Fulham land BetVictor as main sponsor for Premier League return
September 8 – Fulham, back in the Premier League at the first time of asking, have confirmed online bookmaker BetVictor as the club’s main sponsor.
Whistleblower Pinto’s trial opens with claim he acted in public, not money, interest
By Andrew Warshaw
September 7 – Rui Pinto, the Portuguese whistleblower whose string of incriminating revelations shook the footballing world before he was controversially extradited from Hungary, has told a Lisbon court that he acted in order to expose corruption and was proud of it.
Man City’s courting of Messi ends as he refuses to go to legal with Barca contract
By Andrew Warshaw
September 7 – As footballing u-turns go, they don’t come much more spectacular. Just as millions of fans worldwide were in the throes of anticipating where Lionel Messi might end up after he dropped the bombshell that he wanted to leave his beloved Barcelona, so the Argentine maestro changed his mind and said he was staying after all.
Frattini kicks off Sport Integrity Week with call to fight the mafia and for the ‘purity’ of sport
September 7 – SIGA chairman Franco Frattini kicked off the Sports Integrity Week of webinars with a strong call to action to all stakeholders in sports to be uncompromising in the battle against criminality.
Covid fear: Italian government nervous of opening stadia for start of Serie A
September 7 – With the Serie A season imminent, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has voiced his concern over fans attending matches, arguing that it would be inappropriate at the present time.
Billy Beane puts his money on playing ball with AZ Almaar stake
September 9 – Moneyball guru Billy Beane (pictured) has acquired a minority share in Dutch top-flight club AZ Alkmaar. He previously held an advisory role at the Eredivisie outfit.
Rubiales vs Tebas: Spanish FA boss set for 4 more years of battle with LaLiga supremo
September 7 – Luis Rubiales is certain to be re-elected as Spanish FA president for another four years after emerging as the sole candidate to stand in elections later this month.
Chelsea greenlights Kai Havertz’s €80m transfer
September 7 – The ongoing pandemic has left a big mark on the world of sports, in general, and football, in particular. When the lockdowns were still in full effect, the Football Association floated the idea of suspending the Premier League season completely – an idea rejected by several English football teams, considering that it would’ve pushed them to the brink of bankruptcy.
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.