Reed to leave technical director’s post at English FA
October 7 – Les Reed will leave his post as technical director of the English Football Association at the end of the year, the governing body has announced.
Transfers: Arsenal Partey on, Juve spend €50m on Chiesa, Man Utd grab Cavani and Telles
October 6 – With their manager under scrutiny, Manchester United were the most prolific Premier League spenders on the last day of the international summer transfer window, splashing out £28 million on four players though whether that keeps Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in his job remains to be seen.
Debt surges to €488m at Messi’s Barça as Covid hits all revenue streams
By David Owen
October 6 – Spanish giants Barcelona have reported an after-tax loss of €97 million and a more than doubled net debt-load, as Covid-19 took a heavy toll on last season’s financial results.
French football asks government for €215m to see it through Covid crisis
October 6 – The French League (LFP) and the French Football Federation (FFF) have reportedly asked the government for €215 million of Covid-19 relief to make up for the shortfall in gate revenues following the decision to limit fan attendance.
Italian sports minister Spadafora says the Serie A show will go on, for now
October 6 – Italy’s sport minister says the season will not be halted in the wake of the Juventus-Napoli fixture, one of the biggest in the Italian calendar, being abandoned due to an apparent conflict over implementation of COVID-19 health rules.
Extinction rebellion: Fans battle to keep Arsenal’s Gunnersaurus alive
October 6 – Arsenal’s mascot became the latest victim of the club’s controversial cost-cutting exercise amid the coronavirus pandemic. Gunnersaurus was let go by the Londoners after serving the club for 27 years.
Solskjaer speculation puts Pochettino back in frame to takeover at Man Utd
October 6 – The transfer window may have slammed shut but the biggest deal of all could involve a possible new manager at Manchester United.
Liverpool hattrick as Shaqiri joins Mane and Alcantro after testing positive
October 6 – As a second spike of Covid-19 threatens to sweep through Europe, Xherdan Shaqiri has become the third Liverpool player to test positive in the space of a week.
Fan fears allayed as Maradona returns negative test
October 6 – Diego Maradona has tested negative for Covid-19 amid fears he had contracted the virus after hugging a colleague.
FIFA on African manoeuvres in bid to get their man Drogba up front in FIF elections
By Paul Nicholson
October 5 – FIFA’s involvement in Africa’s football politics and the election of its officials has again caused resentment on the continent with the world governing body this time stepping into the Côte d’Ivoire presidential election furore surrounding Didier Drogba.
Mayhem and madness as Liverpool and Man Utd thrashed by Villa and Spurs
By Andrew Warshaw
October 5 – It was, as one national newspaper put it, the day football went crazy. What a shame there were no fans to see it live.
Conmebol revamps Copa Sudamericana adding teams and a group stage
October 5 – The Copa Sudamericana will feature a group-stage format for the 2021 season, Conmebol has announced.
AFC rebrands championships under ‘Asian Cup’ banner from 2021
October 5 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has renamed its age group competitions to become AFC Asian Cups from 2021. The Asian Cup naming convention will also be rolled out across the confederations Futsal and Beach Soccer competitions.
Iran’s Persepolis beat Saudi’s Al Nassr on penalties to reach Asian Champions League final
October 5 – Persepolis became the first team to reach the final of this season’s Asian Champions League after defeating Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia on penalties in the last four.
Coronavirus: Stay-at-home Napoli set to forfeit Juventus match
October 5 – One of the biggest games in European domestic league football was plunged into chaos on Sunday when visitors Napoli failed to turn up for their Serie A showdown with Juventus after their squad was placed in isolation following positive coronavirus tests.