Concacaf redraws roadmap for Paris 2024 men’s Olympic qualifying
September 17 – Concacaf has redrawn the route to the 2024 men’s Olympic football tournament with the U-20 teams deciding the region’s representatives in Paris.
World Football
Napoli boss De Laurentiis wants a €10bn Super League built on merit
By Samindra Kunti
September 16 – Controversial Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis tends to dream big. His latest big idea a shake-up of the European game via an alternative ‘Super League’ with entry based on merit and which he believes could generate a €10 billion investment.
CAF joins ICSS-led training initiative to boost Africa’s stadium security
September 16 – One of African football’s biggest problems across the continent is the condition and safety of stadiums. The African confederation highlighted the issues this year, even banning some from use. A UN-certified Sport Safety and Security Training and Advanced Education Programme for professionals in Africa football has been launched as a step towards finding solutions.
Flamengo latest to take leap into Fan Token crypto-zone with Socios.com
September 16 – Socios.com are continuing their rapid expansion in football’s major national markets. Having announced a hook-up with Spain’s LaLiga already this week and launched their sell-out Fan Token issue with Premier League Everton, the blockchain-based crypto business has unveiled Brazil’s Flamengo as their latest partner.
Chelsea open Champions League defence. Can Europe’s clubs compete with the English?
By Samindra Kunti
September 14 – Chelsea open their defence of the Champions League tonight at home to Zenit St Petersburg, kicking off the European club season in earnest. The question in Europe is whether Chelsea and their English counterparts will also be kickstarting an age of Premier League dominance in the European Cup?
Concacaf says it is time for analysis, not ‘fearmongering’, over biennial WC proposal
September 24 – Concacaf has said that it “recognises the merits” of FIFA’s plan to create a new international match calendar – which would include a biennial World Cup – and that it will look at the proposals with an “open mind” and “positive engagement”.
CFU boss Harris believes biennial WC would help a Caribbean that is failing to compete
September 14 – Caribbean Football Union (CFU) President Randy Harris has backed FIFA’s plans for a biennial World Cup, arguing that it would offer more “high-quality playing opportunities” for his member associations.
WCL group draw: Barca meet Arsenal, Lyon get Bayern, Chelsea face Juve, PSG draw Real Madrid
September 14 – European champions Barcelona were grouped with Arsenal, Hoffenheim and HB Køge from Denmark in the draw for the remodelled 16-team Women’s Champions League.
Conmebol says ‘no sporting justification’ for biennial World Cup
By Samindra Kunti
September 13 – South American confederation Conmebol has come out against plans for a biennial World Cup, joining UEFA as a critic and powerful opponent of FIFA’s dramatic proposal to overhaul the international match calendar.
Footballers behaving badly: Boateng fined, Mendy court dates set
September 13 – German 2014 World Cup winner Jerome Boateng has been fined for assaulting a former girlfriend, while Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy will go on trial on for rape and sexual assault on January 24 next year.
Alves refuses to return to Sao Paulo over unpaid $3.4m wage bill
September 13 – In a row over unpaid wages, Daniel Alves and Sao Paulo have parted ways. The 38-year-old is owed about $3.4 million in unpaid wages by his club.
Messi hat-trick takes him past Pelé’s goal scoring record
September 10 – Lionel Messi has surpassed Pelé as the leading South American men’s goal scorer in international matches with 79 goals, following his hat-trick in Argentina’s World Cup qualifiing win against Bolivia.
PSG and LFP return fire on Tebas after branding club as a ’danger’ to European football
By Samindra Kunti
September 9 – Javier Tebas once more is at the centre of the storm. This time Paris Saint-Germain and French Professional League (LFP) have attacked the boss of Spanish football after he branded the state-funded club “as dangerous as the European Super League”.
US second half comeback saves World Cup qualifying face, Canada and Panama stake claims
September 9 – Emphatic wins for Canada and the US in the third matches of the Concacaf World Cup qualifying final round, have put them back in touching distance of group leaders Mexico who managed a draw in their third game in this international window.
Egypt turn to Queiroz to galvanise World Cup qualifying campaign
September 9 – Egypt have hired Carlos Queiroz as their new manager to steer the Pharaohs to the World Cup in Qatar. The Portuguese will succeed Hossam El Badry.