Sportradar delivers week-long integrity workshop to Hong Kong clubs and officials
October 27 – The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) has just completed a week-long integrity programme for players and officials across the territory.
England storm past Brazil to set up all-European U17 World Cup final with Spain
By Samindra Kunti in Kolkata
October 26 – England made history by reaching their first ever U-17 World Cup final as Rhian Brewster broke Brazilian hearts with a hat-trick in a commanding 3-1 semi-final victory. The Young Lions will face European champions Spain, who eliminated Mali with the same scoreline.
Video Ref decision delay as IFAB runs into December meeting date conflicts
By Andrew Warshaw
October 26 – Football’s lawmakers look set to postpone their annual business meeting in Abu Dhabi where the main focus of attention was to have been video technology.
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.
Qatari labour reforms of wages and ‘kafala’ win support of hard-hitting ITUC
October 26 – Under the global spotlight over its treatment of foreign workers, Qatari authorities have agreed a range of labour reforms including the introduction of a minimum wage and the abolition of the controversial kafala system under which foreign workers must get their employer’s consent to change jobs or leave the country.
beIN Sport boss Al-Khelaifi meets Swiss prosecutors over World Cup rights buy
October 26 – After being grilled for some eight hours by Swiss prosecutors, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the under-fire Qatari boss of beIN Sport Media who is at the centre of corruption allegations over World Cup TV rights, said he had nothing to hide and would willingly testify again.
Spurs set new Premier League attendance record as West Ham pack London Stadium
October 26 – Spurs broke the 10-year-old Premier League attendance record in Round 9 of fixtures last week with 80,827 fans at Wembley for their 4-1 win over Liverpool.
Trujillo kicks off FIFA-gate sentencing with 8 month jail term and $415k fine
By Paul Nicholson
October 26 – Former Guatemala Football Federation leader Hector Trujillo has been handed an eight month prison sentence and fined $415,000 by a Brooklyn federal court judge Pamela Chen. Trujillo is the first of the football officials in the FIFA corruption scandal to be sentenced in the US.
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.