Real Oviedo opt -in to LaLiga’s new money deal; Barca, Real and Bilbao isolated
September 1 – Spanish second division club Real Oviedo have belatedly opted in favour of La Liga’s €2.1 billion agreement with private equity firm CVC.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Icelandic FA board resigns over sexual assault cover-up
September 1 – Icelandic football has been brought to its knees by a sex abuse scandal that has resulted in the national federation’s entire board resigning en masse.
Ireland brings in equal pay and bonuses for men’s and women’s teams
September 1 – Ireland’s Football Association (FAI) has introduced equal pay for the men’s and women’s senior national teams who will receive the same match fees and bonuses on international duty.
Early-season birth dates weight heavily in favour of a pro career
September 1 – The date a player is born can still have a defining effect on whether a young footballer will have a professional career, or not.
SIGA names 10 more speakers for Sports Integrity Week 2021, Sept 13-17
September 1 – SIGA have announced the latest group of speakers for its Sport Integrity Week 2021, to be held virtually September 13-17.
CAF adds Integral to TV rights partners with Nigerian deal
September 1 – The African confederation is gradually filling in its broadcast blanks with new partners. The latest being with sports marketing agency Integral in Nigeria.
FIFA report breaks down $48.5bn spent on player trading
August 31 – An eye-watering $48.5 billion (€41.1 billion) was splashed out on international transfer fees over the past decade, almost half of which was spent by the top 30 clubs with English clubs leading the way, according to a new FIFA report.
CAS orders LaLiga clubs to release Conmebol players for extra 2 days of 2022 qualifiers
August 31 – La Liga has been forced to release international players for next month’s South American World Cup qualifiers following a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
CAS clears Bajrami for immediate switch from Swiss to Albanian nationality
August 31 – The Albanian football federation has won a potentially landmark case against FIFA in court, proving that Big Brother doesn’t always succeed.
Spurs boss calls for flexibility to allow red-listed players to travel
August 31 – Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo has appealed for help both from football authorities and the British government to provide solutions to the South American international duty issue, which could see his club lose two players, Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso, for an extended period.
Russia take third Beach Soccer World title, Japan make history as first Asian finalist
August 31 – Russia won a third world crown on the sand after defeating tournament surprise package Japan 5-2 in the final of the Beach Soccer World Cup in Moscow.
Huygens stays on as interim president of Belgian FA until summer 2022
August 31 – Robert Huygens will stay on president of the Belgian FA (KBVB) until June 2022. His mandate has been extended after he first succeeded Mehdi Bayat on an interim basis in May.
Ajax get three years of donuts with Dunkin’
August 31 – Ajax Amsterdam and Dunkin’ have teamed up with Dunkin’ becoming the club’s bakery partner for the coming three seasons, the Dutch outfit have announced.
Messi’s PSG debut eclipses Mbappe’s two-goal match winning performance
By Samindra Kunti in Reims
August 29 – On Sunday, Lionel Messi took his first steps in the shirt of Paris Saint-Germain, but it was Kylian Mbappe who stole the show with a brace in a 2-0 victory over Reims.
Forget Super League, Champions League has the big names, big games and real competition
By Samindra Kunti
August 27 – Manchester City vs Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona vs Bayern Munich, Inter Milan vs Real Madrid, Chelsea vs Juventus. The Champions League draw paired some of the continent’s biggest clubs in the first group round of the competition, reminding rebel clubs from the Super League that regular European competition is demanding enough.