Bayern’s Lewandowski and Chelsea’s Harder take UEFA player of the year awards
October 2 – Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski has been named UEFA men’s Player of the Year for 2019-20 after a remarkable 55 goals in 47 games.
World Football
Landon Donovan walks his USL team off for second week running after discriminatory slur
October 1 – Former US international star Landon Donovan, who has moved into coaching with San Diego Loyal, forfeited the club’s second-tier match on Wednesday in protest against an alleged homophobic slur against at one of his players.
German refereeing pioneer Bibiana Steinhaus calls it a day
September 1 – Bibiana Steinhaus, the first female to officiate a men’s Bundesliga match, has retired after taking charge of the German Supercup match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
Big club focus returns to Champions League pay days with group draw today
By Samindra Kunti
October 1 – It’s only been a few weeks since Bayern Munich lifted the European Cup with a slick enough display to defeat first-time finalists Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in Lisbon behind closed doors. This afternoon the Champions League is back with the group stage draw and the big club interest.
New format, updated look: Concacaf tweaks Gold Cup branding
October 1 – Concacaf have released a new brand identity for its flagship Gold Cup, its flagship men’s national team competition that was expanded in 2019 to 16 teams and again for 2021 with a preliminary 12-team qualifying round.
Growth of sports market to slow to 3.3% as Covid exacts heavy toll, finds survey
By David Owen
September 30 – The coronavirus pandemic is having a deep impact on the sports industry and putting Europe’s pyramidal structure at risk, according to a new survey.
No more Messi-ing about. Argentine gets with the programme
September 30 – Lionel Messi has drawn a line under his much-publicised fallout with Barcelona insisting he always had the club’s “best interests in mind” throughout the summer despite all the attention over his future.
Concacaf League club competition rolled into January 2021 for completion
September 30 – Concacaf have released the schedule for their Scotiabank Concacaf League club competition, the secondary club competition to its Champions League, which will now complete at the end of January 2021.
UEFA kicks off €44m grassroots drive
September 30 – UEFA’s 2020 grassroots programme kicked off this week highlighting the importance of ensuring everyone, everywhere can continue to safely play the world’s number one sport – in their own garden, at school or with a local amateur club.
Hungary’s Ferencvaros return CL’s top tier, Olympiakos and Dynamo Kiev also through
September 30 – Ferencvaros, one of great old names of European club football, have reached the group stage of UEFA’s top competition for the first time in 25 years.
Sancho for €100m? Man Utd gets ready to break the bank for England forward
September 30 – With the extended transfer window slamming shut next Monday, Manchester United have stepped up their pursuit of Jadon Sancho, one of the hottest young properties in European football.
Down and out Macclesfield lose National League status
September 30 – Macclesfield Town have been expelled from the National League just days before the kick-off of the 2020/2021 season after receiving a court winding-up order.
Serie A boss De Servio pegs club losses at €500m and counting
September 29 – After the government rejected Italian football’s proposal for more fans to be allowed at stadiums, Serie A boss Luigi De Siervo (pictured) has said that the top flight has lost more than €500 million because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Hammered 6-0 by Napoli, Genoa now lose 14 to coronavirus
September 29 – Fourteen players and staff members of Serie A side Genoa have tested positive for Covid-19 as the virus continues to disrupt a spate of clubs across the Continent.
Gold Cup draw groups US and Canada, Qatar matched against Central Americans
September 29 – Qatar, guesting in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup next summer, were handed a favourable group draw that kept the AFC visitors away from the local confederation heavy hitters of Mexico, the US and Costa Rica in the opening group stages.