Esquivel pleads guilty and pledges to hand over $16m
November 11 – Former Venezuela FA chief Rafael Esquivel pleaded guilty Thursday as anticipated to multiple charges resulting from the global football corruption scandal.
Webb sentencing delayed again, this time until May 2017
November 11 – Former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb has succeeded in having his sentencing delayed for a third time. Webb, who has pleaded guilty in the FIFA corruption cases brought by the US Department, will now be sentenced by a US federal court judge on May 11 next year.
Barca close in on new sponsor deal but keep Qatar Airways in the mix
November 11 – Rumours have intensified that Barcelona are close to announcing a new main sponsor who will replace Qatar Airways on the front of the club’s shirt. The deal is expected to be announced next month, but the identity of the new sponsor is still a secret.
Italian federation gets on board with train operator Trenitalia
November 12 – The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has partnered with the country’s leading train operator Trenitalia in an official sponsorship that will see the train operator transport all national teams to home matches.
World Cup 2026: Will Trump’s wall keep Mexico off the joint-hosting ticket?
By Andrew Warshaw
November 10 – If newly elected US President Donald Trump carries out his threat to build a wall along the border with Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants, what impact, if any, would it have on the bid to the stage the 2026 World Cup?
Northern Irish bow to FIFA warning and drop ‘poppy’ shirt for black armbands
November 10 – Northern Ireland players will wear plain black armbands during Friday night’s World Cup qualifying match against Azerbaijan to mark Armistice Day – but not the poppy symbol that has caused so much controversy.
NY Cosmos and Indy Eleven set for NASL final as new teams lined up for 2017
By Paul Nicholson
November 10 – This weekend the North American Soccer League (NASL), the second tier of US professional football, completes its 2016 season with the Championship Final between New York Cosmos and Indy Eleven at the Belson Stadium at St John’s University in Queens, New York.
Samoura orders KPL to drop court case against Kenyan federation
November 10 – FIFA has ordered the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) to withdraw an injunction filed against Football Kenya Federation (FKF) in the latest twist to a bitter domestic between the two bodies over the management and control of the domestic game.
‘Arson attack‘ on refereeing chief brings Greek football to grinding halt
By Matt Scott
November 10 – Greek football’s terminal descent into chaos was complete on Wednesday when the Hellenic Football Federation (HFF) announced league football in the country was to be suspended.
Twitter ranking: Chelsea pick up pace as Man Utd edge Arsenal to top table
November 10 – There were less tweets this week across the Premier League clubs – down from 4,914 to 4775. But there were more new followers across the league, up to 215,00 from 202,766 last week.
England and Scotland paired in same group for 2017 Women’s Euros
By Samindra Kunti
November 10 – England and Scotland will meet in their opening Women’s Euro 2017 game after they were paired together in Group D at the draw ceremony in Rotterdam.
FIFA ethics investigators recommend life ban for Honduras’ Callejas
November 10 – FIFA’s ethics investigators have recommended a life ban from football for the former president of Honduras, Rafael Callejas, for his part in the ongoing corruption scandal which continues to plague world football’s governing body.
Al-Thawadi bullish on Qatar 2022 hosting promising ‘fun’ and culture
By Andrew Warshaw
November 9 – The chief organiser of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has dismissed any suggestion of the Gulf state being stripped of host status by saying it is a “done deal.”
AFC stars line-up for final selection for Player of the Year Awards
November 9 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has unveiled the final three nominees for this year’s women’s and men’s AFC Player of the Year Awards. China leads the list with male and female nominees, while Australia has two women players nominated in the final three.
Terrorist threat forces Albania to move Israeli 2018 qualifier to safer venue
November 9 – Israel has warned fans not to attend the upcoming World Cup qualifier in Albania even though the match has been relocated to a different part of the country because of a planned Islamic State terrorist attack.