FA has launched an inquiry into allegations that several players in the country’s top league bet on their own matches.
Wenger for England, Guardiola for culture change – say Overmars and Xavi
By Samindra Kunti in Amsterdam
October 4 – Ajax’s director of football and former Arsenal player Marc Overmars has said that the time could be right for Arsene Wenger to leave Arsenal and become the England manager. Spanish midfielder Xavi believes that Pep Guardiola can profoundly change English football culture at Manchester City.
U.S. Futsal and NSCAA launch first coach education programme
October 4 – With the Futsal World Cup having just crowned Argentina as champions in Colombia, the speed of growth of the small-sided version of football has been recognised in the US where the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and U.S. Futsal have teamed up to create the first online Futsal Coaching Course.
Breathing life into the World Cup: Is 40 really the new 32?
By Andrew Warshaw
October 4 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s plan to expand the World Cup finals to 40 teams has drawn a mixed reaction from Europe and Asia.
Cash-rich Gunners see profits take a hit
By David Owen
October 3 – Arsenal, the north London club whose French manager Arsène Wenger has just completed an extraordinary 20 years in the hot seat, have reported a sharp downturn in annual profits. The Gunners posted a pre-tax profit of just £2.9 million for the year to 31 May 2016 – down from a restated £18.2 million. Group turnover in the same period rose from £347.3 million to £356.5 million.
China tackles wall of western resistance as it puts football ambition top of agenda
By Andrew Warshaw
October 3 – Western criticism of China’s human rights record will not dissuade the country from pressing ahead with its bid to host the World Cup.
Aspire Summit kicks off in Amsterdam with focus on ‘higher’ performance
By Samindra Kunti
October 3 – The 2016 Aspire4Sport Congress & Exhibition opened in the Dutch capital Amsterdam today with key stakeholders in the game and performance specialists from clubs and federations around the world gathering at the summit with Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa delivering the keynote speech.
Juve and AC Milan line up for Italian Supercup in Doha
By Samindra Kunti in Amsterdam
October 3 – This year’s Italian Supercup between Juventus and AC Milan will be played in Doha, Qatar. The announcement was made at the Aspire4sport Global Summit on Football Performance & Science in Amsterdam today.
West Ham’s toxic fans turn Olympic stadium claret and blue again
October 3 – West Ham’s move into their new stadium has so far brought with it an ugly side that doesn’t seem to be clearing up. For the third time in four home matches West Ham fans clashed with opposition supporter, this time Middlesbrough fans.