AFC opens probe into suspicion of match-fixing at Asian Games in Incheon
October 3 – The Asian Football Confederation is looking into reports of possible match-fixing at the Asian Games.
San Antonio put stadium plans in place in race for MLS
By Ben Nicholson
October 3 – San Antonio’s MLS expansion bid campaign has slipped under the media radar in recent weeks. Las Vegas’ clamor for city backing and Sacramento’s joy at their on-field success and off-field visits from MLS reps have kept the formerly favored San Antonio bid relatively underrepresented. Perhaps unjustly as the bid appears to tick the appropriate boxes.
Lottery firm FDJ opens France 2016 Euro sponsorship roster
October 3 – UEFA have announced FDJ (Française des Jeux), a lottery with 33,000 points of sale in 12,000 towns and villages in France, as their first main national sponsor for the expanded Euro 2016 finals.
UEFA set to sanction CL clubs as crowd disturbances flare
October 3 – UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against a number of Champions League clubs following crowd disturbances during this week’s series of matches. The games at Arsenal, Basle and Anderlecht are all being probed with sanctions to be announced on October16.
Xavi and Cruyff link up for Cruyff Court in Spain
October 2 – The 188th Cryuff Court will open next week in Terrassa, Spain, the result of donations from the UEFA Charity Award, Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández, and local partner CaixaBank.
Could Wonga-less Wonga do a runner on Newcastle United?
By Mark Baber
October 2 – News that payday lender and Newcastle United sponsor Wonga will be writing off £220 million of debt owed by 330,000 customers gives additional credibility to recent speculation the company is reconsidering its 4-year sponsorship of the Premier League club in light of falling profits and increasing regulation in its home market.
Pinnick accused of vote buying while Giwa maintains he is Nigeria’s president
By Mark Baber
October 2 – Whilst many stakeholders have supported Tuesday’s election of Amaju Pinnick as the new Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) president in the hope he will bring stability to Nigeria’s conflict-riven football administration, one of the losing candidates has claimed the election was bought and Chris Giwa has reiterated his message that it is he who remains the legitimate NFF President.
Pressure builds on Russians as Hulk calls for end to racial hatred
By Andrew Warshaw
October 2 – Brazilian World Cup star Hulk has given more details of the racist taunts he suffered last weekend when playing for Zenit St. Petersburg against Spartak Moscow.
Women turn threat into action as 2015 World Cup turf war lawsuit is filed
By Andrew Warshaw
October 2 – The ongoing spat over the use of artificial turf at next year’s women’s world cup in Canada has reached crisis point with a group of leading players deciding to sue FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association claiming gender discrimination.
Qataris move ahead with ramp up of 2022 stadium build
By Paul Nicholson
October 2 – With the world watching out for the safety and welfare of the migrant labour, construction of stadia for the Qatar 2022 World Cup has begun in earnest with the Supreme Committee for delivery and Legacy revealing that it is at different stages of build on five stadiums.
Gambia cleared to return to international play after 2-year hiatus
October 2 – The Gambia’s two-year suspension for deliberately falsifying players’ ages has been lifted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following fresh elections that saw former Gambian sports minister Modou Lamin Kabba Bajo voted in as president of the Gambia Football Federation (GFF).
Racism and fireworks mar another round of Russian football
October 1 – Russian football showcased another weekend of crowd trouble after reports that Brazilian star Hulk was subjected to monkey chants in a Russian Premier League game, and fans at Rubin Kazan’s new stadium set fire to part of the stadium after a makeshift firework display.
AFC chief Salman declares strong support for Blatter presidency
By Andrew Warshaw
October 1 – In a strong message of support that will come as no surprise to seasoned observers of allegiances within FIFA’s hierarchy, the head of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is backing Sepp Blatter’s bid for a fifth term of office.
Greeks suspend fixtures to respect fan killed in football violence
October 1 – Greek football, beset by financial troubles and hooliganism, has suffered another setback after this coming weekend’s entire programme was suspended by the government, along with all other team sports, as a mark of respect following the death of a fan at a third division game.
Serbian calls for new rules to allow private money into club ownership
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
October 1 – Zvezdan Terzic (pictured), the general secretary of Red Star Belgrade, has called for an amendment to the country’s sports bill that would facilitate the potential privatisation of Serbian football clubs.