Mexico mourns loss of women’s football pioneer Marbella Ibarra
October 19 – Mexican football is mourning the loss of one the pioneers of the women’s game in the country following the murder of Marbella Ibarra.
UEFA bans Rubin Kazan from European club comps for breaking FFP rules, again
October 19 – UEFA’s get-tough policy on financial fair play has snared one of Russia’s best-known clubs, with Rubin Kazan banned for a season after they were found to have broken spending rules.
Alisports secures Happy Valley shirt for WESG qualifier as it drives esports profile
October 19 – Alisports, the sports arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, has signed a deal with Happy Valley (HVAA), a Hong Kong first division club, to promote Alisports’ esports World Electronic Sports Games (WESG) event.
Khan pulls out of £600m Wembley deal citing lack of support
By Andrew Warshaw
October 18 – Would it have been a national disgrace or was it vital for developing the country’s grass-roots game? The jury was out but now it makes no difference after the English Football Association’s proposed £600 million sale of Wembley stadium to Pakistani-American billionaire Shahid Khan unexpectedly fell through on Wednesday when the owner of Premier League Fulham and the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team suddenly withdrew his offer.
Iran’s hardline prosecutor slams doors on Iranian women attending football
October 18 – Any hopes that Iran might permanently relax its ban on women attending football matches have been well and truly dashed, with the country’s prosecutor general saying such a move would “lead to sin”.
Former Barca boss Rosell’s trial date set for 2019 in €20m money laundering case
October 18 – Spanish prosecutors are reported to have set a February trial date for former Barcelona strongman Sandro Rosell who is accused of money laundering related to television rights and sponsorship of the Brazilian national football team.
Same old Arsenal, always unaccountable? Fans express concern over financials
October 18 – Arsenal is transitioning from Arsene Wenger to Unai Emery, and from being a publicly traded company to a privately owned football club. As the changes take place so the financial transparency and supporter interaction with the club is taking a new shape.
Caught between the Hard Rock and Real Madrid anger. LaLiga’s US game has issues
October 18 – The dispute over plans to play a La Liga fixture in the USA in January has taken yet another twist with Real Madrid officially protesting the move by writing to Spain’s football federation.
A question of trust. SIGA’s New York session sends message to sports they must do more
October 18 – A SIGA Special Session in New York highlighted the increasing importance of good governance to world sport’s major sponsors who sent a clear message that if they are to spend big dollars they should be seen by rights holders as stakeholders and not just cash cows.
Uruguayans want former boss Valdez removed from FIFA Council
October 18 – With the threat of further scandal hanging over their confederation, Uruguayan clubs have voted in favour of removing their former FA president Wilmar Valdez (pictured) from his FIFA Council role, a move that will be taken forward to Friday’s Conmebol congress for formal action by member federations.
Premier League focused on TV execs to replace Scudamore
October 18 – It is a sign of how far the football business has progressed to being part of the entertainment business that senior executives from the BBC and ITV have been shortlisted as the frontrunners to replace Richard Scudamore as chief executive of the Premier League, according to Sky.
Man City go cashless with tappit for fan events in UK and Asia
October 18 – Manchester City have agreed a deal with cashless experts tappit, who becomes the Club’s Official Events Cashless Payments Partner.
Platini sues FIFA for ‘criminal conspiracy’ over $2m payment that brought him down
By Andrew Warshaw
October 17 – His critics may describe his actions as verging on paranoia but banned former UEFA chief Michel Platini remains steadfast in his attempt to clear his name and prove he was the victim of a plot engineered by former FIFA officials.
Iran lets women in to Azadi Stadium to watch Bolivia friendly
By Samindra Kunti
October 17 – In a rare move Iran allowed women to attend Team Meli’s friendly with Bolivia on Tuesday in Tehran. Women have been banned from watching football in the country since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Madagascar win qualifies them for their first AFCON finals
October 17 – Madagascar have qualified for their maiden African Cup of Nations finals after defeating Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in Vontovorona. They will be joined in Group A by Senegal and north African powerhouses Egypt and Tunisia for the 2019 finals.