October 6 – In a damaging blow to both the country itself and its regional African confederation, Equatorial Guinea have been kicked out of the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France for fielding no fewer 10 ineligible Brazilian-born players during qualifying for the 2016 Olympics.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 6 – A FIFA technical team led by director of competitions Colin Smith has completed the latest inspection to Russia’s World Cup sites and reports that although preparations are on course a “significant” amount of work is still to be done over the next few months.
October 6 – The unthinkable – no Lionel Messi or Argentina at the World Cup – is seriously close to become a reality.
October 6 – The French Football Federation (FFF) has upgraded its deal with Orange who become a major sponsor of the national mens and womens teams in a four-year deal staring in 2018.
By Mark Baber
October 6 – Free Tibet have launched a campaign to press Liverpool FC to terminate a controversial sponsorship deal signed with Chinese water bottling company Tibet Water Resources Limited.
October 6 – England may have qualified for next year’s World Cup finals but that should fool no-one and their chances of success are next to nil judging by reaction to the last-gasp win over Slovakia that sealed their place in Russia.
October 6 – Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer Hisense has continued its global sponsorship expansion into football becoming the Official TV and Appliance Manufacturer of the US national teams in a deal that will take them through the 2018 World Cup in Russuia, 2019 Women’s World Cup, as well as including the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, and U. male and female youth teams.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 5 – Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay have launched a three-nation bid to host the 2030 World Cup, the event’s centenary tournament.
By Paul Nicholson
October 5 – The value of broadcast rights will continue to rise driven by demand for premium content and spending power of the five digital giants from the US – Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft – and China’s Alibaba and Tencent, said Martin Sorrell, CEO of ad agency WPP.
October 5 – The list of potential host cities for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico has been further trimmed, this time to 32.
October 5 – FIFA must do more to combat the increasing incidents of homophobic chanting according to European football’s anti-discriminatory body FARE.
October 5 – English Premier League clubs have rejected a proposal to end equal distribution of overseas TV money and replace it with handing a greater share to those who finish highest in the table.
By Samindra Kunti in Delhi
October 4 – NTPC, Dalmia Cement Bharat Limited and Byju’s have completed the roster for the six national sponsorship slots for the U-17 World Cup in India, FIFA announced.
October 4 – Spain’s players say they are focused solely on Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Albania and that they are getting tired of being asked about teammate Gerard Pique’s outspoken stance on the independence referendum in Catalonia.
October 4 – English Premier League club chiefs are gathering in London today for what is being touted in some quarters as one of the most important meetings since the league’s creation in 1992.