October 17 – Bahamas, host of the 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup, will also host the 2017 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship. That competition will qualify two teams to the World Cup finals, alongside hosts Bahamas.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 17 – Palestinian officials and human rights organisations will be disappointed at FIFA’s refusal to take a decisive stand over the issue of Israeli clubs based in occupied territory.
October 17 – European leagues unfairly disadvantaged by the controversial revamping of the Champions League could receive special financial aid from UEFA to offset the three-year deal that favours the Continent’s most affluent clubs.
If 2016 has taught us anything, it is not to kid ourselves that we can see too far into the future. With that proviso, it looks ever more probable, almost a decade before the first ball is actually kicked, that the United States will have a leading role in hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 14 – It is full of detail about transparency and good governance but will it really restore public faith in an organisation brought to its knees by scandal and skullduggery?
By Andrew Warshaw
October 14 – FIFA will decide in January whether to expand the World Cup finals from 32 to either 40 or 48 teams as part of Gianni Infantino’s detailed blueprint for change after eight months in charge of the scandal-wracked organisation.
By Samindra Kunti
October 14 – The lure of the US for the South Americans seems unabated by the multiple arrests and pending trials of more than 30 of their federation executives on corruption charges. Regional confederation CONMEBOL is considering a one-legged final of the Copa Libertadores, with the US as a possible venue.
October 14 – After eight match days the French top flight Ligue 1 has attracted almost 5% less spectators than last season. The downward trend is worrying for French football that had hoped to build on the success of Euro 2016 in terms of attendances to club matches.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 14 – Talks about an Atlantic League featuring clubs from Scotland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Sweden – first floated over a decade ago – are back on the table, seemingly in response to UEFA’s decision to revamp the Champions League in favour of Europe’s biggest clubs.
October 14 – Official gaming partner Marathonbet has launched an online Manchester United branded casino, the first live casino for a football club. Players can interact with dealers in real time in a virtual gaming environment that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
October 14 – Paris St-Germain and Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier is being investigated by FIFA after appearing to make a throat-slitting gesture to supporters during last weekend’s 3-1 win over Mali.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 13 – Gianni Infantino insists FIFA has “turned a page” and become far more credible and trustworthy in the first seven months of his presidency despite all manner of allegations against him and the feeling in some quarters than the organisation has actually gone backwards.
October 13 – Paris Saint-Germain and Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier has been praised for saving the life an opponent during a World Cup qualifier last weekend.
October 13 – At the age of 83, Roger Blanpain, one of FIFPro’s founding fathers and its first president, has passed away in Leuven, Belgium.
October 13 – At last news from Russia that isn’t about doping, racist incidents or national team players going wild in Monaco nightclubs. Russia 2018 organiser have named Nikita Simonyan as a World Cup ambassador.