Neymar returns for Al Hilal with cameo ACL role
October 22 – A year after rupturing his left ACL, Neymar returned to action with a second-half cameo in the Asian Champions League tie between Al Hilal and holders Al-Ain.
Romanian FA blows final whistle on scandal-hit Nordis’ referees sponsorship
October 23 – The Romanian Football Federation has terminated its sponsorship contract with Nordis Group. The real estate company was the main sponsor of the FRF Referees Committee, and its logo was on the shirts of the Romanian referees.
Motsepe confirms $50m Lagardere pay-off, promises $1bn for CAF and awards bumper pay-rises
October 22 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the organisation paid $50 million in an out-of-court settlement to former marketing company Lagardere after the 2019 cancelation of a $1 billion contract.
LaLiga seeks greenlight for Barca vs Atletico US smash-and-grab raid in Miami
October 22 – Pressure is building on FIFA and the US Soccer Federation from LaLiga to sanction a regular season game in the United States.
Motsepe rubberstamps pay rises for member association presidents as CAF reports $9m loss
October 22 – Notwithstanding the fragile finances of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the continent’s top football officials have been granted a pay rise following approval by the organization’s general assembly.
Iranian security fears force AFC to shifts Esteghal vs Al-Nassr ACL tie to Dubai
October 22 – Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite match has been controversially moved from Iran to Dubai by the Asian Football Confederation due to security concerns.
Rapper A$AP Rocky joins consortium negotiating for Tranmere Rovers
October 22 – Tranmere Rovers co-owner Mark Palios has hinted that a deal to sell the League Two club could be imminent, expressing his desire for it to be completed ‘ASAP’.
OlyBet stakes Girona with two-season sponsorship
October 22 – LaLiga’s Girona FC has announced a new partnership with OlyBet, who become the club’s Official Betting Partner in Europe (excluding Turkey) and digital partner in Spain for the next two seasons.
US Soccer threatens its youth soccer eco-system with chaos over age-group date change
October 22 – In 2016 the United States Soccer Federation finally fell in line with the world in regard to youth soccer age classification. The previous system using the school calendar (August 1st cutoff) was consigned to the scrap heap and the birth year January (1st cutoff) became the defining factor.
Staveley’s WhatsApp messages suggest MBS had last word on Newcastle United buy
October 22 – The separation between nation states and Premier League clubs is becoming increasing blurred after it has been revealed that the former Newcastle United minority co-owner, Amanda Staveley, suggested the buyout of the club hinged on the approval of Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
Women’s players lobby FIFA to end ‘shocking’ Aramco sponsorship
October 22 – More than 100 internationals in the women’s game are calling on FIFA to reconsider allowing Saudi Arabian oil company Saudi Aramco to be a sponsor.
Serbian police attached by FC Novi Pazar ultras locked out of stadium
October 22 – Six police officers were injured after FC Novi Pazar ultras attacked law enforcement officers before the Serbian league match against Partizan.
Orlando man faces up to 40 years in jail for letting off flares that burnt a child
October 22 – A man who lit two flares and threw them into the crowd at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, has been charged with arson that led to personal injuries.
FC32 takes control of Cobh Ramblers on mission to build a playing talent pipeline
October 22 – League of Ireland club Cobh Ramblers has been bought by fledgling multi-club ownership group FC32 for an undisclosed sum.
Divide and conquer: Infantino uses Spanish players’ union meet to show he does care
October 21 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino insists player welfare “remains a priority” despite top European leagues and players’ union Fifpro filing a legal complaint to the European Commission against the world governing body.