Covid-blighted PSV Eindhoven register €23m loss topped off by a 5-0 defeat at Ajax
October 25 – Blaming the coronavirus pandemic, PSV Eindhoven has registered a loss of €23.2 million for the 2020-21 season.
FIFA’s chase of $1bn+ from EA Sports license could cost them $150m a year
October 25 – The cost to FIFA of losing the EA Sports license for the exclusivity over use of the FIFA brand in its videogame is reportedly put at $150 million annually.
TV journo jailed in UAE for leaking comments ‘provoking hate speech’ before 2022 qualifier
October 25 – Prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates say they have imprisoned a television journalist for apparently leaking pre-match comments made before the Emirates’ World Cup qualifier against Iraq earlier this month.
AFC Asian Cup China 2023 logo launched at opening Shanghai Pudong Stadium
October 25 – The Asian Cup China 2023 tournament logo was launched last Friday in conjunction with the opening ceremony of the Shanghai Pudong Football Stadium, the competition’s first completed stadium.
Darkest day: Solskjaer vows to fight on after Liverpool thrashing
October 25 – Manchester United manager Gunnar Solskjaer lamented what he described as his “darkest day” in the job but vowed not to quit following Sunday’s 5-0 humiliation at the hands of arch-rivals Liverpool.
Anderlecht get €93m injection in bid to restore fortunes
By Samindra Kunti
October 25 – Can new winds, fresh capital and debt restructuring rejuvenate Anderlecht? Existing shareholders and new investors are set to inject the equivalent of €93 million into the club’s finances, while CEO Jos Donvil will be exiting the club.
Qatar open 5th World Cup stadium, Al Thumama, with Amir cup final
October 25 – Qatar has inaugurated a fifth World Cup venue with Al Sadd defeating Al Rayyan from the penalty spot in the final of the Amir Cup at the Al Thumama stadium.
Police investigate whether anti-Saudi banner at Crystal Palace vs Newcastle was racist act
October 25 – Police are investigating a graphic banner displayed by Crystal Palace fans that targeted the Saudi Arabian-led takeover of Newcastle United.
European Leagues warn FIFA’s push for a biennial World Cup is still very alive
By Andrew Warshaw
October 22 – Europe’s top leagues have cautioned that FIFA’s controversial biennial World Cup plan may not, after all, have been abandoned and have stressed their firm opposition to the idea as well as to any overhaul of the international match schedule.
Motsepe calls for Super League to break African football’s financial poverty
October 22 – Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe has again called for the launch of an African Super League on the continent.
Bayern’s Hainer says FIFA must not ‘sacrifice’ football at the money alter
October 22 – Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer has become the latest high-profile football figure to oppose FIFA’s biennial World Cup proposal, saying that “you must never sacrifice football on the altar of financial interests.”
More Afghans evacuated as FIFA calls for international help to house refugees
October 22 – A further 57 people linked to football and sport were evacuated from Afghanistan, arriving in Doha, Qatar, on a Qatar Airways Charter flight on Wednesday.
EU states write to Luxembourg court to formally oppose Super League plan
October 22 – The isolation of Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona over their belligerent insistence on trying to keep their Super League ambitions alive in the European courts, was highlighted again this week.
Ligue1 targets China with Lyon vs Monaco regular season game
October 22 – France’s Ligue 1 giants Lyon and Monaco have agreed to play a regular season domestic league match in China in February next year.
AFC set for centralised U23 Asian Cup qualifiers kick-off this weekend
October 22 – Asia will see a return of national team age-group competition this weekend with centralised qualifiers for the AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022.