AFC Champions League under way as Covid protocols given first test in Qatar
September 15 – The AFC Champions League has restarted with group games being played at centralised venues in both the East and West regions of the region.
Conmebol pushes on with Copa Libertadores despite domestic leagues frozen amid Covid fears
September 15 – The Copa Libertadores resumes on Tuesday with Colo Colo taking on Penarol and Jorge Wilstermann playing Athletico Paranaense in Group C in an elaborate exercise that will test Conmebol, the clubs and the players with three out of the continent’s ten domestic leagues still on hold.
UEFA reformats Women’s CL and issues tender for a boosted TV rights package
September 15 – UEFA has today launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the acquisition of media rights for the Women’s Champions League 2021–25 cycle.
Israel says lockdown will not derail Scotland Euro 2020 play-off
September 15 – Israel are happy to travel to fulfil their European Championship play-off against Scotland despite a national lockdown.
FA boots minnows out of Cup for refusing to play Covid-depleted rivals
By Andrew Warshaw
September 14 – Spare a thought today for a tiny English non-league team who put the health of its players first yet have been thrown out of the FA Cup, the world’s oldest domestic knockout tournament, for refusing to play.
Belgium reopens stadia for fans with full round of fixtures
By Samindra Kunti
September 14 – Belgian football fans returned to stadiums this weekend for the first since the Covid-19 pandemic began and following specific protocols that were approved by local authorities.
Premier League calls on government to raise 1,000 fan cap and save football jobs
September 14 – The English Premier League has called on the government to rethink its plans on the proposed return of fans to stadiums in the wake of increasing Covid-19 infections.
Chaos in Paris as PSG lose to OM, 5 sent off and accusations of racist comments
September 14 – France’s most hostile domestic football rivalry resulted in no fewer than five dismissals on Sunday and a claim from Neymar that he heard a racist slur as visitors Marseille upset reigning champions Paris St Germain 1-0.
US investors Bolt, take leap into Belgian football with Waasland-Beveren buy
September 14 – Waasland-Beveren have become the latest foreign-owned club in the Belgian top flight following investment by Bolt Football Holdings, the American majority owners of Crystal Palace.
Barca budget for €315m revenue loss and set date March date of presidential election
September 14 – With the crisis over whether Lionel Messsi is staying or leaving resolved, the club have moved on to the next personnel issue and whether president Josep Maria Bartomeu will stay on, setting 20 and 21 March 2021 as the election date for the club presidency.
Mourinho plays the Covid card as Spurs open with loss to Everton
September 14 – Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that a number of the club’s players caught Covid-19 during the summer.
Everton renews deal with Fratelli Beretta
September 14 – Everton, riding high from their weekend opening season win over Spurs, have more cause to be positive having extended their partnership with Italian food giant Fratelli Beretta.
Online gambler picks up Leicester City deal as it readies a UK site launch
September 14 – Premier League Leicester City have agreed online betting firm Parimatch to become the club’s First Team Training Wear Partner and Betting Partner.
Liverpool open new EPL season but Manchester and London big guns have them in their sights
By Andrew Warshaw
September 11 – Having won their first English league title for 30 long and painful years, Liverpool kick off the defence of their crown this weekend as they attempt to disprove the old adage that it’s harder to win it second time round.
AFC hangs on to 2020 Champions League but cancels AFC Cup, Futsal and youth comps
September 11 – The AFC Cup, Asia’s second-tier club competition, has been cancelled for 2020. The AFC Solidarity Cup and the AFC Futsal Club Championship will also not take place due to the coronavirus pandemic.