USA 2 Costa Rica 2 (USA win 4-3 on pens)
June 29 – You’d hate to use the word ‘sterile’ to describe a Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final, but following the drama and passion of Guatemala versus Canada, it all felt a little flat as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Costa Rica kicked off for the right to face Guatemala in St. Louis. After 90 minutes and the drama of penalty kicks,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 29 – The channel island of Jersey has won a partial victory in its bid to become a UEFA member, in the process giving European football’s governing body another unwanted headache over its admittance policy.
By Samindra Kunti
September 29 – The former Millonarios player Jair Abonia, 53, has been shot dead in his native Colombia while coaching children. His death has caused shockwaves throughout Colombian football.
September 29 – Glasgow’s city council has given the greenlight for Celtic to build an £18 million hotel and museum complex around Celtic Park.
September 29 – German giants Bayern Munich have sacked coach Carlo Ancelotti following the club’s crushing 3-0 defeat to Paris St Germain in the Champions League.