UEFA mull expanding UCL group stages to 36 teams
October 20 – UEFA are considering radical plans to change the format of the Champions League to allow 36 clubs in the group stage according to unconfirmed reports.
Author: Paul Nicholson
India’s I-League qualifiers pass Covid test with Sporting Mohammedan securing league slot
October 20 – Kolkata-based club Sporting Mohammedan confirmed their return to the I-League with a 2-0 win over Bhawanipore to wrap up the I-League qualifiers which served as a coronavirus test case for Indian football.
UEFA kicks off packed UCL schedule with Man Utd at PSG and Bayern vs Atletico
October 20 – The group stages of the UEFA Champions League kick off tonight with a congested calendar and the threat of the coronavirus looming large.
Inter adds launches two new academy projects in Russia
October 20 – Serie A giants Internazionale have continued their international expansion of their Inter Academy programme with two new sites in Russia, in Moscow and Novosibirsk, being added to their existing hub in Saint Petersburg.
Spanish prosecutor demands €105m tax fraud fine for Las Palmas chief Ramirez
October 20 – Spanish prosecutors have requested a jail sentence of 21 and a half years and a €105 million fine for the president of tier two Las Palmas, Miguel Ángel Ramírez.
Germany issues arrest warrants for Panama Papers’ Mossack and Fonseca
October 20 – Germany has issued international arrest warrants for the two founders of the firm at the centre of the tax haven scandal exposed by the Panama Papers, according to German media.
Hands-on Aguero looks set to escape sanction
October 20 – Manchester City’s Argentine striker Sergio Aguero will reportedly avoid retrospective action after being caught on camera placing his hand on the shoulder of a female assistant referee during last Saturday’s Premier League win against Arsenal.
Joint German-Belgian-Dutch bid launched for Women’s World Cup 2027 hosting
October 19 – Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands have unveiled plans for a joint bid to host the Women’s World Cup in 2027.
Sweeping police raids pick up Czech FA’s Berbr on match-fixing charges
October 19 – The vice-president of the Czech Football Association has been taken into custody after becoming embroiled in a match-fixing scandal he vehemently denies.
Pickford wipes out Van Dijk’s season as Liverpool protest VAR failures
October 19 – English champions Liverpool have been a dealt a massive blow after it was confirmed that central defensive talisman Virgil van Dijk will endure a long layoff after suffering a serious cruciate injury in Saturday’s hotly contested Merseyside derby draw against league leaders Everton.
Mastercard adds three more years to UEFA Champions League sponsorship
October 19 – Mastercard has extended its 26-year partnership with UEFA for a further three years with a new deal for the Champions League for the 2021-24 rights cycle.
West Ham’s late triple spoils Bale’s return to Spurs
October 19 – Gareth Bale’s much-anticipated homecoming to Tottenham Hotspur was overshadowed by his team squandering a 3-0 lead with just minutes remaining against London rivals West Ham on Sunday.
Anger over Robinho’s Italian rape case forces him out at Santos
October 19 – Santos and former Brazil star Robinho have parted ways after growing public pressure over the player’s rape conviction in Italy in 2017 and his current defense.
Kenya’s delayed elections see Mwendwa returned as president
October 19 – Nicholas Mwendwa (pictured) will serve as Football Kenya Federation president for another four years after being re-elected by a landslide following a bruising political battle.
Tempers fray as racist insults and bite accusations mar French Ligue 2 match
October 19 – A French second division player has denied biting the cheek of an opposition goalkeeper, declaring instead that he had been racially abused.