Fireworks kill spectator of Indonesia-Fiji friendly
September 4 – A firework fired at the end of a friendly match between Indonesia and Fiji on Saturday in Bekasi, West Java, killed a spectator.
Belgium cut player bonuses as Red Devils secure Russia 2018 finals spot
By Samindra Kunti
September 4 – The Belgian national team’s bonuses have been scaled down ahead of the 2018 World Cup after the Belgian FA, the KBVB, and the players reached a mutual agreement.
Greece’s Pas Giannina breaks down social barriers with refugee initiatives
September 4 – Today Olympiacos FC is hosting a conference in partnership with Harvard University promoting football’s social responsibility, particularly in relation to refugees and other vulnerable groups. The Greek giants aren’t the only club in the country who believe that football has a social duty and ability to be a great equalizer.
Subbuteo licenses Champions League marks as federation schedules Euro club competition
September 4 – Subbuteo is back and now with a European dimension with UEFA having licensed a Champions League edition of the table football game with Spanish owners Eleven Force. Meanwhile Subbuteo’s world body – Fédération Internationale de Sport Football de Table (FISTF) – has announced it will be staging its own 2017 European Champions League of Table Football on October 28 – 29 in Rochefort, Belgium.
Transfer window record closes with records broken, some hearts as well
By Andrew Warshaw
September 1 – The window is closed, the brinkmanship is over and the domino effect has run its course. The result of which is that the English Premier League once again smashed its own summer transfer record with a total spend of more than £1.4 billion.
Transfer spending by numbers. How football has become more than a game
By Paul Nicholson
September 1 – The just closed record transfer window means that gross spending by Premier League clubs has surpassed £10 billion since the first transfer window in January 2003. And according to industry analysts, clubs are not spending above their means – ridiculous as some of the amounts paid appear.
India warming up to its football revolution with sell-out U17 World Cup
By Samindra Kunti
September 1 – In October India will host their first major international tournament, the U-17 World Cup. Six host cities will welcome 24 teams, including England and debutants New Caledonia. In an interview with Insideworldfootball, tournament director Javier Ceppi discusses the build-up and preparations as local organisers seek to cross the finish line in time for the opening game between the hosts and the United States of America on October 6.
Paraguay ready to join Argentina/Uruguay 2030 bid. Chile may come too
September 1 – Paraguay says it wants to definitely join Argentina and Uruguay in a regional bid to host the centenary World Cup in 2030. And Chile may come on board too.
AFC qualifiers go down to the wire with Chinese win keeping their hopes alive
September 1 – China kept their Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying hopes alive after a 1-0 home win over Uzbekistan in Wuhan. Asian World Cup qualifying is going down to the wire with only Iran and Japan having secured places with a final round of fixtures to be played this weekend.
Real Madrid test Facebook’s latest Watch platform with behind-the-scenes doco series
September 1 – Real Madrid has teamed up with GoPro to produce an eight-part behind the scenes documentary – Hala Madrid – that will broadcast on Facebook’s new Watch video platform in the US.
Chinese change Inter Milan ‘culture’ bringing in bwin as first betting partner
By Mark Baber
September 1 – Inter Milan’s long refusal to get entangled with betting companies is now at an end as the Chinese-owned club has signed online bookmaker bwin as its first official betting partner.
Time running out for Villar as football marches on with Spain vs Italy WC qualifier
September 1 – One key figure will conspicuous by his absence when Spain take on Italy in the mother of all World Cup qualifiers on Saturday in Madrid.
Aston Villa drive to take the pain out of matchday travel for fans
September 1 – English Championship club Aston Villa, who have geared up for a promotion push back to the Premier League after a season in the second tier, have introduced a new dedicated travel service to get season ticket holders to Villa Park.
Forgotten Chapecoense families waiting for answers on death flight and compensation
August 31 – Eight months after the Chapecoense air disaster that shocked the football world, the families of many of those who lost their lives say they have been abandoned both by the club and the media.
Caught in a Bear trap. WADA forced to scrap ADAMS upgrade and take $1.35m hit
By David Owen
August 31 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has been forced to scrap original plans for a new version of its ADAMS data management system at considerable expense.