Bulgaria’s Hristo Botev stadium revamp achieves UEFA Category IV status
October 10 – Botev Plovdiv’s Hristo Botev stadium has become just the third venue in the country to achieve a category 4 classification by UEFA.
FIFA tweaks transfer rules to allow players to join or stay at clubs for CWC
October 9 – FIFA are so keen to make the expanded Club World Cup, Gianni Infantino’s pet project, be a success despite widespread opposition from player unions that they are willing to rewrite transfer rules.
Klopp returns to football as Red Bull’s head of global soccer
October 9 – Former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp has been appointed global head of soccer at Red Bull as he returns to football just three months after an emotional departure from Merseyside.
Konate supports strike to force a solution to overloaded schedule
October 9 – France and Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate (pictured) has become the latest player to speak out against the packed fixture schedule, saying he supports the right to strike.
Steinhaus-Webb to head women’s refereeing at FIFA
October 9 – FIFA has appointed Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb as its new head of women’s refereeing.
Belgian Pro League invests in major data ecosystem to support clubs
October 9 – The Belgian Pro League has announced a series of major technological investments aimed at boosting its position in European football, with innovations focused on semi-automated offside technology, advanced data collection across all levels of the game, and precision limb-tracking.
ECA provides Greeks with support fund to help restore fire-damaged sports facilities
October 9 – The European Club Association (ECA) has organised a charity initiative in collaboration with non-profit organisations Eleven Campaign and Desmos, to support recovery projects for Greek communities and sporting facilities affected by this summer’s wildfires.
Borussia Dortmund’s journey to UCL final drives record revenue past €600m
October 8 – A €44 million pay day for reaching the Champions League final saw Borussia Dortmund turnover hit €618.2 million. UEFA payments provided €120.1 million in the 2023/24 financial year.
AFC World Cup 2026 qualifying heats up with crucial fixtures, and it is only match day 3
October 9 – It is only the third match day of ten, but already the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup are reaching a crucial, must-win stage for some of the AFC’s established international nations.
Spanish maestro Andrés Iniesta calls time on his world beating career, aged 40
October 9 – Spanish and former Barcelona legend, Andrés Iniesta, 40 has officially announced his retirement after 22 years of playing some of the most artistic football the world has ever seen.
Cleveland favourites to land 16th NWSL franchise
October 9 – The growth of the National Women Soccer League (NWSL) continues at breakneck speed. Hot on the heels of a Boston consortium paying $53 million for the rights to start a franchise in ‘Beantown’, the city of Cleveland is expected to be selected as the league’s 16th team.
Berhalter back in business with MLS’s Chicago Fire
October 9 – Former U.S. men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter, who was fired after a disastrous performance by the USMNT in this summer’s Copa America has landed in Chicago.
Premier League grounds average 98.6% capacity for match day 7
October 9 – The Premier League recorded an impressive 98.6% average stadium capacity across match week 7 fixtures.
Honours even after round one of Man City vs Premier League financial rules fight
October 8 – English champions Manchester City have claimed a partial victory over the Premier League after one of the league’s key regulations relating to financial fairness was challenged.
African officials and member associations warned not to be ‘complicit in the suicide of CAF’
October 7 – A letter sent to members of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and which has been circulated around member associations has caused concern and fear in Africa’s national associations over the ongoing future of CAF, and Africa’s right to govern its own football eco-system within Africa.