October 7 – Lazio captain Stefano Mauri has had his ban for failing to report match-fixing increased to nine months after losing an appeal against the original six-month suspension, effectively ruling him out for the rest of the season.
By Paul Nicholson
October 4 – Leyton Orient owner Barry Hearn (pictured)may have lost his £750,000 legal battle to allow the club to ground share London’s Olympic Stadium with Premier League club West Ham United, but he hasn’t given up hope and he could be handed a lifeline by the EC.
By Mark Baber
October 3 – The challenge to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations by Daniel Striani, is due in Brussels’ Court of First Instance today in what will be a short hearing to set a schedule for handling the complaint lodged in May.
By Paul Nicholson
October 3 – The match fixing scandal surrounding non-league players in England has deepened with the revelation that three of the four players arrested in Australia were from AFC Hornchurch in England’s Conference South division.
By Mark Baber
October 2 – A wide-ranging Football Association of Singapore (FAS) – French Football Federation (FFF) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focusing on youth development was signed at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore yesterday. In hailing the new MOU, representatives focused on the successes of the French youth system which was demonstrated as the France Under-20 side won the 2013 FIFA Under-20 World Cup title whilst the Under-19 side finished runners-up at the UEFA European Under-19 Championships.
October 2 – UEFA seem certain to impose sanctions after activists protesting against Champions League sponsor Gazprom interrupted the Basel-Schalke group game Tuesday by abseiling from the stadium roof at St Jakob-Park, forcing a brief suspension.
By Mark Baber
October 1 – Hublot, the luxury watch-maker, have agreed a partnership with Paris Saint-Germain to become the Official Timekeeper and Watch of Paris Saint-Germain FC in a deal which will afford them branding exposure at the Parc des Princes stadium.
October 1 – The international players’ union FIFpro has called on the European Union to pressure FIFA into changing the transfer system which, it warns, is putting the careers of the majority of players “at the mercy” of their employers.
By Mark Baber
October 1 – The finalists for the UK’s 2013 Football Business Awards have been announced, throwing up a few surprises including the shortlisting of Newcastle Utd and Wonga for Sponsorship Deal/Partnership of the Year. Perhaps less surprisingly the award ceremony will be hosted by alternative comedienne, Jo Brand.
By Panos Bletsos
October 1 – Having not played an international home game in front of their fans for more than 13 months, Greek outfit PAOK are hoping to welcome Israel’s Maccabi Haifa to a packed Toumba ground on October 24, having lodged an appeal against UEFA’s decision to extend their home ban on fans to four matches following “irregularities” during the UEFA Champions League play-off clash against Schalke.
By Mark Baber
September 30 – German football fans, polls reveal, want to see football taking a lead on social issues. Only 18% of German fans believe that the DFB is doing enough to combat homophobia, with 55% saying not enough is being done. Regarding racism, 40% are happy with the DFB’s commitment, whilst 46% see the need for more action.
By Gareth Messenger
September 30 – A court in Valencia has told Real Madrid attacking midfielder, Isco Alarcon, that he must pay €2.6 million to Eleven Sports.
September 30 – The tax evasion case involving Lionel Messi and his father Jorge “should not take long” to be resolved, according to the Spanish Superior Court. Both appeared in court last Friday to face charges of evading €4.2 million in tax by filing incomplete returns for the years 2006 to 2009, allegations they deny but which have caused widespread consternation in Spain where the Argentine superstar is currently out injured.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 30 – FIFA has ordered Ukraine to play next month’s potentially decisive World Cup qualifier against Poland in Kharkiv behind closed doors after fans hurled racial abuse during the win over San Marino earlier this month. The country has also been banned from playing in the Arena Lviv stadium for the whole of the 2018 World Cup qualification programme.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 27 – Lionel Messi was in court today (pictured) to face charges of tax fraud that have caused widespread astonishment in Spain and cast a dark shadow over the Argentine superstar’s squeaky clean image as the world’s finest footballer.