Italian moral leadership: Racist monkey chants, OK. But DO NOT slander God
October 30 – Two Italian Serie A players have been handed one-match bans – for blasphemy.
Europe
Spanish women hold strong on pay claims as strike deadline nears
October 29 – Top-flight women footballers in Spain are carrying out their threat to go on strike indefinitely from November 16 over a disagreement about pay and conditions.
Pushy Ribery given 3-match suspension by Serie A
October 29 – Former French international star Franck Ribery has been suspended for three Serie A matches after twice pushing an assistant referee in Fiorentina’s 2-1 home defeat by Lazio on Sunday.
Breaking boundaries: Irish clubs discuss all-island domestic league
By Andrew Warshaw
October 28 – Plans are afoot to create a ground-breaking all-island domestic league in Ireland that would completely change the landscape of the sport on both sides of the border.
Germans put Koch forward for place at UEFA’s top table
October 28 – Despite being embroiled in an alleged case of threatening behaviour at home, DFB vice-president Rainer Koch (pictured) has been nominated by his federation to sit on the UEFA executive committee and FIFA council in succession to disgraced former DFB chief Reinhard Grindel.
UEFA set to rule on Bulgarian racism at Euro 2020 qualifier vs England
October 28 – Bulgaria will learn their fate later today for the racist abuse England players suffered during the recent Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia.
Olympiakos vs Bayern U19s abandoned after thugs invade pitch
October 25 – Bayern Munich have made an official complaint to UEFA after a youth match against Olympiakos was abandoned because of crowd violence.
Spanish women vote to strike over minimum wage conditions in club game
October 24 – Almost 200 women players in Spain’s first division have voted to strike in a disagreement over pay and conditions.
Brugge boss Verhaeghe says joint Belgium-Netherlands league talks are back on
By Samindra Kunti
October 24 – Club Brugge president Bart Verhaeghe (pictured) has reignited talk around the formation of a ‘BeNe League’, saying that Belgium and the Netherlands are in discussion on how they join forces to found an 18-team league that could begin play as early as 2021.
Dispute over date for re-arranged El Clasico fixture gets royally heated
October 24 – LaLiga is considering legal action after the season’s first El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid was rescheduled for December 18 by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Spurs probe ticketing protocols after Red Star fans break stadium ban
October 23 – UEFA are reported to be considering whether to join Tottenham Hotspur in launching an investigation into how more than 200 Red Star Belgrade fans “illegally” bought tickets for their side’s away Champions League fixture on Tuesday despite a blanket ban for racism.
UEFA shuts doors or Serbian racists
October 22 – Serbia have been ordered to play their next home game behind closed doors in the latest sanction imposed by UEFA for racism.
FA orders racially ruined FA Cup match to be replayed
October 22 – An English FA Cup qualifier abandoned at the weekend because of racist abuse when the home players walked off is to be replayed rather than the tie be awarded to either team.
UEFA’s business incubator signs three start-ups
October 22 – UEFA has signed three start-up businesses as part of its business innovation drive to develop new technologies and products that will significantly impact the commercial management and promotion of football and its assets.
When enough is enough: Haringey walk off over Yeovil Town fans’ racial abuse
By Andrew Warshaw
October 21 – Everyone was appalled by the headline-making events in Sofia recently when England’s black players were verbally abused by a section of the Bulgarian fans.