AFCON 2021 group qualifiers set after wins for Gambia, Chad, South Sudan and Sao Tome
October 14 – Gambia, Chad, South Sudan and Sao Tome (pictured) have advanced in qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
News
Budweiser toast Juventus with three-year deal
October 14 – AB InBev brand Budweiser has been named as the official beer of the Italian giants Juventus in a deal running through to the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
Performance data analysts PlayMaker becomes USL Preferred Supplier
October 14 – The United Soccer League (USL) that recently announced David Beckham’s Miami FC and MLS old-stager new England Revolution as entering development teams in its third tier League One division, has added performance data providers PlayerMaker as a ‘preferred partner’.
Lukaku goals lead Belgium to being first to book place at Euro 2020 finals
October 11 – Belgium have become the first team to qualify for Euro 2020 after a 9-0 demolition job of amateurs San Marino.
Dentsu adds TV rights to J-league representation package
October 11 – Dentsu will replace French agency Lagardere Sports as the sales agency for Japan’s J-League international broadcast rights between 2020 and 2022.
Bulgarians say England’s walk-off threat is ‘unjust’ branding of country as racist
October 11 – The Bulgarian FA have written angrily to UEFA to protest against a threat by England players to walk off the pitch en masse if any of them are racially abused during Monday’s Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia.
Esprit becomes UEFA’s third women’s football partner alongside Nike and Visa
October 11 – UEFA have added global fashion brand Esprit as the Official Branded Apparel Partner of UEFA Women’s Football in deal running through to 2021.
Uganda’s Magogo suspended over 2014 World Cup ticket resale scandal
October 11 – FIFA have suspended Uganda FA president Moses Magogo from all football-related activity for two months for his role in the resale of World Cup tickets. The football official has also been slapped with a $10,000 fine.
UEFA ban Slovan Bratislava fans for Wolves game but U-14s can still go for free
October 10 – UEFA have confirmed that Slovan Bratislava’s Europa League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers will be played behind closed doors after dismissing their appeal against being charged for racist chants by fans in a play-off game against PAOK of Greece.
Sligo parody ‘WAGatha Christie’ in quick-witted PR coup
By David Owen
October 10 – Sligo Rovers currently reside, it is fair to say, some way below the pinnacle of European football. But the League of Ireland club plays a mean social media game.
Security issues force Sierra Leone World Cup qualifier behind closed doors
October 10 – Sierra Leone have been ordered to play their next official match behind closed doors following “a number of incidents” linked to the recent World Cup qualifier against Liberia.
Beckham’s Inter Miami and New England Revolution commit to 3rd tier USL
October 10 – The USL, operator of professional leagues below the MLS, have won the commitments of David Beckham’s Inter Miami and MLS old stagers New England Revolution to enter teams in the second season of their third tier League One in 2020.
LA fashion brand 424 cuts new cloth with two-year Arsenal deal
October 10 – Los Angeles fashion brand 424 has become the Official Formal Wear partner of Premier League Arsenal in a two-year partnership.
Europe’s clubs and leagues on collision course over Champions League set up post-2024
By Andrew Warshaw
October 9 – The heads of the two bodies representing Europe’s clubs and league have renewed their war of words over qualification for the Champions League in the post-2024 cycle and how European competitions should be structured.
Why football’s impending TV rights disaster is a self-inflicted wound
By Paul Nicholson
October 9 – Football only has itself to blame for the bombshell dropped by beIN Media Group CEO, Yousef Al-Obaidly yesterday at the Leaders in Sport conference in London, who outlined a future of dramatically reduced rights fees from broadcasters worldwide, even for premium leagues and events.