Tunnel vision: West Ham test new sanitiser at training base
September 9 – West Ham United are the first English club to trial a ground-breaking Covid-19 sanitiser tunnel designed to get fans back into stadiums safely.
ECA and Juve boss Agnelli warns of two year €4bn Covid cash crisis for clubs
By Andrew Warshaw
September 8 – The head of European club football’s umbrella organisation warned today of the “deep scars” caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the probable “cash crisis” for scores of clubs in the months ahead.
UEFA puts Super Cup tickets on sale for travelling Bayern and Sevilla fans
September 8 – Tickets have gone on sale for the European Super Cup between Bayern Munich and Sevilla, due to be the first UEFA club match with fans in attendance since the coronavirus shutdown.
England starlets Foden and Greenwood shamed and sent home after Covid kerfuffle
September 8 – Two of England’s most exciting young players have been sent home in disgrace from international duty for breaking Covid-19 rules as indiscipline and irresponsibility not for the first time made footballing headlines across the country.
AC Milan punt on regional expansion with Yabo Sports deal in Asia
September 8 – AC Milan, which has renewed focus on creating regional sponsorships, has signed a three-year deal with casino and sportsbook operator Yabo Sports as an official regional partner across Asia.
Leicester City expand Vitality partnership to newly acquired women’s team
September 8 – Premier League Leicester City, whose owners King Power completed the acquisition of the women’s team of the same name last month, have signed the first major sponsor for their new team in health and life insurance firm Vitality.
Mbappe to miss Croatia rematch after positive Covid-19 test
September 8 – After French domestic club football was plunged into chaos because of a resurgence of Covid-19, the national team has now also been rocked with superstar Kylian Mbappe testing positive, forcing him out of tonight’s high-profile Nations League match against Croatia – a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final.
Man City Covid crisis as Mahrez and Laporte told to self-isolate
September 8 – Manchester City are the latest high-profile club to be hit with fresh Covid-19 outbreaks, with both Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte testing positive just days before the start of the new Premier League season.
Fulham land BetVictor as main sponsor for Premier League return
September 8 – Fulham, back in the Premier League at the first time of asking, have confirmed online bookmaker BetVictor as the club’s main sponsor.
Whistleblower Pinto’s trial opens with claim he acted in public, not money, interest
By Andrew Warshaw
September 7 – Rui Pinto, the Portuguese whistleblower whose string of incriminating revelations shook the footballing world before he was controversially extradited from Hungary, has told a Lisbon court that he acted in order to expose corruption and was proud of it.
Man City’s courting of Messi ends as he refuses to go to legal with Barca contract
By Andrew Warshaw
September 7 – As footballing u-turns go, they don’t come much more spectacular. Just as millions of fans worldwide were in the throes of anticipating where Lionel Messi might end up after he dropped the bombshell that he wanted to leave his beloved Barcelona, so the Argentine maestro changed his mind and said he was staying after all.
Frattini kicks off Sport Integrity Week with call to fight the mafia and for the ‘purity’ of sport
September 7 – SIGA chairman Franco Frattini kicked off the Sports Integrity Week of webinars with a strong call to action to all stakeholders in sports to be uncompromising in the battle against criminality.
Covid fear: Italian government nervous of opening stadia for start of Serie A
September 7 – With the Serie A season imminent, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has voiced his concern over fans attending matches, arguing that it would be inappropriate at the present time.
Billy Beane puts his money on playing ball with AZ Almaar stake
September 9 – Moneyball guru Billy Beane (pictured) has acquired a minority share in Dutch top-flight club AZ Alkmaar. He previously held an advisory role at the Eredivisie outfit.
Rubiales vs Tebas: Spanish FA boss set for 4 more years of battle with LaLiga supremo
September 7 – Luis Rubiales is certain to be re-elected as Spanish FA president for another four years after emerging as the sole candidate to stand in elections later this month.