WTF? Puta, no problem, says CAS over Mexican chants
November 17 – FIFA has been adjudged to have wrongly viewed chanting by Mexican fans towards opposition goalkeepers at World Cup qualifiers as homophobic.
Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain pulled out of Gulf Cup in Qatar
By Andrew Warshaw
November 17 – Next month’s Gulf Cup, one of Asia’s key tournaments in the region, is hanging by a thread after Saudi Arabia and two of its allies enforcing the political and trade blockade of Qatar were withdrawn from the eight-nation competition.
Globo agrees 40-match, $2.5m a game deal with CBF for Brazil national team games
November 17 – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has signed a new TV rights deal with Globo worth $2.5 million per match for the Brazilian national team until 2022.
CECAFA Cup draw goes ahead despite move of tournament date and nation withdrawals
November 17 – The draw for the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Senior Challenge Cup was held on Thursday whilst the tournament, to be held in Kenya, has lost two of the original participants (Somalia and Sudan) and been put back until December 3-17.
Boca Juniors extend Netflix football docuseries strand into South America
By Samindra Kunti
November 11 – Argentinian giants Boca Juniors have agreed a content partnership with Netflix. The online streaming service will make a four-part documentary series which will be released in 2018.
Italy fire Ventura after failure to qualify for Russia 2018
November 17 – Italy have sacked coach Giampiero Ventura after the four-time champions failed to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1958.
FIFA to rethink World Cup seedings and ranking system after Russia 2018
November 17 – A loophole that allows national teams to boost their seedings for the World Cup by deliberately avoiding playing too many friendly matches is likely to become a thing of the past after next year’s finals in Russia.
Man Utd hit £141m for first quarter as matches ramp up the cash pile towards £585m target
By Paul Nicholson
November 17 – Manchester United are immediately showing the importance of their return to Champions League football announcing a 17% revenue rise to £141 million for the first financial quarter of 2018 ended September 30.
North Carolina exits NASL to continue D2 play in the USL for 2018 season
November 17 – The United Soccer League (USL), the second tier of US professional football announced their third expansion team in a week for the 2018 season. North Carolina FC are exiting the under pressure North American Soccer League (NASL) – stripped of its second tier status for next season by the US Soccer Federation – to continue Division 2 play in the USL.
CONCACAF revamps competitions with unveiling of three division League of Nations
November 17 – UEFA launched its Nations League last month, now CONCACAF has launched its new League of Nations national team competition. Like UEFA’s new format, CONCACAF will also be based their competition on a league structure.
Al Hilal’s Syrian striker Khribin has Urawa Red Diamonds and CL title in his sights
By Ian Griffiths
November 16 – Al Hilal striker Omar Khribin is adamant that his rich vein of goalscoring form will count for nothing when the Saudi Arabian giants take on Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in the first leg of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League final on Saturday.
Going for the jugular: Burzaco details money and meetings in FIFA bribery case
By Paul Nicholson
November 16 – The second day of testimony by Alejandro Burzaco in the FIFA bribery case brought more drama to the Brooklyn court after one of the defendants, Peruvian Manuel Burga, was accused of twice making slashing motions across his throat towards Burzaco.
Argentine Delhon takes own life after being named in FIFAgate corruption trial
By Andrew Warshaw
November 16 – The drama of the FifaGate corruption scandal trial in New York has taken a tragic turn with a one-time Argentine government official taking his own life just hours after being accused of bribery.
Israeli pressure group complains to FIFA of Palestine’s Rajoub using Nazi comparison
By Andrew Warshaw
November 16 – An Israeli-based media watchdog is urging FIFA to throw the book at the head of Palestinian football for comparing Israel to a Nazi state in the latest escalation of Middle East footballing tensions.
Japan’s DMM takes control at Sint-Truiden as Duchatelet exits Belgian football
By Samindra Kunti
November 16 – Japanese online company DMM is the new owner of Belgian topflight club Sint-Truiden. Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet (pictured) has sold his shares, ending his ties to Belgian football.