Sweden cancel winter break training trip to Qatar after club opposition
September 8 – Sweden have cancelled their annual training trip to Qatar next year after “unanimous” opposition from the Swedish top tier clubs.
World Football
Super League rehab: Levy, Antonello and Gil join ECA board
September 8 – Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy (pictured) has been voted on to the executive board of the European Club Association, just five months after his club were one of 12 founder members of the aborted breakaway European Super League.
Ceferin says World Cup every two years would ‘dilute’ its value
By Andrew Warshaw
September 7 – The war of words between FIFA and UEFA over the idea of staging the World Cup every two years shows no sign of slowing down with UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin once again denouncing the concept, this time saying it would “dilute” what makes the tournament so unique.
ECA boss Al-Khelaifi dismisses ESL’s failed trio and sketches plans for club support
September 7 – The head of the European Clubs Association (ECA), Nasser Al-Khelaifi, has called out the three rebel clubs still hopeful of setting up a breakaway Super League and has described those who originally backed the project as “fabulists and failures”.
Brazilian police probe EPL’s Argentine four over ‘false information’ accusation
By Samindra Kunti
September 7 – Brazil’s federal police are investigating Argentina’s four Premier-League based players whose presence prompted health officials to storm Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Sao Paulo, which led to the match’s abandonment.
UEFA re-opens gates to travelling fans for club competitions
September 7 – UEFA has lifted its ban on away fans attending European club matches when the group stage of the Champions League, Europa League and inaugural Conference League get under way next week.
Pele has surgery for removal of tumour
September 7 – Brazilian legend Pele is recovering in hospital from surgery to remove a tumour from his colon.
French defender Jean-Pierre Adams dies after 39 years in a coma
September 7 – French international defender Jean-Pierre Adams has died, aged 73, after he had been in a deep coma since 1982 following a catastrophic error in anesthesia while undergoing knee surgery.
Covid chaos: Brazilian health police halt Argentina match to deport four Premier League players
By Samindra Kunti
September 6 – In an extraordinary and unprecedented sequence of events, officials from the Brazilian health authority Anvisa stormed on to the pitch of the World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina after four minutes to deport four Argentine players from England’s Premier League, leading to the match being abandonment.
Morocco flee Guinea as country’s security deteriorates
September 6 – Morocco had to flee Guinea on Sunday ahead of their World Cup qualifier against the ‘Syli Nationale’ because of a coup d’etat.
Pulisic et al return but US stumble in opening 2022 qualifiers. Mexico open with wins
September 6 – This summer’s Gold Cup winners USA have stumbled in their start to their Qatar 2022 qualifying campaign managing only draw in their two opening fixtures. In contrast Gold Cup and Nations League runners up Mexico have opened with two wins.
Club vs country: Argentina say they will not release Euro-based players back to clubs early
September 2 – Argentina says it will defy the wishes of English Premier League clubs and hold on to its English-based players for all three of its upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Haaland torments Van Gaal’s Dutch revivalism. Crunch game with Turks looms
September 2 – The Netherlands stumbled to a disappointing 1-1 draw against Norway in World Cup qualifying on Louis van Gaal’s return to the Dutch dug-out, prompting the veteran coach to call his own team “sloppy” with pressure growing on Oranje.
AC Milan to showcase Expo 2020 Dubai in official partnership
September 2 – Serie A giants AC Milan has unveiled a new partnership with Expo 2020 Dubai that will see the next World Expo become an Official Partner of the Rossoneri.
UEFA attempts to covid-proof club competitions schedule with flexi-hosting rules
September 1 – Clubs participating in the group stages of UEFA’s three club competitions may be forced to play their home matches at the away team’s venue if Covid restrictions prevent opponents from travelling.