AFC dials in Japanese telecoms giant KDDI for renewed term
October 5 – The AFC has renewed Japanese telecoms provider KDDI as a regional partner for its major national team competitions for the 2021-2024 rights cycle.
Klopp sees red as frustration bubbles over too strict quarantine rules
October 4 – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has taken the UK government to task over their change of heart in offering Premier League players exemptions if they are travelling to Covid red-list countries during this month’s international break.
US women’s soccer shocked to standstill over NWSL sexual harassment allegations
October 4 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), until last week a picture of positivity, progress and growth, has reacted swiftly to the multiple allegations of sexual harassment that resulted in the firing of North Carolina Coach Paul Riley but which senior players have said is also a wider league problem.
FIFA keeps up expansionist thinking with reports of HQ move to US
October 4 – FIFA is reportedly considering relocating its headquarters from Zurich to the United States and is looking at both east and west coast venues.
Portugal beat Argentina to win Futsal World Cup
October 4 – Winger Pany Varela starred with two goals to crown Portugal futsal world champions with a 2-1 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final in Lithuania, reclaiming the title for Europe for the first time since 2004.
Aussies combine men’s and women’s pro leagues into single ‘A-Leagues’ brand
October 4 – Australia’s top tier men’s and women’s professional clubs – which in 2020 took over the running of their business and operations from the Australian federation – have unveiled a new brand identity under a unified ‘A-Leagues’ banner that includes their youth teams.
FIFA fan Jordaan says World Cup has not benefitted Africa, but a biennial event would
October 4 – Following the lead of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the South African Football Association (SAFA) has endorsed the proposal for a biennial World Cup, with the governing body’s strongman Danny Jordaan arguing that the tournament in its current form “has not brought progress in African football over the last 100 years”.
Former OM president Bernard Tapie dies, aged 78
October 3 – Business magnate and controversial former Olympique Marseille president Bernard Tapie has died at 78 after a long battle with stomach cancer. He led the French club to the Champions league crown in 1993, a victory later overshadowed by a match-fixing scandal in the French league.
eToro bullish in Serie A with launch of 8 club partnerships
October 4 – Online trading platform eToro has secured partnerships with eight clubs in Italy’s Serie A for the coming 2021/22 season.
Super agent Zahavi charged in Belgium with forgery, fraud and money laundering
October 3 – Israeli football agent Pini Zahavi (pictured centre) has been charged in Belgium with forgery, use of forgeries, fraud and money laundering in relation to mismanagement at second-division club Royal Excelsior Mouscron, the federal prosecutor’s office said.
FAs summoned to summit for FIFA’s fever(ed) ‘pitch’ on biennial World Cup
October 1 – In a further effort to garner support for his organisation’s much-criticised plan to stage the World Cup every two years, FIFA president Gianni Infantino held a summit with more than 200 national federations Thursday in which he banged the drum for how the game should look going forward.
World Cup every two years is ‘not positive’ for football, says Martinez
October 1 – Belgium coach Roberto Martinez, whose team top the world rankings but have failed to win the world championship, opposes FIFA plans to stage the World Cup every two years, arguing the frequency would “devalue” the tournament.
French split on biennial WC: Le Graet ‘not opposed’, Deschamps says it ‘trivialises’ comp
October 1 – France has emerged as the first major European footballing country to give tacit conditional approval to staging the World Cup every two years.
Abuse of Kamara continues in Prague as UEFA relaxes ban to let kids into stadium
October 1 – Scottish champions Rangers have written to UEFA to complain about the racist treatment of Glen Kamara during their Europa League game at against Sparta Prague on Thursday.
Inter Milan losses top €246m for covid-hit season
October 1 – Serie A champions Inter Milan have posted a mammoth loss of €246 million for the 2020/21 financial year.