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.
World Football
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.
United TTFA continues to play poker with future of Trinidad and Tobago football
By Paul Nicholson
September 28 – The soap opera that is the United TTFA’s desperate politicking to regain control of the Trinidad and Tobago FA took a couple of more plot turns over the weekend with the withdrawal of the notice to withdraw the court proceedings against FIFA on Friday, and the news from Concacaf that they were keeping the TTFA in the Gold Cup draw, at least for now.
Serie A attendances stay capped as government reviews virus spread
September 28 – Italian football fans won’t be returning to grounds in large numbers anytime soon after the Italian government shot down a proposal to allow for more supporters at sporting events.
UEFA to retain 5 subs rule for rest of season
September 25 – UEFA are to adopt the five substitutes rule in their competitions for the rest of the season in line with many domestic leagues in order to cope with a congested calendar created by the coronavirus pandemic.
Bayern win Super Cup in front of 15,500 masked and distanced fans
September 25 – Champions League winners Bayern Munich are celebrating a remarkable quadruple after clinching the Super Cup with a 2-1 extra time win over Europa League victors Sevilla on Thursday. But just as importantly for UEFA, the game passed off smoothly as a trial run in front of a live audience – the first major European club game to allow fans into stadiums amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
FIFA nails TTFA’s coffin shut after Wallace and Look Loy posturing hits self destruct
By Paul Nicholson
September 24 – FIFA’s patience with the former leadership of the Trinidad and Tobago FA (TTFA) has inevitably run out. The world governing body tonight suspended the TTFA “with immediate effect and until further notice”.
Ceferin defends fans at Super Cup final as an ‘essential’ part of the game
By Andrew Warshaw
September 24 – With just hours to go before kick-off at tonight’s showpiece Super Cup fixture between Bayern Munich and Sevilla in Budapest, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin launched a strong defence of the decision to allow fans into the game despite the worry of Covid-19, saying his organisation wasn’t doing it for political reasons or badly needed revenues, only for the good of football.
Rogue ex-TTFA bosses continue on course of destruction as they abuse member wishes with court affidavit
By Paul Nicholson
September 24 – The ‘United TTFA’ missed the FIFA deadline by minutes to apply to withdraw their case against the world governing, but the rogue former TTFA officials look to have deliberately sabotaged the chances of getting a withdrawal by submitting within the affidavit by William Wallace statements that they have been “pressured” and “coerced” to withdraw.
Coronavirus: Players should be given choice over South American travel, says FIFPro
September 24 – Expressing concern over the Covid-19 pandemic in South America, the world players union FIFPro says would favour giving players decision-making power over their participation in October’s World Cup qualifiers in the region.
Hungary says tonight’s Super Cup final is Covid safe, but row still rages over how safe
September 24 – Hungarian authorities insist it is safe for fans to attend tonight’s Super Cup between Bayern Munich and Sevilla despite opposition parties claiming they will be “experimental rabbits”.
PSG’s di Maria banned for Marseilles spitting incident
September 24 – Paris St-Germain forward Angel di Maria has been banned for four matches for his role in the ill-tempered Ligue 1 defeat by Marseille on September 13.
Look Loy and Wallace pushed to last minute back down to prevent TTFA exile
September 23 – The ousted Trinidad and Tobago Football Association former board members who looked set to land the nation’s football community with a FIFA suspension, have backed down in the face of pressure from the wider football community and agreed to withdraw their High Court proceedings against FIFA.
English fan bans leaves clubs scrambling for ways to keep season ticket holders engaged
September 23 – Premier League clubs are considering ways of allowing season ticket holders access matches not due to be broadcast live on television following the British government’s controversial decision to scrap the idea of a phased return of fans into stadiums from October 1 due to a resurgence of Covid-19.
Concacaf moves first Nations League final four to June 2021
September 23 – Concacaf have shifted the inaugural finals of their Nations League competition from March 2021 to June 2021 to give space in the calendar to get the first round of the federation’s World Cup qualifiers underway.