IFAB rules out 25 min halftime, but 5 subs rolls on
November 26 – Football’s lawmakers have rejected a proposal to increase halftime breaks to 25 minutes to provide the kind of entertainment that exists in US sports.
Conmebol scrap away goals rule with immediate effect
November 26 – Following in the footsteps of European governing body UEFA, Conmebol will scrap the away goals rule from its competitions with the aim of introducing greater sporting ‘justice’.
AFC complete two-year media sale of key rights to Sky New Zealand
November 26 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has made Sky Network Television Limited (Sky) as their media partner in New Zealand in a two-year deal from 2021 to 2022 for rights including the Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar, the Women’s Asian Cup India 2022, and the AFC Champions League.
The iron fist of democracy. English football heads towards government-imposed regulator
November 25 – English football has taken a step closer to being regulated by a government-backed but independent overseer whose powers could include taking control of failing clubs from their owners.
Liverpool and France tap in to the power of African playing talent, finds report
November 25 – Africa has for some time been a provider of playing talent to clubs outside the continent. With the Africa Cup of Nations kicking off in Cameroon in January next year, a report by the KPMG Football Benchmark team examines how significant their contribution has been.
Qataris arrest Norwegian TV journos for filming migrant labour camp
By Samindra Kunti
November 25 – Qatar detained Norwegian journalists Halvor Ekeland and Lokman Ghorbani from state television NRK for “trespassing” after they filmed a migrant labour camp. After 30 hours, the pair were released, but the incident has sparked a diplomatic row between Norway and the World Cup hosts.
Aussie FA posts $11m surplus as women drive their newly reformed world
November 25 – Football Australia’s AGM this week marked a significant watershed moment for the association that has been through a difficult governance review, had to navigate through internal divisions and achieve a secure financial footing that was not helped by the global pandemic.
SIGA gets SIRVS up and running with first audit of international federation
November 25 – The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) have completed the first certification of a sports federation via its SIRVS audit and rating system – SIGA Independent Rating and Verification System.
Benzema found guilty of sex-tape blackmail and handed 1-year suspended jail term
November 25 – France and Real Madrid star striker Karim Benzema (pictured) has been found guilty of conspiring to blackmail a fellow French footballer with a sex tape. He has been sentenced to a one-year suspended jail term and fined.
FIFA set Club World Cup 2021 draw for next week, competition dates to come
November 25 – With Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal becoming the sixth team qualified for the Club World Cup UAE 2021 and Conmebol’s representative to be decided by the Copa Libertadores final this weekend, FIFA have announced the draw will take place in Zurich on Monday, 29 November 2021.
AS Monaco joins crypto gold rush with Socios.com fan token
November 25 – AS Monaco is the latest of Europe’s leading Big 5 league clubs to announce it will launch a fan token via Socios.com on the Chiliz blockchain.
Bayern upgrade Supponor deal to next gen virtual ad solution
November 25 – Virtual advertising specialist Supponor has extended its deal with Bayern Munich which will see the club transition to Supponor AIR, the company’s next generation virtual ad solution.
European Parliament looks to nail breakaway European Super League coffin shut
By Andrew Warshaw
November 25 – The European Parliament has voted to oppose breakaway sports competitions following football’s aborted Super League project that collapsed within just 48 hours of its launch in April amidst a backlash from fans and governments.
FIFA’s biennial World Cup would cost wider world game €8bn in lost revenue, finds report
November 24 – FIFA’s biennial World Cup revolution could cost domestic leagues and European governing body UEFA around €8 billion per season in lost TV rights and commercial revenues, according to a report commissioned by the leagues from KPMG and FTI’s Delta Partners.
Spurs losses near £150m over two covid-hit seasons
By David Owen
November 24 – Tottenham Hotspur, not so long ago the most profitable club in the Premier League, have reported another substantial loss for football’s second heavily covid-19-impacted season.