FIFA gives life ban to former Concacaf boss Sanz
October 2 – Just like his infamous predecessor Chuck Blazer, Enrique Sanz, former general secretary Concacaf, has been banned for life for his involvement in the FifaGate scandal.
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Former Valencia president Soler jailed for plot to kidnap and rob his former VP
October 2 – The former president of Valencia Juan Soler (pictured) has been jailed for two years for conspiring to kidnap his one-time vice-president and break into his home.
Match to deliver Euro2020 hospitality sales for UEFA
October 2 – UEFA and MATCH Hospitality have teamed up for the exclusive sales of Euro 2020 hospitality tickets and packages. The agreement covers Spain, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Mexico, Peru and Colombia.
Sierra Leone’s Bangura considering international future after fans vandalise his home
October 2 – Sierra Leone captain Umaru Bangura says he is considering his international future after angry supporters vandalised his house in retaliation for him missing a decisive stoppage-time penalty in a World Cup qualifier against Liberia last month.
Nice call time on Diaby-Fadiga after dressing room watch theft
October 2 – French top-flight club Nice have sacked their teenage striker Lamine Diaby-Fadiga (pictured) after he admitted stealing a watch apparently worth €70,000 from team-mate Kasper Dolberg in the dressing room last month.
CAF releases Esperance’s $2.5m prize money for Champions League win
October 1 – African Champions League winners Esperance have today received their $2.5 million prize money from the Confederation of African Football.
Leagues and players’ union plot path through foggy concussion protocols
October 1 – Europe’s football leagues have joined forces with the international players’ union body FIFPro to try and improve the way concussion cases are managed, potentially including independent doctors being on site.
FIFA orders Cardiff to pay Nantes €6m as first instalment for Sala
October 1 – Cardiff City have been ordered by FIFA to pay the first instalment of €6 million to Nantes for £15 million striker Emiliano Sala who died in January when the light aircraft carrying him to Cardiff two days after he signed crashed into the sea before he could play a single game.
Bundesliga lands ESPN broadcast deal for US
October 1 – Germany’s Bundesliga, which has been targeting commercial expansion in the US market, has secured a six-year broadcast deal with subscription streaming service ESPN+.
As the IAAF stumbles in Qatar, FIFA names its Club World Cup stadia for December
October 1 – FIFA has revealed the Education City Stadium as the venue for the final of this year’s Club World Cup in Qatar. The stadium will also host matches during the 2022 World Cup.
Man City vs Atletico Madrid is pick of Women’s CL last 16 match-ups
October 1 – Manchester City were handed a difficult tie against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League’s round of 16, but English champions Arsenal were given a favorable draw against Slavia Prague.
Lagardere’s CAF contract under threat as FIFA-led admin makes new commercial play
Exclusive by Osasu Obayiuwana
September 30 – The 12-year billion-dollar contract between Lagardere Sport (LS) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is at risk of being a casualty of the ongoing CAF governance reforms being spearheaded by FIFA.
Delaney quits FAI with pressure mounting on him to quit UEFA role
By Andrew Warshaw
September 30 – John Delaney is under growing pressure to resign from his reported €160,000-a-year UEFA executive committee post after stepping down as Executive Vice President of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) with immediate effect, finally severing links with his federation after a colourful and controversial career.
Lyon send a free speech message to China (and LFP) with Tibetan flag tifo
September 30 – Lyon fans expressed their dismay at a Saturday lunchtime kick-off aimed at the Chinese market by creating a giant tifo representing the Tibetan flag behind one of the goals.
More CAF chaos as Zamalek switch CL match venue and date at 24 hours notice
September 30 – The increasingly dysfunctional Confederation of African Football (CAF) is embroiled in yet another embarrassing soap opera after a Champions League match between Senegalese club Generation Foot and Egyptian giants Zamalak at the weekend never took place when the location and venue were shifted at the last moment.