Man City cash-in with iTrader financial platform deal
November 9 – Manchester City has added financial trading platform iTrader.com as a sponsor partner for Europe, the Middle East and Africa in what the club is calling a multi-year deal.
Spurs extend China activity with Jaguar and Soong Ching Ling Foundation
November 9 – Premier League Tottenham Hotspur have expanded their charitable activity in China with Jaguar Land Rover China with the addition of a hook-up with the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation. The new partnership is seeking to strengthen ties between British and Chinese children through a shared passion for football.
Neymar back in Spanish court as shortchanged TPO investors chase missing transfer cash
November 8 – A Spanish judge has re-opened the case against Brazilian star Neymar and his father to stand trial on fraud charges relating to his 2013 move to Barcelona from Santos.
AFC swoops on four Laos players at Solidarity Cup for suspected match-fixing
November 8 – With the AFC Solidarity Cup in full swing in Malaysia the AFC Disciplinary Committee has stepped in and suspended four Laos players on suspicion of match-fixing.
India stumble over league reform as Kolkata and Goa clubs argue
By Andrew Warshaw
November 8 – The much debated merger between India’s two main leagues may have to be delayed beyond next year as the country struggles to stamp its mark on the global game.
CEO Bolingbroke exits with de Boer as Inter bring in Chinese chief Jun to stop rot
November 8 – The crisis at Inter Milan, one of Europe’s most iconic clubs, has gone from bad to worse with chief executive Michael Bolingbroke resigning and following sacked coach Frank de Boer out of the club.
Qatar 2022 puts emphasis on future with ‘sustainable’ build quality mark
November 8 – Qatar is putting sustainability at the top of its stadium development agenda for the 2022 World Cup and FIFA has endorsed the use of Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) to make sure that happens.
Home-grown players hit record lows in clubs across Europe, says report
November 8 – Home-grown players continue to be on the decline across Europe while foreign imports have reached a new high. That is the latest sobering conclusion issued by the CIES Football Observatory on the profile of players active in 31 top European leagues.
Hull City attendance slumps as top 8 clubs all report sell outs
November 8 – Hull City became the first Premier League side to dip below 70% capacity for a home league game this season. With just 69.44% of its KCOM stadium full, the 7,818 unfilled seats accounted for just over half the unfilled League seat total of 15,128. Across the league 366,760 seats were filled.
A green stadium for the Green Devils
By David Owen
November 8 – A fifth-tier English football club has chosen a design by the celebrated Zaha Hadid Architects for its new stadium.
Ajax send beers for East Kilbride’s record setting celebration
November 8 – A tiny Scottish lower-league side are celebrating matching the world record of 27 straight wins – with the help of Dutch giants Ajax who still hold the official record of one game fewer.
Zambia’s Bwalya aims for FIFA Council despite accusations of taking bribes
By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – Zambia’s FA is endorsing its former president Kalusha Bwalya (pictured) to run for a FIFA Council position next spring even though he is alleged to have accepted bribes from disgraced former FIFA vice-president Mohammed Bin Hammam.
AFC bans North Korean U16 goalie and coach for deliberately losing qualifier
November 7 – A North Korean goalkeeper who deliberately conceded a goal has been banned for a year and is out of next October’s Under-17 World Cup for bringing the game into disrepute.
India’s Bengalaru make history but Iraq’s Air Force Club take the AFC Cup title
By Samindra Kunti
November 7 – In a historic AFC Cup final Iraq won their first regional club championship at the third time of asking when Hammadi Ahmed scored the decisive goal for Iraq’s Air Force Club to overcome India’s Bengaluru FC in Doha.
James Dostoyevsky: Football is dead
I have been watching social events, political mayhem, financial meltdowns and cultural phenomena for too many years not to understand and accept how very important every human interaction is to, well, at least SOMEbody.