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.
World Football
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.
Club Leon take Leagues Cup title in a competition that is about to change forever
September 23 – The second and last of North America’s Leagues Cup in its current format – an eight-team competition between the top MLS and LigaMX clubs – was played out last night in the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Wanted by Interpol, Suriname’s Brunswijk cameos in Concacaf League match
September 23 – Concacaf have launched a probe into Suriname vice-president Ronnie Brunswijk’s eventful cameo for his club Inter Moengotapoe in a Concacaf League match against Honduran side CD Olimpia.
Samoura leads debate in Nigeria on expansion of Africa’s women’s game
September 23 – While FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been walking the halls of the UN and the financial district of New York, meeting with heads of state and financiers, FIFA’s general secretary Fatma Samoura has been treading the path of women’s football in Africa.
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.
Flamengo seize advantage as they target all-Brazilian Copa Libertadores final
September 29 – Flamengo are on the brink of reaching the Copa Libertadores final for a second time in three years after a comprehensive 2-0 first-leg semi-final win against Ecuador’s Barcelona, courtesy of a Bruno Henrique brace.
Concacaf shakes up club comps with radical new Champions League structure topping the bill
By Paul Nicholson
September 22 – Concacaf has unveiled a major expansion of its Champions League and its club competition structures that completely overhaul existing formats and significantly beef up its three individual regions and bring them into a joined up system.
USL expands again with launch of second tier pro-women’s league
September 22 – The United Soccer League has announced the launch of a professional women’s league that will operate as the second tier of women’s club soccer in the US.
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.
Eto’o brands Cameroonian FA boss Ngoya ‘a failure’ as he enters election race
September 22 – Samuel Eto’o has announced his candidacy for the presidency of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot), labelling the tenure of the governing body’s current interim president Seidou Mbombo Njoya “a failure”.
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.