Sevilla to build Indian links with five-year Bengalaru Utd deal
September 24 – Sevilla FC and Bengaluru United have teamed up in a five-year deal to strengthen the Spanish club’s presence in India.
Europe
UEFA blasts FIFA’s biennial plan as PR driven, and holding ‘real danger’ for world football
By Andrew Warshaw
September 23 – UEFA’s opposition to the idea of a biennial World Cup has moved into overdrive with a hard-hitting demand to FIFA to stop publicising the controversial idea before engaging in “genuine consultation”.
Atletico Madrid’s Gil slams FIFA biennial plans as doing ‘great damage’
By Samindra Kunti
September 23 – Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin has slammed global governing body FIFA’s plans for a biennial World Cup, with the current row in the game causing “irreversible damage” in his view.
UEFA doubles Women’s Euro 2022, prize money; increases men’s club solidarity payments
September 23 – UEFA’s Executive Committee has doubled the prize money for the Women’s Euro 2022 championships as well as revamping its solidarity payments for the men’s club game.
Cambodian prince offers €100m for Saint-Étienne
September 22 – Cambodian prince Norodom Ravichak has expressed interested in taking over Saint-Étienne, reportedly offering €100 million for the Ligue 1 club.
UEFA unveils 2022 Champions League final branding
September 22 – UEFA has unveiled the branding for the 2022 UEFA Champions League final to be played at the Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg.
Spanish judge orders UEFA to drop Real Madrid, Barca and Juve sanctions
September 21 – A Spanish judge has provocatively handed UEFA a five-day deadline to lift sanctions against Super League rebels Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus – or suffer the consequences.
Lens ordered to play two home game behind closed doors after fan violence
September 21 – French top-flight club Lens have been ordered to play at least two home games behind closed doors as a punishment for last weekend’s pitch invasion during the local derby with northern rivals Lille.
Alonso takes anti-racism stand, but not the knee
September 21 – Marcos Alonso is no longer taking the knee because he believes the gesture is “losing a bit of strength”. Instead, the Chelsea player has opted to point at the anti-racism message on the sleeve of his shirt.
Euro coaches body ‘unconditionally’ backs UEFA in opposition to ‘Wenger plan’
September 20 – Europe’s umbrella coaches association AEFCA (Alliance of European Football Coaches’ Associations) has become the latest football stakeholder to condemn FIFA’s proposal to move the men’s World Cup to a biennial cycle.
Germany and Portugal slam FIFA’s ‘Wenger plan’ as damaging to men’s and women’s game
September 20 – Despite FIFA insisting it has majority support for its controversial idea of a World Cup every two years, the German and Portuguese federations are the latest bodies to condemn the concept.
Sterling’s former agent Aidy Ward accused of tapping up under-age players
September 20 – One of Britain’s leading football agents allegedly broke the rules by signing underage players, according to a BBC television programme.
Grieving Greavsie: Spurs and England mourn death of a football legend
By Andrew Warshaw
September 20 – The football world is paying tribute to former England striker Jimmy Greaves, one of the game’s greatest goal scorers and personalities who has died aged 81.
Barca debt tops €1.35bn driven by out-of-control player wages. Laporta puts focus on youth
September 17 – Barcelona’s president has painted a grim picture of the full extent of the club’s financial crisis, saying its debt had risen to an eye-watering €1.35 billion.
Napoli boss De Laurentiis wants a €10bn Super League built on merit
By Samindra Kunti
September 16 – Controversial Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis tends to dream big. His latest big idea a shake-up of the European game via an alternative ‘Super League’ with entry based on merit and which he believes could generate a €10 billion investment.