Man City targets US youth with SkillCity app and a round the world prize
October 3 – Manchester City has unveiled details for the final of its skills challenge app, SkillCity, targeted at 5-14 year olds.
Lukaku value jumps €56m, Mbappe up €50m, even Neymar is worth €28m more
October 2 – In what other business could your value to an employer go up by over €50 million in just three months, doing exactly the same job you were doing three months earlier? And if you are to be valued at that level, and you are an asset rather than an employee, wouldn’t the smart business person cash in on that value?
Video ref failures cast doubt over a ‘bulldozed’ debut at 2018 World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
October 2 – Football’s lawmakers could reconsider implementing video technology at next year’s World Cup following a string of contentious officiating decisions at international and club level that have called into question the system’s effectiveness.
AC Milan owner Yonghong hunts for help with debt and new investors
October 2 – The uncertainty around AC Milan’s ownership is continuing with Li Yonghong, who only took over in April, already looking for new investors to share the burden of the debt at the loss-making club.
Barca play behind closed doors on ‘independence’ day. Pique offers to quit Spanish team
October 2 – Barcelona’s league game against Las Palmas was played behind closed doors at the 11th hour at the weekend as the Catalan referendum dispute spilled over into football.
Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia and Morocco battle for 2018 CHAN hosting
October 2 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia and favourites Morocco have all stepped in to bid to stage the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) following the ruling to strip Kenya of hosting rights.
Amiens barrier collapse sparks Ligue 1 investigation into fan safety
October 2 – Five fans were injured when a barrier collapsed during a French top-flight match at the weekend. At least 29 people were hurt in the incident, which occurred in the 16th minute of Amiens’ Ligue 1 match with Lille.
FIFA taskforce lays out roadmap to peace for Sierra Leone’s warring parties
October 2 – A new time frame for ending the bitter in-fighting that has plunged Sierra Leone football into turmoil has been agreed following a controversial FIFA task force visit to the capital Freetown.
Kenyan solace: No CHAN but CECAFA awards 12-team Challenge Cup hosting rights
October 2 – Kenya has received some consolation for losing the hosting of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) by being awarded the sub-regional CECAFA 2017 Senior Challenge Cup.
Mexican stand-off: Televisa and TV Azteca renew rights but rival bidders protest
October 2 – The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) has defended its tender for the rights of the Mexican national team after a controversial extension with broadcaster Televisa and TV Azteca.
Star Beer unveiled as official partner at Chelsea
October 2 – Nigerian brewer Star Lager has added Chelsea to its growing roster of football club partners. As well as the Premier League champions, Star have deals with Arsenal, Manchester City, Juventus, Real Madrid, Paris St. Germain and Barcelona.
Perform IMG $1.4bn joint bid wins Conmebol club competition rights
By Mark Baber
September 29 – A joint IMG/Perform joint bid has won the commercial rights to South American confederation Conmebol’s continental club competitions – the Copa Liberatores, Copa Sudamericana and the Recopa – along with several other tournaments.
FIFA’s Most Wanted: Trinidad judge rules Warner extradition to US can go ahead
By Andrew Warshaw
September 29 – Jack Warner, the most wanted man of all among powerbrokers snared by US authorities in the $200 million FifaGate corruption scandal, has lost a crucial round in his hitherto successful bid to avoid extradition from his native Trinidad and Tobago.
Premier League’s big six clubs demand bigger share of overseas TV cash
September 29 – In what is perhaps a sign of the times in football’s monied circles, the Premier League’s big six clubs are demanding a larger share of the new international television deals that will start in 2019. In the current three-year cycle clubs earn an equal £39 million annually from the aggregate £3 billion deal.
Liverpool report Spartak fans’ racism at academy match…security chief blames media
September 29 – Another accusation of racial abuse by Russian fans has been made – this time by Liverpool who have made an official complaint to UEFA after claiming one of their youth players was targeted.