LaLiga expands into sports bars with TwentyNine’s brand launch
October 2 – Spain’s LaLiga has licensed its name and marks for a series of sports bars around the world, signing an agreement with Spanish chain Barceló Hotel Group.
Coronavirus: Genoa vs Torino is first casualty of Serie A season as virus hits deep
October 2 – As widely anticipated, Saturday’s Serie A game between Genoa and Torino has been postponed after 15 positive Covid-19 tests among the Genovese staff and players as the virus continues to disrupt a spate of clubs across the Continent.
Bayern’s Lewandowski and Chelsea’s Harder take UEFA player of the year awards
October 2 – Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski has been named UEFA men’s Player of the Year for 2019-20 after a remarkable 55 goals in 47 games.
SDY Sports signs as Inter’s Asian gaming partner in 2-year deal
October 2 – Inter Milan have unveiled digital gaming platform SDY Sports as its official online gaming partner in a two year deal.
Premier League to take handball rule into their own hands
October 1 – The English Premier League is reported to be lobbying football’s lawmakers in an effort to change the new interpretation of the handball law that has ripped common sense and fairness out of the sport.
Landon Donovan walks his USL team off for second week running after discriminatory slur
October 1 – Former US international star Landon Donovan, who has moved into coaching with San Diego Loyal, forfeited the club’s second-tier match on Wednesday in protest against an alleged homophobic slur against at one of his players.
Coronavirus: Premier League will uses points-per-game rubric if season curtailed
October 1 – Premier League clubs have signed off on using a points-per-game system if the season has to be curtailed prematurely by the coronavirus pandemic.
Iran’s Persepolis and Saudi’s Al Nassr set for ACL semi-final clash in Qatar
October 1 – Iranian giants Persepolis will face a rejuvenated Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals of the Western Zone of the Asian Champions League.
Tax trouble: Neymar chased for €34.5m outstanding in Spain
October 1 – Brazilian superstar Neymar owes more unpaid tax than any other individual on a Spanish authorities’ blacklist, with debts of €34.6 million according to official documentation.
German refereeing pioneer Bibiana Steinhaus calls it a day
September 1 – Bibiana Steinhaus, the first female to officiate a men’s Bundesliga match, has retired after taking charge of the German Supercup match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
Big club focus returns to Champions League pay days with group draw today
By Samindra Kunti
October 1 – It’s only been a few weeks since Bayern Munich lifted the European Cup with a slick enough display to defeat first-time finalists Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in Lisbon behind closed doors. This afternoon the Champions League is back with the group stage draw and the big club interest.
Parimatch adds LaLiga to growing football portfolio
October 1 – Online bookmaker Parimatch has continued mopping up football partnerships for its CIS focussed betting platform becoming an official betting partner of Spain’s LaLiga.
Hola Wigan. Un-named Spanish buyer puts deposit down for club
October 1 – A Spanish investor has agreed to buy beleaguered English club Wigan Athletic after paying “a substantial deposit”, the League One club’s administrators have announced.
New format, updated look: Concacaf tweaks Gold Cup branding
October 1 – Concacaf have released a new brand identity for its flagship Gold Cup, its flagship men’s national team competition that was expanded in 2019 to 16 teams and again for 2021 with a preliminary 12-team qualifying round.
Growth of sports market to slow to 3.3% as Covid exacts heavy toll, finds survey
By David Owen
September 30 – The coronavirus pandemic is having a deep impact on the sports industry and putting Europe’s pyramidal structure at risk, according to a new survey.