Cologne hit with €60K fine by UEFA after fans outgun Arsenal security preparations
October 31 – Cologne have been fined €60,000 by UEFA after crowd trouble marred their Europa League group match at Arsenal in September.
World Football
Sweden’s Dalkurd flies flag for Kurds worldwide as it breaks into top tier
October 30 – Kurdish fans around the world may not have a national team but they are nevertheless celebrating after Swedish club Dalkurd won promotion to the country’s top division after existing for just 13 years.
Kenya postpones league fixtures as political tensions mount in country
October 30 – All Kenyan Premier League games scheduled for last weekend were postponed because of political tensions in the country, and provisionally rescheduled for November 14 even though that is earmarked as part of an international week.
Sierra Leone’s Johansen steps down from FA while corruption investigation on-going
October 26 – Embattled Sierra Leone FA president Isha Johansen has been set aside by her own executive committee while she is investigated by the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The ruling also extends to the body’s secretary general Christopher Kamara.
Egypt reject CAF invite to play in Morocco at reorganised 2018 CHAN finals
October 25 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) says it has yet to receive any official notification confirming Egypt’s withdrawal from the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Kiribati Islands fight the rising tide and prepare for ConIFA World Cup 2018
October 25 – FIFA is not the only football body to face problems with a flooded pitch. But in India FIFA could switch venue and city for its U17 World Cup semi-final between Brazil and England. In Kiribati they don’t have that luxury.
Barca’s Bartomeu says Catalan club will stay in La Liga
October 24 – Placed in the most delicate of diplomatic situations, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says the club wishes to continue playing in La Liga even though it backs Catalonia’s drive for self-determination.
Lazio Ultras graffiti Stadio Olimpico with anti-Semetic stickers
October 24 – Italian police and football authorities have opened an investigation into reports that Lazio fans left anti-Semitic stickers and graffiti, including images of famed Holocaust victim Anne Frank wearing a Roma shirt, during last weekend’s Serie A match against Cagliari.
Police investigate Belgian/Dutch battle of Bruges fan violence
October 24 – Belgian police are investigating a serious outbreak of fan violence caused by Belgian and Dutch fans which left a policeman with a broken jaw and led to 120 arrests.
UEFA hits Spartak Moscow and Roma with sanctions for racism
October 23 – UEFA has ordered the partial closure of Spartak Moscow’s stadium for their next European home match as punishment for the latest outbreak of racist behaviour by supporters, this time towards Liverpool striker Bobby Adekanye during a Youth League match last month.
Uruguayan league splinters as games called off over player image rights dispute
October 23 – Eight Uruguayan league games, including a clash between frontrunners Penarol and Defensor, were cancelled at the weekend in an ongoing dispute between players and administrators over image rights.
Olsson says leagues will fight to narrow gap between UEFA’s rich and poor
By Andrew Warshaw
October 20 – The head of the umbrella body representing European leagues went back on the offensive today over the gap between rich and poor saying it would be a “real disaster” if UEFA fails to address future competitive balance in its club tournaments.
Man Utd earn €44.5m for Europa League win, more than twice nearest rival
October 20 – Manchester United pocketed €44.5 million of the more than €423.1 million in payments from UEFA for winning the 2016/17 Europa League. 56 clubs shared in the payments that were increased from the €411.1 million distributed in 2015/16.
South Africa FA leader Danny Jordaan accused of rape
October 20 – Danny Jordaan, the public face of the 2010 South Africa World Cup and head of his national association, has sensationally been accused of rape by a well-known singer and one-time parliamentarian.
Nigerian FA agrees $17.5m budget as Pinnick says they can win World Cup
By Mark Baber
October 20 – Nigeria’s FA has agreed a budget of N6.3 billion ($17.5 million) for 2018, with the focus being on Russia 2018 following the national team’s successful qualification for the World Cup.