AFC Awards: Goals corers head the nominees for Player of the Year titles
October 18 – Strikers head the list of nominees for the AFC Annual Awards 2022 that will be held in Doha, October 31.
Tonoli and Zanioli sent back to EPL clubs after Italian police open betting investigation
October 13 – Two high-profile Italian players have been turfed out of their national team amid a headline-making betting probe
Sandro Tonoli and Nicolo Zanioli, who both play in the English Premier League, were sent back to their clubs from Italy’s training camp on Thursday after being notified by police of a criminal investigation into alleged gambling offences.
FA and Premier League condemn Palestine/Israel violence but stop short of taking sides
October 13 – Both the FA and Premier League have released statements condemning the ongoing and escalating violence between Israel and Palestine, as the FA resist government encouragement to take sides in the high-profile and violent dispute.
Morocco hire Spain’s World Cup winning Jorge Vilda for women’s team
October 13 – Jorge Vilda, who led Spain to the Women’s World Cup title before being fired weeks later, has quickly found work again after being appointed coach of Morocco’s women’s national team.
AFC readies for Extraordinary Congress to clear path for new club competition eco-system
October 13 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will confirm a raft of new appointments at its Extraordinary Congress which will be held virtually next Wednesday. The AFC held its annual congress in Manama in February.
AFC secures Visit Saudi as a global partner through Qatar 2023 Asian Cup to end 2024
October 13 – Saudi Arabia’s influence throughout world football seems to be growing daily. Its tourist authority Visit Saudi having announced it is the main sponsors of CAF’s new African Football League, has followed up with a major partnership with the AFC.
AFCON 2023 draw matches Senegal and Cameroon, Ivorian hosts face Nigeria
October 13 – Reigning continental champions Senegal have been drawn with powerhouse Cameroon at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals with hosts Ivory Coast facing Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau in Group A.
CAF agree VISA deal for flagship national team competitions
October 13 – The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) have signed VISA as the confederations official and exclusive payment partner for CAF Competitions.
2026 qualifiers: Argentina top group after Brazil draw with Venezuela
October 13 – Eduard Bello’s overhead kick ensured Venezuela held five-time world champions Brazil to a 1-1 draw in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Argentina maintained their perfect record with a 1-0 win against Paraguay and moved top of the table.
Leo roars in as Galatasaray’s number one digital fan
October 13 – Turkey’s Galatasaray has upped its game in terms of its innovative approach towards fans, becoming the first club in the world to officially present its first “digital fan”.
National Football Museum records summer spike in visitors
October 13 – The Manchester-based National Football Museum welcomed a record-breaking number of visitors this summer, as numbers shot up 35% from 2022, eclipsing pre-Covid figures.
Fitzdares extend Mayfair Club theme to Fulham’s Craven Cottage
October 13 – Premier League Fulham have extended their partnership with London bookmaker Fitzdares until the end of the current season on the back of a “highly successful” debut year for the partnership last season.
African Football League start-up at last lands a sponsor in Visit Saudi
October 12 – Visit Saudi has signed up as the main sponsor for the inaugural CAF/FIFA African Football League (AFL) initiative that has struggled to find support within Africa and commercially.
‘Disenfranchised’ Parish says UEFA compromised by big clubs and game needs a regulator
By Samindra Kunti in Brussels
October 12 – Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has called for a proper regulator and organiser in European football to address the structural issues in the game, including the widening financial inequality among clubs.
Saudi 2034 support gathers momentum with 90+ FAs ‘buying’ into the programme
October 12 – Reports from Saudi Arabia are that about 90 countries have so far backed the kindgom’s candidacy to host the 2034 World Cup.