Atletico’s Metropolitano to host 2019 CL final, Baku wins Europa League hosting
September 21 – Atletico Madrid’s brand new stadium has beaten off competition from Baku to win the right to stage the 2019 Champions League final.
Everton’s new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock will boost economy by £1bn
September 21 – Everton’s plans for a new ground at Bramley Moore Dock has been estimated will give the local economy a £1billion boost, according to projections from property firm CBRE which is working with the club on the stadium project.
Big money for old rope? Newcastle lead English teams by youth, but none make top 100 ranking
September 21 – A ranking of top division clubs in 31 European nations according to the average age of line-ups fielded since the start of the current season shows just 15 clubs from the Big 5 leagues in the top 100 and none from the Premier League.
Sorokin to bring Russian voice to FIFA Council, as UEFA adds EPFL to its top table
By Andrew Warshaw in Geneva
September 20 – Four months after the embarrassment of its most powerful sports supremo being blocked from keeping his place at FIFA’s top table, Russia regained its influence in world football politics today when Alexei Sorokin was elected to FIFA’s ruling Council until 2021.
FIFA open new investigation into Chelsea’s signing of foreign youth players
By Mark Baber
September 20 – FIFA have confirmed they are investigating Chelsea for third time in eight years over possible breaches of regulations around signing youth players. Chelsea deny any wrongdoing.
Ceferin calls for political help on salary caps to ‘protect the magic of football’
By Andrew Warshaw in Geneva
September 20 – UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has challenged European governments to help bring about greater competitive balance within the game, not least allowing salary caps which has long been close to the Slovenian’s heart.
Is Marin mafia? US prosecutor asks for jury to be given protection of anonymity
By Samindra Kunti
September 21 – Brooklyn federal prosecutors have asked for an anonymous and semi-sequestered jury in the upcoming trial of three former South American football executives, but Jose Maria Marin and his lawyers are challenging that motion. Marin faces trial on November 6.
Hurricane FIFA blows into the Caribbean to tear down the CFU
By Paul Nicholson
September 20 – Champagne corks will be popping in Miami, New York, and Zurich following the decision by the FIFA Ethics adjudicatory chamber to ban Gordon Derrick, the president of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and general secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA), for six years.
Kenya desperately cling on to 2018 CHAN hosting with CAF decision looming
September 20 – Kenya looks likely to be stripped of its hosting rights to CHAN 2018 at an African Football Confederation (CAF) executive meeting on Saturday following a final inspection of the proposed venues last weekend.
France 2019 targets a billion viewers as UEFA qualifying begins
By Samindra Kunti
September 21 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France to attract a billion viewers as local organisers unveiled the logo, slogan (‘Dare to Shine’) and additional scheduling details. Across Europe, qualifying got underway for the tournament with England trouncing Russia 6-0.
NASL hits US Soccer with antitrust suit as league fights for its life
September 20 – The fractious relationship between the North American Soccer League (NASL) and its national governing body, the US Soccer Federation (USSF) has boiled over with the NASL filing a federal antitrust lawsuit against the USSF in Brooklyn federal court.
LA Galaxy support H20 Claro campaign to its core Hispanic communities
September 20 – MLS side LA Galaxy have linked with the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) to promote the charity’s ‘H20 Claro’ campaign to Hispanic communities in Los Angeles.
Montagliani takes lead at FIFA Ticketing for Russia 2018 World Cup
By Paul Nicholson
September 19 – It is one of the most important positions in FIFA if done correctly, and in the past one of the most corrupted. FIFA has appointed CONCACAF president and FIFA vice president, Victor Montagliani as chairman of FIFA Ticketing AG, the FIFA subsidiary that controls and administers the global sale of tickets for the World Cup.
Burkina Faso appeal to CAS over FIFA’s ‘abuse of power’ in SA vs Senegal replay order
By Andrew Warshaw
September 19 – The saga over South Africa’s soon-to-be-replayed World Cup qualifier against Senegal rumbles on with group rivals Burkina Faso appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Russia 2018 chief Sorokin set for FIFA Council as UEFA to unveil Nations League
By Andrew Warshaw
September 19 – Alexey Sorokin (pictured), the public face of next year’s World Cup in Russia, is set to be elected on Wednesday as Europe’s last remaining representative on the FIFA Council in place of the barred Vitaly Mutko, ensuring his country retains an influential voice at FIFA’s top table.