Bulgaria’s Serbian coach blames poor performance on too many foreigners in club game
October 17 – National team coach Mladen Krstajić launched an extraordinary attack on the Bulgarian league before a friendly match against Albania.
Federations
Rabbi loses faith in the FA as Jewish fans angered by failure to light up Wembley’s arch
October 16 – A rabbi who worked with the English Football Association for over a decade has resigned in protest at the body’s refusal to light up Wembley stadium’s arch in the colours of the Israeli flag during last Friday’s friendly with Australia and this Tuesday’s clash with Italy.
Saudi defector Henderson booed after lacing up for England and donning captain’s armband
October 16 – Jordan Henderson has reacted to being booed in England’s international friendly versus Australia at Wembley on Friday evening despite donning the captain’s armband in his side’s 1-0 victory over the Socceroos.
Tonoli and Zanioli sent back to EPL clubs after Italian police open betting investigation
October 13 – Two high-profile Italian players have been turfed out of their national team amid a headline-making betting probe
Sandro Tonoli and Nicolo Zanioli, who both play in the English Premier League, were sent back to their clubs from Italy’s training camp on Thursday after being notified by police of a criminal investigation into alleged gambling offences.
FA and Premier League condemn Palestine/Israel violence but stop short of taking sides
October 13 – Both the FA and Premier League have released statements condemning the ongoing and escalating violence between Israel and Palestine, as the FA resist government encouragement to take sides in the high-profile and violent dispute.
Wembley to focus on peace messaging rather than lighting the arch with Israeli flag
October 12 – The English Football Association is unlikely to mark the recent atrocities in Israel by lighting the Wembley arch in the colours of the Israeli flag when England take on Australia in a friendly on Friday.
Rooney completes return to England, landing at Birmingham City
October 12 – Former England captain and Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has completed his managerial move to English Championship side Birmingham City on a three and-a-half-year contract.
Samsunspor dispute FIFA sanction saying all debt have been paid
October 11 – Turkey’s Samsunspor have been handed a transfer ban by FIFA covering the next two transfer windows for non-payment due of wages and bonuses to former player Arvydas Novikovas.
CSKA Sofia greenlighted to build new stadium
October 10 – Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia has received the long-awaited local authority permits to begin construction of its new stadium. The new facility will be built on the site of the current Bulgarian Army stadium, which is located in one of the largest parks in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia.
Nilsson quits Swedish sports body after loss of trust over support for Russian return at UEFA
October 9 – UEFA vice-president Karl-Erik Nilsson (pictured) is no longer the president of the Swedish Sports Confederation (RFE) after pressure over the European governing body’s decision to ease the blanket ban on Russian teams.
Danes restate anti-Russian readmission position. ‘Compromised’ Møller stays quiet
October 9 – Danish FA (DBU) president and UEFA executive committee member Jesper Møller Pictured) remains under pressure after the Danish governing body reiterated that Danish national teams will not play Russia and Danish children will not play Russian children.
Bulgaria’s Ludogorets staff quit en masse after Conference League hammering at FC Nordsjaelland
October 9 – The entire management and technical staff of Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad have resigned, just minutes after a loss to the Danish club FC Nordsjaelland in a match of Group H of the UEFA Europa Conference League tournament.
Turkish FA boss chased out of Besiktas stadium by fans
October 6 – The UEFA Conference League match between Besiktas and Swiss Lugano in Istanbul was marred by Besiktas fans forcing the president of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) Mehmet Büyükekşi to leave the Tupras stadium before the end of the first half.
French league disciplines four PSG players for offensive song after Marseilles win
October 6 – Four Paris Saint-Germain players have been handed a one-match suspended sentence for offensive chants aimed at bitter rival Marseille after a league match last month.
Denmark’s Møller facing domestic fury for voting to allow Russia into Euro youth comps
October 4 – Danish FA (DBU) president Jesper Møller (pictured) has defended UEFA’s decision to let Russian U-17 national teams re-enter European competitions, refusing to disclose how he voted but opening the door to Danish teams playing Russia at youth level.