Black and white error: BBC gaffe brands Newcastle as scum
October 3 – Television viewers were somewhat alarmed to see a description of Newcastle United as “black and white scum” during a BBC highlights programme on Sunday night.
World Football
Barca play behind closed doors on ‘independence’ day. Pique offers to quit Spanish team
October 2 – Barcelona’s league game against Las Palmas was played behind closed doors at the 11th hour at the weekend as the Catalan referendum dispute spilled over into football.
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia and Morocco battle for 2018 CHAN hosting
October 2 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia and favourites Morocco have all stepped in to bid to stage the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) following the ruling to strip Kenya of hosting rights.
Amiens barrier collapse sparks Ligue 1 investigation into fan safety
October 2 – Five fans were injured when a barrier collapsed during a French top-flight match at the weekend. At least 29 people were hurt in the incident, which occurred in the 16th minute of Amiens’ Ligue 1 match with Lille.
FIFA taskforce lays out roadmap to peace for Sierra Leone’s warring parties
October 2 – A new time frame for ending the bitter in-fighting that has plunged Sierra Leone football into turmoil has been agreed following a controversial FIFA task force visit to the capital Freetown.
Kenyan solace: No CHAN but CECAFA awards 12-team Challenge Cup hosting rights
October 2 – Kenya has received some consolation for losing the hosting of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) by being awarded the sub-regional CECAFA 2017 Senior Challenge Cup.
Perform IMG $1.4bn joint bid wins Conmebol club competition rights
By Mark Baber
September 29 – A joint IMG/Perform joint bid has won the commercial rights to South American confederation Conmebol’s continental club competitions – the Copa Liberatores, Copa Sudamericana and the Recopa – along with several other tournaments.
Island dreams: Jersey win right for full member vote on whether it can join UEFA’s club
By Andrew Warshaw
September 29 – The channel island of Jersey has won a partial victory in its bid to become a UEFA member, in the process giving European football’s governing body another unwanted headache over its admittance policy.
Gunman kills former Millonarios star Jair Abonia while coaching kids in Colombia
By Samindra Kunti
September 29 – The former Millonarios player Jair Abonia, 53, has been shot dead in his native Colombia while coaching children. His death has caused shockwaves throughout Colombian football.
Losing their marbles: Apoel ask Spurs fans to return the Elgin statues
September 28 – There are all kinds of football chants directed at away supporters – but fans of Apoel Nicosia this week opted to denounce their British colonial past when Tottenham Hotspur came to town in the Champions League.
Perugia striker Han told to stay off Italian TV or be repatriated to North Korea
September 28 – A North Korean player on Perugia’s books has been barred from appearing on Italian TV – by the authorities in his own country.
England boost women’s club game turning top tier full time and expanding league
By Paul Nicholson
September 27 – The English FA, recovering from the scandals surrounding the sacking of women’s national team coach Mark Sampson, has positive news for the women’s game with the announcement of a restructuring and expansion of the elite women’s game in the country.
Morocco ready to step in to host 2018 CHAN
September 27 – Morocco have reportedly moved into pole position to take over from Kenya as hosts of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN), the regional tournament for domestically based players.
Referees beaten by mob of fans and players in Uruguayan youth match
By Mark Baber
September 27 – Football is due to return to Uruguay this weekend after an incident at a youth match involving the beating of two referees led to the suspension of all games on Sunday.
Juve and ECA boss Agnelli hit with ban for selling tickets to mafia-linked Ultras
By Andrew Warshaw
September 26 – Having only recently been elected as head of the European Club Association, the reputation of Andrea Agnelli has taken an immediate and somewhat embarrassing turn for the worse with the Juventus boss banned for a year by Italy’s soccer federation (FIGC) for his alleged role in the sale of match tickets to the club’s ultras fans.