Adidas adds another six years to Belgian kit sponsorship
September 7 – FIFA’s top ranked national team Belgium have renewed their kit partnership with Adidas, taking them through to 2026.
Liverpool becomes Cadbury’s fifth Premier League club 3-year global deal
September 7 – Chocolate brand Cadbury has added a fourth Premier League club to its sponsorship roster, becoming Liverpool’s first Official Global Chocolate Partner.
Sport Integrity Week webinar programme released. Registration still open for Monday start
October 4 – SIGA has released the programme for its first Sport Integrity Week, taking place next week September 7 to 11.
Premier League dumps £500m+ PPTV deal as China’s football money dries up
By Andrew Warshaw
September 4 – In a move that took most of the footballing world by surprise, the English Premier League has pulled the plug on its overseas television deal with Chinese broadcaster PPTV – with immediate effect and after just one season.
Kick It Out report finds discrimination cases have jumped 42%
September 4 – Reports of discrimination across all levels of professional football in England and Wales rose by an alarming 42% last season despite the campaign being halted for months due to Covid-19.
East Bengal secure new money and become favourite to win ISL franchise
By Samindra Kunti
September 4 – In a dramatic few weeks for Indian football, East Bengal look set to become the 11th franchise in the 2020/21 ISL season. The Kolkata giants have secured a new investor in the club, Shree Cement, which could propel them towards ISL entry as organisers ISDL issued invitations to bid for a new franchise.
OL’s Aulas demands €117.7m from Ligue 1 for ending 2019/20 season early
September 4 – The row over the premature ending of France’s 2019/20 Ligue 1 season is rumbling on with Olympique Lyonnais (OL) demanding €117.7 million in compensation.
Coronavirus: Neymar positive test threatens PSG vs Lens fixture
September 4 – The new French season has been plunged into further chaos after defending champions Paris St Germain announced three more positive cases of COVID-19 in their squad, 24 hours after unconfirmed reports that Brazilian superstar Neymar was one of them following a holiday in Ibiza.
Bundesliga takes small steps towards small crowds under close government scrutiny
September 4 – Germany’s professional clubs want to welcome back a limited number of fans in the new Bundesliga season, but league boss Christian Seifert has admitted that it will be “a demanding and difficult season.”
Corinthians engineer stadium debt relief with 20-year Neo Química naming rights deal
September 4 – Brazil’s Corinthians have taken a significant step towards paying off the $98 million debt of its stadium development with a the signing of a naming rights deal.
From war camp to national symbol: Stadium Mogadishu hosts first youth tournament
September 4 – Somalia’s Stadium Mogadishu has taken another step forward with the return of competitive football after 16 years, during most of which time it was used as a military camp.
Player welfare: Premier League clubs vote against 5 subs rule for second time
September 4 – In contrast to elsewhere in Europe, Premier League clubs have again voted against using five substitutes instead of three in domestic matches next season despite a second attempt by the big boys to persuade the smaller clubs to accept the change.
Asian Cup Champions Qatar to guest at Gold Cup in US
By Paul Nicholson
September 3 – Qatar will play as a guest nation in the next two editions of the Gold Cup in the US , the blue riband national team event for Concacaf’s member countries, in 2021 and 2023. The Asian Cup Champions are also scheduled to guest at Conmebol’s Copa America in 2021 as they prepare for their own hosting of the 2022 World Cup.
Concacaf expands its Gold Cup with new knock-out round and updated draw structure
By Paul Nicholson
September 3 – Concacaf has further expanded its bi-annual Gold Cup with a series of changes that increase member nation participation and the integrity of the competition structure.
Man City owners CFG complete €10m deal for Troyes to become 10th owned club
September 3 – Manchester City owners City Football Group (CFG) have completed their acquisition of a majority stake in French Ligue2 side Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne (ESTAC).