By Andrew Warshaw
October 13 – Revelations that Michel Platini had no written contract over the SFr2m Swiss francs payment that led to his provisional suspension threatens to cause a split among UEFA’s top brass when they meet on Thursday to discuss whether to continue supporting the Frenchman’s bid to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.
October 13 – While neighbours Liverpool have hired a manager (Jurgen Klopp) who has a penchant for wearing a baseball hat, Manchester United have gone a more pragmatic step towards conquering the baseball hat world by concluding a sponsorship deal the king of the baseball hat suppliers, New Era.
By Samindra Kunti
October 13 – After 38 years Brazilian football legend Pelé has returned to Kolkata to promote football in India. He will be the guest of honor at the Indian Super League match between Atletico de Kolkata’s and Kerala Blasters, and at the Subroto Cup Final in New Delhi.
Michel Platini has always presented himself as unique. That he was a unique footballer cannot be doubted although the fact that he could not guide his country to a World Cup win means for all his great achievements as player he will always remain to an extent the nearly man, not quite in the class of Franz Beckenbauer. But it is his role as administrator in the last decade that raises questions about why and how he was ever considered a football administrator in any way different to the less than reputable bunch who have governed the world game for so long.
By Mihir Bose
October 13 – Sepp Blatter’s payment to Michel Platini of £1.35 million for alleged work for FIFA which is being investigated by the Swiss authorities was never declared to the executive committees of either FIFA or UEFA.
By David Owen in Monte Carlo
October 13 – La Liga has an unaccustomed look, with Villarreal’s Yellow Submarine having floated to the crest of the wave seven matches into the new season. And Javier Tebas (pictured) thinks he knows why.
By Ben Nicholson
October 13 – The MLS has revealed plans to trial video refereeing for penalty and goal awards and red cards. The trial will take place in October 2016 and cover ten to 15 friendly fixtures.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 12 – Former executive committee member Worawi Makudi has become the latest victim of FIFA’s anti-corruption crackdown after being suspended for 90 days by the ethics committee pending a full investigation.
By Paul Nicholson
October 12 – The week of the international break has resulted in some remarkable twitter follower gains for English Premier League clubs with Liverpool in particular putting on more than 50,000 followers and jumping to second place in the weekly ranking.
By Mark Baber
October 12 – Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, three of Africa’s most populous nations which have been underperforming on the international football stage, unconvincingly made it through to the second round of qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2018 following their 1st round 2nd leg matches this weekend.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 12 – Claims that Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini did not get a fair hearing when provisionally suspended last week have been totally rejected amid growing speculation that they could both end up being thrown out of world football for years rather than months.
By Mark Baber
October 12 – The FA has announced a new refinancing arrangement which will save at least £12 million a year and which marks a landmark for the FA as the new Wembley turns into an asset rather than a drag on the finances of the FA Group.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 12 – It’s shaping up as the Euro 2016 of the minnows. When Michel Platini decided to expand the European Championship finals from 16 to 24 teams, reaction was mixed with many predicting the quality of competition would be reduced.
October 12 – Sepp Blatter may not be able to take part in any footballing matters while under suspension by FIFA’s ethics committee but he says he is proud of his achievements, according to a Swiss newspaper.
October 12 – Russia has officially named the 12 stadia in the 11 cities that will host the 2018 World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 – and eight of them are named after the cities in which they will be held.