Israel says lockdown will not derail Scotland Euro 2020 play-off
September 15 – Israel are happy to travel to fulfil their European Championship play-off against Scotland despite a national lockdown.
FA boots minnows out of Cup for refusing to play Covid-depleted rivals
By Andrew Warshaw
September 14 – Spare a thought today for a tiny English non-league team who put the health of its players first yet have been thrown out of the FA Cup, the world’s oldest domestic knockout tournament, for refusing to play.
Belgium reopens stadia for fans with full round of fixtures
By Samindra Kunti
September 14 – Belgian football fans returned to stadiums this weekend for the first since the Covid-19 pandemic began and following specific protocols that were approved by local authorities.
Premier League calls on government to raise 1,000 fan cap and save football jobs
September 14 – The English Premier League has called on the government to rethink its plans on the proposed return of fans to stadiums in the wake of increasing Covid-19 infections.
Chaos in Paris as PSG lose to OM, 5 sent off and accusations of racist comments
September 14 – France’s most hostile domestic football rivalry resulted in no fewer than five dismissals on Sunday and a claim from Neymar that he heard a racist slur as visitors Marseille upset reigning champions Paris St Germain 1-0.
US investors Bolt, take leap into Belgian football with Waasland-Beveren buy
September 14 – Waasland-Beveren have become the latest foreign-owned club in the Belgian top flight following investment by Bolt Football Holdings, the American majority owners of Crystal Palace.
Barca budget for €315m revenue loss and set date March date of presidential election
September 14 – With the crisis over whether Lionel Messsi is staying or leaving resolved, the club have moved on to the next personnel issue and whether president Josep Maria Bartomeu will stay on, setting 20 and 21 March 2021 as the election date for the club presidency.
Mourinho plays the Covid card as Spurs open with loss to Everton
September 14 – Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that a number of the club’s players caught Covid-19 during the summer.
Everton renews deal with Fratelli Beretta
September 14 – Everton, riding high from their weekend opening season win over Spurs, have more cause to be positive having extended their partnership with Italian food giant Fratelli Beretta.
Online gambler picks up Leicester City deal as it readies a UK site launch
September 14 – Premier League Leicester City have agreed online betting firm Parimatch to become the club’s First Team Training Wear Partner and Betting Partner.
Liverpool open new EPL season but Manchester and London big guns have them in their sights
By Andrew Warshaw
September 11 – Having won their first English league title for 30 long and painful years, Liverpool kick off the defence of their crown this weekend as they attempt to disprove the old adage that it’s harder to win it second time round.
AFC hangs on to 2020 Champions League but cancels AFC Cup, Futsal and youth comps
September 11 – The AFC Cup, Asia’s second-tier club competition, has been cancelled for 2020. The AFC Solidarity Cup and the AFC Futsal Club Championship will also not take place due to the coronavirus pandemic.
FIFA’s TV rights deals back in the dock: Valcke and Al-Khelaïfi hearing next week
September 11 – First Bern, now Bellinzona. Following the recent court appearances in Switzerland of Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini over that infamous CHF 2 million “disloyal payment”, it’s the turn of two other high-profile footballing figures on Monday to have their cases heard.
One league Barca are winning easily
September 11 – Barcelona have become the first football club to break the 10 million YouTube subscriber mark. The NBA (14.7million) is the only sports channel that has more followers.
UEFA report highlights Premier League clubs top academy spends with €6.1m a year
September 11 – European top-flight clubs have invested €870 million for youth development in 2020, according to a study by UEFA. With an average of €6.1 million per club, the Premier League clubs top the list.