Irish cross borders with joint bid for 2023 European U-21 finals
November 2 – The Irish FA and Football Association of Ireland have launched a ground-breaking joint bid to host the 2023 European Under-21 Championship finals.
Betting’s fixed game: UK sports minister Crouch resigns over delay in new rules
November 2 – British sports minister Tracey Crouch resigned from the government on Thursday over what she claimed was an unjustifiable delay in reducing the maximum wager on gambling slot machines.
Relevant and LaLiga launch fan petition to bring Girona vs Barca league match to Miami
November 1 – The much-publicised overseas La Liga game between Girona and Barcelona, which FIFA have insisted cannot go ahead in Miami in January, has taken another twist with US fans being asked to sign a petition in favour of the ground-breaking fixture.
Ghana’s Nyantakyi to appeal FIFA life ban at CAS
November 1 – Former Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi is to appeal against his life ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Bidders line up to host UEFA 2021 club competition finals
November 1 – UEFA has received declarations of interest from 11 member associations to host their club competition finals in 2021, with Munich and St Petersburg going head to head to stage the Champions League climax.
Former Juve and Italian World Cup star Iaquinta sentenced to 2 years for firearm offences
November 1 – An Italian court has sentenced former international World Cup star Vincenzo Iaquinta to two years in jail for firearm offences and his father, Giuseppe, to 19 years at the end of a trial of almost 150 people.
What prompted Uzbekistan’s u-turn on AFC statute reform?
By Paul Nicholson
November 1 – A month can be a long and fickle time in Asian football alliances, as was witnessed yesterday at the Asian Football Confederation Congress when Uzbekistan became one of four of the AFC’s 46 federations to vote against statute reform proposals.
Conmebol lands Qatar Airways as its first airline sponsor for club competitions
November 1 – Qatar Airways has become the Official Global Airline Partner of South American confederation Conmebol’s club competitions with immediate effect. The deal will last 4.5 years, taking them through the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Coffee break: Lavazza takes over at Anfield with exclusive Liverpool deal
November 1 – Liverpool have added the Lavazza Group as the club’s official coffee partner in the UK. The deal will see Lavazza become the exclusive coffee at the Anfield Stadium.
Police step in at Hibs-Hearts derby after missiles thrown and players and officials attacked
November 1 – Authorities in Scotland have intervened after Hibernian manager Neil Lennon was struck by a coin thrown from the crowd in the Edinburgh derby at high-flying Hearts on Wednesday.
Man United keeps sponsor roster healthy with Canon Medical renewal
November 1 – Manchester United have renewed their partnership with Canon Medical Systems Europe as the club’s Official Medical Systems Partner. The agreement was first signed in 2013.
Infantino puts 48-team Qatar 2022 back on agenda, ‘why not?’
By Andrew Warshaw
October 31 – Four months after it was taken off the agenda at the FIFA Congress, Gianni Infantino says FIFA is still “discussing” trying to bring about a 48-team World Cup for Qatar in 2022, potentially shared with the tiny Gulf state’s neighbours.
Salman warns ‘3rd party influences’ must be kept out of AFC election politics
By Paul Nicholson
October 31 – Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa today gave a resounding message of support to FIFA president Gianni Infantino for his re-election next year, while at the same time calling on Infantino to help the AFC “protect itself from unwanted third party influences”.
FIFA braced for new storm after hackers steal confidential emails
October 31 – FIFA is bracing itself for another set of potentially incriminating leaks after admitting its computer systems have been hacked again.
AFC passes statutes reform but Uzbeks throw a curve ball with vote against
October 31 – The AFC Congress approved changes to its statutes at its Kuala Lumpur Annual Congress today that both recognised the confederation’s regional diversity and allowed for a wider nominations process in presidential elections.