FBI probe former CIA agent Qatar used to spy on 2022 bid rivals
October 28 – Next month’s World Cup in Qatar has been rocked by further allegations of underhand methods used to win the vote to stage the event 12 years ago.
Italian prosecutors probe Juve and Agnelli for false accounting on player trading
October 28 – Already having suffered the humiliation of being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage, Juventus are under more pressure off the field with fresh allegations of financial shenanigans.
Copa Libertadores: Flamengo start as favourites in Ecuador against Athletico Paranaense
October 28 – Flamengo will be sky-high favourites to win the Copa Libertadores for the second time in three years, taking on Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Athletico Paranaense in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in Saturday’s final.
Arsenal’s on-loan Pablo Marí stabbed in Milan
October 28 – A Spanish player on loan from Arsenal was among those injured in a stabbing attack in a supermarket near Milan on Thursday in which one person died.
PSV best a weary looking Arsenal
By Samindra Kunti in Eindhoven
October 28 – Arsenal endured a torrid night to slump to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of their hosts PSV Eindhoven. The London club will now need a result in their final Europa League group game to avoid two extra fixtures in winter.
Australian squad turns up pressure on Qataris to speed up reform with 16-player video message
October 27 – Australia’s World Cup squad are the latest country to take aim at Qatar’s human rights record, issuing a three-minute video focussing on treatment of foreign workers and restrictions on the LGBTQI+ community.
CAF formally puts AFCON 2025 back out to tender after stripping Guinea of hosting
October 27 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has re-opened the bidding process for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after recently stripping Guinea of the tournament hosting rights.
Covid tests will not be required to enter Qatar for World Cup
October 27 – Qatar is set to drop mandatory pre-arrival Covid-19 tests for thousands of visitors from across the globe attending the World Cup.
Peace in our time: Qatar’s beIN signs exclusive ad sales deal with Saudi’s SMC
October 27 – Proof that all is love in the Qatari/Saudi Arabian media world has been shown again with the announcement that beIN Media Group has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Riyadh-based media sales group SMC.
How the mighty hath fallen: Super League ‘giants’ fail to make Champions League cut
October 27 – In a week when talk of a much-maligned European Super League once again raised its ugly head, five of the clubs that signed up for the original concept have failed to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League – including two of the three big guns who are determined to make sure the breakaway project still goes ahead.
VAR pushes Spurs and Conte to the limit; Super League rebels Barca and Juve fail again
By Samindra Kunti in London
October 27 – Tottenham got twice the drama at the end of the 90 minutes to draw 1-1 with Sporting Lisbon, leaving group D wide open until next’s week final round of matches. In injury time, Harry Kane had smashed home a winner from close range before VAR chalked off his 22nd Champions League goal.
Starling banks on growth of Southampton Women with shirt sponsorship
October 27 – Starling Bank has signed on as the official principal partner for Southampton Women’s team for the 2022-2023 season.
AFC builds core MA competencies with new edition of management course
October 27 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is staging its latest edition of the Football Management Certificate (FMC), an online programme aimed at educating the next generation of football officials on the continent.
Wembley to host England vs Brazil Women’s Finalissima in 2023
October 26 – Wembley will host the second Finalissima next year – the newly created match-up between the national champions of UEFA and Conmebol – but this time it will be the women’s edition.
Ukraine FA calls for Russian FA ban over plan to integrate clubs in occupied territory
October 26 – The Ukrainian Football Association has called on FIFA and UEFA to extend their ban on Russia to include its national federation because of the likely integration of Ukrainian clubs based in the occupied territories into the Russian league.