San Marino create history with back-to-back draws
November 16 – November 14 will go down in history for European football minnows San Marino.
Europe
English authorities covid-clear Iceland to travel for Wembley game
November 13 – England’s Nations League match against Iceland next week is no longer under threat after the government staged a u-turn over its travel ban and granted special dispensation to the visitors.
Clarke pushed out of FIFA Council seat as English face marginalisation
By Andrew Warshaw
November 12 – Former English Football Association chairman Greg Clarke, who resigned on Monday, has bowed to the inevitable and also relinquished his positions as a FIFA vice-president and a FIFA Council member in what was an apparent u-turn.
Pandemic widens gap between rich and poor clubs as player transfers slow, finds CIES report
November 12 – The annual player demographic census by the CIES Football Observatory shows the immediate impact the coronavirus pandemic has had in slowing down the movement of players and “strengthening” the gaps between the elite clubs and league and the rest.
Southgate says Clarke had no alternative as England begin hunt for new FA chair
November 12 – England manager Gareth Southgate says Greg Clarke had no alternative but to resign as the Football Association’s chairman but that he tried to support racial harmony during his time in charge.
English FA ask for travel exemption for Iceland to complete Nations League at Wembley
November 12 – The English Football Association is pleading with the government to grant a travel exemption to Iceland for their Nations League match at Wembley Stadium next Wednesday.
CAS rule Napoli were creating their own alibi and back Serie A’s 3-0 award to Juve
November 12 – Napoli’s appeal against Juventus being awarded a 3-0 win for their unplayed fixture last month has been predictably rejected by the Court of Arbitration for sport.
Croatian skipper Vida subbed at half time after positive test result confirmed
November 12 – Veteran Croatia captain Domagoj Vida played the first half of Wednesday’s 3-3 draw with Turkey in Istanbul before finding out he had tested positive for Covid-19.
Coronavirus: Norwegian health authorities call off Israeli friendly at last minute
November 12 – Last night’s international friendly between Norway and Israel was the latest fixture to fall victim to Covid-19 with the game called off because of concerns about infection among the visiting team.
Portuguese police raid clubs as probe into money laundering of transfer cash intensifies
November 11 – Police in Portugal have raided the offices of three top-flight clubs – Benfica, Sporting and Santa Clara – as part of a corruption and money laundering investigation linked to player transfers.
UEFA opens up ‘sports category’ tender for women’s competition
November 11 – UEFA is opening up a tender process for what it is calling its ‘sports category’ for its women’s competitions 2021-25. The category includes official match ball, sports equipment and apparel.
Coronavirus: Albania look favourites to host England vs Iceland
November 10 – England and Iceland could end up playing their Nations League clash on November 18 more than 1,000 miles away in Albania.
Denmark travel ban threatens England vs Iceland, while Danes lose Premier League players
November 9 – England’s Nations League match against Iceland next week has been plunged into doubt because of the UK government’s travel ban which has now been extended to Denmark.
Austrians drop probe into FIFA donation to Windtner’s African charity
November 9 – Austrian prosecutors are said to have dropped proceedings, stretching back almost three years, against the country’s FA President Leo Windtner (pictured) over a $100,000 payment made shortly before Sepp Blatter’s re-election as FIFA president in 2015.
Zidane penalised for Real’s rotation policy in Valencia
November 9 – Zinedine Zidane’s rotation policy backfired once more after his Real Madrid slid to a dispiriting 4-1 defeat at Valencia, missing a chance to go top of the table in La Liga.