AC Milan divorce Adidas after 20 years, Puma poised to take over kit deal
October 26 – After almost 20 years AC Milan have agreed with Adidas to end their technical sponsorship deal early at the end of the 2017/18 season.
Paying lipservice? For FIFA equality is just a word
US striker Megan Rapinoe’s claim that FIFA is “old, male and stale” may have been a comment triggered by disbelief over FIFA’s final nominations for its top female player award, but the wider context does bear closer examination. A look at the top of the FIFA hierarchy shows that half its confederation presidents do not have competing national women’s senior teams.
Palestinian pressure group keeps spotlight on FIFA over Israeli issues
By Andrew Warshaw
October 25 – A pro-Palestinian campaign group has re-ignited Middle East tensions by writing to FIFA ahead of this week’s Council session protesting at Israel’s alleged continuing obstructive conduct in the region.
Busacca praises female refs but says VAR is still a work in progress
By Samindra Kunti in Kolkata
October 25 – FIFA’s head of referees Massimo Busacca has praised the steps female referees have taken at the U-17 World Cup in India. He reiterated that VAR is a work in progress.
North American poll confirms public appetite for hosting 2026 World Cup
October 25 – More than three-quarters of North Americans polled in a survey broadly support plans to host the 2026 World Cup.
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).
Premier League clubs scrap plans to break parity and give more TV cash to big six
October 25 – Proposals to give a greater share of overseas television revenue to the Premier League’s so-called big six from 2019 has been ditched after no progress was made over the controversial plan.
Real Madrid top player training rankings, Man Utd 5th, Man City nowhere to be seen
October 25 – Real Madrid and Barcelona top the ranking of Big-5 clubs that have trained the most footballers playing in the Big-5 European leagues on October 1. Manchester United rank 5th while PSG come in at 14th.
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.
Tebas: ‘We do not want to be colonisers’
By David Owen
October 24 – He may have kept his audience waiting at this week’s Sportel sports media and marketing convention in Monaco, but La Liga President Javier Tebas did not disappoint. Interviewed onstage for 30 minutes, as ever in his native Spanish, the man who has emerged as probably the most colourful and consistently interesting league boss in the business in recent years, since La Liga moved belatedly to a collective selling model for its broadcasting rights,
Ronaldo storms his way to Best player award as Celtic bad boys grab fans accolade
By Andrew Warshaw
October 24 – Cristiano Ronaldo was duly crowned the world’s best player for the second year running at FIFA’s Best Awards gala on Monday but that didn’t tell the whole story.
FIFA adamant that unknown Castellanos was a legitimate choice as Best nominee
By Andrew Warshaw
October 24 – FIFA have hit back at claims that it showed scant regard for the status of women’s football by naming little-known teenage striker Deyna Castellanos on its female player-of-the-year shortlist for Monday’s ceremony in London.
Thailand steps-up to host Malaysia vs North Korea AFC qualifier double header
October 24 – After three delays, a venue has finally been found for the neutral ground double header Asian Cup qualifiers between Malaysia and North Korea later this month.
Brazil vs England U17 semi-final moved after Guwahati pitch declared unplayable
By Samindra Kunti in Kolkata
October 24 – FIFA shifted the U-17 World Cup semi-final between England and Brazil from Guwahati to Kolkata on Monday. Torrential rainfall had reduced the quarter-final between Mali and Ghana to a mud fight at the weekend.
Nations League set to boost European international football by €650m, says UEFA
By David Owen
October 24 – The new UEFA Nations League is set to enhance the value of European international football matches, according to Guy-Laurent Epstein, the European football body’s marketing director.