Lauber on his own as prosecutor rules FIFA out of joining proceedings
October 9 – Gianni Infantino’s hopes of influencing the judicial case against former Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber (pictured) appear to have been dashed.
LaLiga and Liga Portugal buddy up for another three years as 2030 bid gathers pace
October 9 – With Spain and Portugal having confirmed their joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup, their two top leagues have similarly renewed their vows, extending a cooperation agreement signed in 2017 for a further three years.
Messi goal as Argentina and Uruguay win, kicks off Conmebol’s World Cup qualifiers
October 9 – Paraguay and Peru drew 2-2, Uruguay defeated Chile 2-1 and Lionel Messi dragged Argentina to a 1-0 win over Ecuador on Thursday to get the South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup finally under way after the coronavirus shutdown.
Euro 2020 qualifiers go to the wire with new faces and penalty shoot-out heroes emerging
October 9 – On a night of nerve-shredding action, Serbia reached the Euro 2020 playoff finals Thursday with a 2-1 away win away over Norway after extra time while seven other nations joined them across four different groups in what promises to be a series of thrilling head-to-head climaxes next month.
India’s I-League qualifiers open new season in bio-secured Kolkata venues
October 9 – Six months after the coronavirus pandemic halted sports in India, the I-League qualifiers got the 2020-2021football season under way on Thursday.
Wenger suggests slate of rule changes to improve up the game
October 9 – With the rules of football under more scrutiny than ever – offside, handball, VAR etc – FIFA’s recently appointed Head of Global Development, Arsene Wenger, has come up with some forward-looking ideas he believes will improve the game.
Black coaches launch anti-racism lobby group to bring change to English game
October 9 – A new organisation entitled Football’s Black Coalition (FBC), has been launched by black coaches in the UK to lobby governing bodies to combat racism in the game.
England vs Scotland U19s abandoned mid-match after positive covid case identified
October 9 – An under-19 friendly between England and Scotland on Thursday was abandoned during the first half after the visitors’ head coach Billy Stark tested positive for Covid-19.
Police raid DFB offices across Germany in tax fraud probe
October 8 – German prosecutors have searched several offices of the German Football Association (DFB) in the latest investigation into corruption, this time over the conduct of six former and current DFB bosses suspected of serious tax evasion.
Women in Football report finds gender discrimination still dominates workplace
October 8 – A report by Women In Football has found that 66% of women have experienced gender discrimination in football.
Transfer business is still the big money playground but Covid has slowed player inflation
October 8 – The biggest impact the Covid pandemic has had on football’s transfer market is to slow down the inflation of players’ prices that in the 2019 window, where like-for-like player transfer price inflation was running at 15%.
Gianni jets into Qatar for a stadium visit, game of 7-a-side and a powwow with the Emir
October 8 – Gianni Infantino praised Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 World Cup amid the difficulty of navigating the coronavirus pandemic after a visit to the Al Bayt stadium and a meeting with the Emir.
D-day looms for Barca’s Bartomeu as no-confidence motion forces January vote
October 8 – January 9 is the date being reported in Spain that could spell the end of the reign of Barcelona supremo Josep Maria Bartomeu in a no confidence vote.
Spain and Portugal confirm joint bid for 2030 World Cup hosting
October 8 – On the day they played each other in an Iberian friendly, Spain and Portugal announced Wednesday they were pushing ahead with a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup.
Wenger’s global football talent stock take begins with 200+ FIFA members signing up
October 8 – More than 200 national association members of FIFA have signed up for the Arsene Wenger-led Talent Development Programme.