India’s I-League qualifiers open new season in bio-secured Kolkata venues
October 9 – Six months after the coronavirus pandemic halted sports in India, the I-League qualifiers got the 2020-2021football season under way on Thursday.
Wenger suggests slate of rule changes to improve up the game
October 9 – With the rules of football under more scrutiny than ever – offside, handball, VAR etc – FIFA’s recently appointed Head of Global Development, Arsene Wenger, has come up with some forward-looking ideas he believes will improve the game.
Black coaches launch anti-racism lobby group to bring change to English game
October 9 – A new organisation entitled Football’s Black Coalition (FBC), has been launched by black coaches in the UK to lobby governing bodies to combat racism in the game.
England vs Scotland U19s abandoned mid-match after positive covid case identified
October 9 – An under-19 friendly between England and Scotland on Thursday was abandoned during the first half after the visitors’ head coach Billy Stark tested positive for Covid-19.
Police raid DFB offices across Germany in tax fraud probe
October 8 – German prosecutors have searched several offices of the German Football Association (DFB) in the latest investigation into corruption, this time over the conduct of six former and current DFB bosses suspected of serious tax evasion.
Women in Football report finds gender discrimination still dominates workplace
October 8 – A report by Women In Football has found that 66% of women have experienced gender discrimination in football.
Transfer business is still the big money playground but Covid has slowed player inflation
October 8 – The biggest impact the Covid pandemic has had on football’s transfer market is to slow down the inflation of players’ prices that in the 2019 window, where like-for-like player transfer price inflation was running at 15%.
Gianni jets into Qatar for a stadium visit, game of 7-a-side and a powwow with the Emir
October 8 – Gianni Infantino praised Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 World Cup amid the difficulty of navigating the coronavirus pandemic after a visit to the Al Bayt stadium and a meeting with the Emir.
D-day looms for Barca’s Bartomeu as no-confidence motion forces January vote
October 8 – January 9 is the date being reported in Spain that could spell the end of the reign of Barcelona supremo Josep Maria Bartomeu in a no confidence vote.
Spain and Portugal confirm joint bid for 2030 World Cup hosting
October 8 – On the day they played each other in an Iberian friendly, Spain and Portugal announced Wednesday they were pushing ahead with a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup.
Wenger’s global football talent stock take begins with 200+ FIFA members signing up
October 8 – More than 200 national association members of FIFA have signed up for the Arsene Wenger-led Talent Development Programme.
Madagascar FA boss Rabekoto goes missing with €25m
October 8 – The president of Madagascar’s football federation, Raoul Rabekoto, is reportedly still missing and under an international arrest warrant for allegedly embezzling €25 million.
English football unites to lobby government on the positives of ending the fan ban
October 7 – English football’s governing bodies have joined forces in an attempt to force the government to reverse its decision to put plans on hold to allow fans back into stadiums in a safe and socially distanced manner.
TTFA will lose World Cup spot if it isn’t compliant by Dec 18, but Friday is the real deadline
By Paul Nicholson
October 7 – The Trinidad and Tobago FA have been given a deadline of December 18 by FIFA to get their suspension lifted or face exclusion from the Qatar 2022 World Cup Qualifiers. The TTFA has been given the same deadline for the 2021 Gold Cup.
Serie A postpones new money meeting as venture capitalists refine offers
October 7 – Serie A has once again postponed a meeting to assess bids by private equity funds for a stake in the league’s broadcasting rights as the bidding war between the interested parties intensifies.