Sweden cancel winter break training trip to Qatar after club opposition
September 8 – Sweden have cancelled their annual training trip to Qatar next year after “unanimous” opposition from the Swedish top tier clubs.
Iran, Aussie and Saudi lead Asian Qualifiers, Japan recover after Oman shock
September 8 – Iran, Australia and Saudi Arabia have taken early advantage in the last round of Asian Qualifying for Qatar 2022. All three won their opening two games and top Groups A and B in the 12 team qualifiers.
Brazil want sanctions, ECA says FIFA should go easy on clubs for not releasing players
September 8 – The six English Premier League clubs who refused to release players for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers should be told – and fast – if they will be suspended by FIFA, says European Clubs’ Association chief executive Charlie Marshall.
80 speakers and 60 digital events. Sports Integrity Week ready to kick off Sept.13
September 8 – More than 80 speakers have now been announced for Sport Integrity Week that opens next Monday September 13 with more than 60 virtual events.
Doha doting: Good ol’ boys join Wenger in Qatar
September 8 – If you think you might need moral support then call up a group of your sycophantic and often well-paid ‘legends’ to get you over the trickier hurdles of public and industry opinion.
Super League rehab: Levy, Antonello and Gil join ECA board
September 8 – Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy (pictured) has been voted on to the executive board of the European Club Association, just five months after his club were one of 12 founder members of the aborted breakaway European Super League.
Arsenal cash-in with new global payments partner Sokin
September 8 – Arsenal have teamed up with global payments provider Sokin becoming the club’s money transfer partner.
Ceferin says World Cup every two years would ‘dilute’ its value
By Andrew Warshaw
September 7 – The war of words between FIFA and UEFA over the idea of staging the World Cup every two years shows no sign of slowing down with UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin once again denouncing the concept, this time saying it would “dilute” what makes the tournament so unique.
ECA boss Al-Khelaifi dismisses ESL’s failed trio and sketches plans for club support
September 7 – The head of the European Clubs Association (ECA), Nasser Al-Khelaifi, has called out the three rebel clubs still hopeful of setting up a breakaway Super League and has described those who originally backed the project as “fabulists and failures”.
Brazilian police probe EPL’s Argentine four over ‘false information’ accusation
By Samindra Kunti
September 7 – Brazil’s federal police are investigating Argentina’s four Premier-League based players whose presence prompted health officials to storm Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Sao Paulo, which led to the match’s abandonment.
bwin punts on UEFA’s Europa and Conference Leagues with first betting sponsorship
September 7 – Online betting giant bwin has become an Official Partner of UEFA’s Europa and Conference leagues for the three season 2021 to 2024 cycle.
Jbarah goal sees Jordan beat Tunisia to win Arab Women’s Cup
September 7 – Jordan beat Tunisia in the final 1-0 to win the 2021 Arab Women’s Cup in Cairo, Egypt, the second edition of the competition that was first held in Alexandria in 2006.
UEFA re-opens gates to travelling fans for club competitions
September 7 – UEFA has lifted its ban on away fans attending European club matches when the group stage of the Champions League, Europa League and inaugural Conference League get under way next week.
Serie A re-opening talks on €1.7bn of new finance
September 7 – Italy’s Serie A is reportedly back in the hunt for private equity finance plans with Bloomberg indicating they are looking to sell a €1.7 billion stake in the league’s new media rights business.
Pele has surgery for removal of tumour
September 7 – Brazilian legend Pele is recovering in hospital from surgery to remove a tumour from his colon.