CAF cancels Sierra Leone’s Ghana fixtures throwing AFCON qualification into doubt
October 10 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has cancelled the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group ‘F’ double-header between Sierra Leone and Ghana.
World Football
Stadium issues force Penn FC out of USL, but club granted 2020 slot for third tier
October 10 – The USL, operator of the second tier of US professional soccer and soon to launch a professional third tier, has granted USL side Penn FC a spot in League 1 for the 2020 season. The club will go dark for the 2019 season and not compete in the USL.
Brazilian football split by politics as big name players lean right as clubs and fans go left
By Samindra Kunti
October 9 – Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro will face Fernando Haddad in a run-off vote for the Brazilian presidency on October 28 in an election that has been marked by the campaign involvement of a large number of Brazilian footballers.
Turki Al-Sheikh’s Pyramids-building in Egypt crumbles as the Saudi pulls his cash
October 8 – Saudi Arabia has aggressively been building a portfolio and presence in football, but in Egypt the kingdom’s efforts to exert influence have backfired as the meddling of Saudi sports minister Turki Al-Sheikh hasn’t been received well by local administrators and fans.
FIFA suspends Sierra Leone until government reinstates corruption-haunted Johansen to SLFA
By Paul Nicholson
October 8 – FIFA has carried out its threat and suspended the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) with immediate effect. FIFA, which has long been battling for the preservation of the incumbent administration in Sierra Leone led by president Isha Johansen, took its action despite on-going criminal investigations into the leadership.
Tebas says playing a LaLiga match in the US is their ‘right’
October 5 – The opposition to La Liga president Javier Tebas’ plan to play a regular season fixture in the US has not stopped the mercurial Spanish leader insisting that the idea iss still alive and is their “right”.
Brazil leave season calendar unchanged but will suspend Brasileirao for Copa America
October 5 – The Brazilian top flight will be interrupted during next year’s Copa America, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) revealed in announcing the calendar for the 2019 season.
CAF brings in VAR for finals of club competitions
October 5 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has moved to integrate the Video Assistant Referees, VAR, into its major club competitions. On Thursday, CAF announced that the VAR will feature in the finals of this season’s African Champions League and Confederation Cup.
Modric keeps hero status and out of jail as Croatian court clears him of perjury
October 4 – A Croatian court on Wednesday cleared against Croatia international and FIFA’s world player if the year Luka Modric of giving false testimony in a criminal trial.
Safe standing: Big 5 leagues would benefit for end to all-seater rules, says report
October 4 – A KPMG Football Benchmark study into the possibility of re-introducing standing-only for areas in stadia in the top divisions of England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain concludes that with the new safety measures available, the commercial and fan engagement opportunity for clubs merits a hard re-visitation of regulations in countries that still have a standing ban.
Ahmad says CAF have backed Cameroon for AFCON 2019 from the start
October 3 – Africa’s football chief Ahmad Ahmad is reported to have promised Cameroon’s president Paul Biya that CAF has “never thought about” stripping the country of hosting rights for next year’s African Cup of Nations.
MLS expansion hopefuls Tampa Bay Rowdies sold to MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays
October 3 – One of the best-known club names in US football, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who boasted English legend Rodney Marsh and Brazil’s Mirandinha on their roster in the late 1970s, have been sold to the Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball team.
Turkish media turn on UEFA and Ceferin over Euro 2024 vote defeat
By Andrew Warshaw
October 2 – With a sense of inevitability, Turkey’s media have reacted furiously to last week’s failure to land the 2024 European Championships, taking particular aim at UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
FIFA reinforce support of Sierra Leone’s Johansen despite criminal probe into her activities
October 2 – FIFA has once again stepped into the internal power struggle in Sierra Leone by calling on the government to allow national FA president, Isha Johansen (pictured left), back into the organisation’s headquarters.
Danish FA agrees 6-year pay deal with players’ union
October 2 – The Danish Football Association and the country’s players’ union have reached a new collective pay agreement which means the country will no longer have to call on part-timers for international fixtures.