By Mark Baber
October 6 – Hearings on Wednesday in Jos will determine the future of many of Nigeria’s football administrators, ironically just at the point when it looks like the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) is finally putting its house in order, with some help from FIFA.
October 5 – MLS franchises continue to create heat and rumour with Red Bulls saying that any offer of $300 million for the franchise would be agreed and completed within 48 hours, while news of Chivas USA’s sale expected in the next couple of weeks has thrown up controversial Cardiff City owner, Vincent Tan,, as a potential buyer.
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
October 3 – A group of investors led by Czech businessman Karl Pražák is targeting a takeover of Slavia Prague. The group says it will also bring in over the municipal authorities of the Czech capital’s Prague 10 district as a new shareholder, reported local daily Mlada fronta DNES.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 3 – FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) have been given until next Thursday to respond to the legal action being taken by a group of leading players who are suing both organisations claiming gender discrimination over the planned use of artificial pitches at next year’s Women’s World Cup.
By David Owen
October 3 – Compensation terms payable under FIFA’s Club Protection Programme (CPP) are to remain unchanged over the next four years.
By Mark Baber
October 3 – FIFA has thrown its weight behind the newly elected Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick (pictured) who has promised to go to Jos to speak to Chris Giwa. But the situation remains on a knife-edge as another rival declares the election was bought and all factions stay away from the fire-damaged NFF Headquarters Glass House which is guarded by plain-clothes security with Jos High Court injunctions stuck to the doors.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 3 – UEFA president Michel Platini has broken his silence over FIFA’s refusal to publish the 430-page report into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups by saying he favours disclosure – but with the caveat that FIFA’s code of ethics is not breached.
October 3 – In September 2013 the 38-year-old former Dutch international Fernando Ricksen was diagnosed with the terminal nerve disease ALS. A year later, the former football Wildman with a best-selling autobiography under his belt, has become the face of the fight against the killer disease. Interview extracted from FIFA Weekly
October 3 – The Asian Football Confederation is looking into reports of possible match-fixing at the Asian Games.
By Ben Nicholson
October 3 – San Antonio’s MLS expansion bid campaign has slipped under the media radar in recent weeks. Las Vegas’ clamor for city backing and Sacramento’s joy at their on-field success and off-field visits from MLS reps have kept the formerly favored San Antonio bid relatively underrepresented. Perhaps unjustly as the bid appears to tick the appropriate boxes.
October 3 – UEFA have announced FDJ (Française des Jeux), a lottery with 33,000 points of sale in 12,000 towns and villages in France, as their first main national sponsor for the expanded Euro 2016 finals.
October 3 – UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against a number of Champions League clubs following crowd disturbances during this week’s series of matches. The games at Arsenal, Basle and Anderlecht are all being probed with sanctions to be announced on October16.
October 2 – The 188th Cryuff Court will open next week in Terrassa, Spain, the result of donations from the UEFA Charity Award, Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández, and local partner CaixaBank.
By Mark Baber
October 2 – News that payday lender and Newcastle United sponsor Wonga will be writing off £220 million of debt owed by 330,000 customers gives additional credibility to recent speculation the company is reconsidering its 4-year sponsorship of the Premier League club in light of falling profits and increasing regulation in its home market.
By Mark Baber
October 2 – Whilst many stakeholders have supported Tuesday’s election of Amaju Pinnick as the new Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) president in the hope he will bring stability to Nigeria’s conflict-riven football administration, one of the losing candidates has claimed the election was bought and Chris Giwa has reiterated his message that it is he who remains the legitimate NFF President.