UEFA shuts doors or Serbian racists
October 22 – Serbia have been ordered to play their next home game behind closed doors in the latest sanction imposed by UEFA for racism.
FA orders racially ruined FA Cup match to be replayed
October 22 – An English FA Cup qualifier abandoned at the weekend because of racist abuse when the home players walked off is to be replayed rather than the tie be awarded to either team.
Conmebol confirm Copa Libertadores final will stay in Santiago
October 22 – South American football governing body Conmebol has confirmed that the 2020 Copa Libertadores final will still be staged in Santiago amid growing fears over the social unrest engulfing the Chilean capital.
UEFA’s business incubator signs three start-ups
October 22 – UEFA has signed three start-up businesses as part of its business innovation drive to develop new technologies and products that will significantly impact the commercial management and promotion of football and its assets.
Qataris unveil Club World Cup emblem with 50 days to go
October 22 – In September the Qataris launched the official emblem for the 2022 World Cup. Last week they launched a new official emblem for this year’s Club World Cup to be played in December.
Women’s World Cup viewing: chronicle of the long, lingering death of TV foretold?
By David Owen
October 21 – Women’s football is on a roll – and more power to its elbow for that. Nonetheless, the viewing figures for this summer’s Women’s World Cup, released at the end of last week to some fanfare, deserve to be treated with a certain amount of caution.
Relevent and LaLiga resurrect US ambitions with Villareal vs Atletico proposal
October 21 – Plans to stage a La Liga fixture in Miami have been resurrected, this time involving Villarreal’s home game against Atletico Madrid on December 6.
When enough is enough: Haringey walk off over Yeovil Town fans’ racial abuse
By Andrew Warshaw
October 21 – Everyone was appalled by the headline-making events in Sofia recently when England’s black players were verbally abused by a section of the Bulgarian fans.
Racism crisis: Roma fans target England’s Vieira with money chants
October 21 – Racism has once more marred Italian football. This time Sampdoria and England U-21 midfielder Ronaldo Vieira was the target of monkey chants from AS Roma fans.
UEFA separate Russia and Kosovo in bid to keep the peace
By Andrew Warshaw
October 21 – In another strategic move to preserve football’s geo-political status quo, UEFA have decided to keep apart Russia and Kosovo in European competition because of “security risks”.
FIFA bigwigs gather in Shanghai as China looks set to win 2021 Club World Cup hosting
October 21 – FIFA is expected to confirm China this week as host for its 24-team Club World Cup in 2021, overcoming opposition from Europe. The revamped tournament will provide the Zurich-based body with a new revenue stream.
Reliance interested in streaming Premier League games in India
By David Owen
October 21 – India’s Reliance Industries is mulling bidding for Indian streaming rights for the English Premier League and other top-notch sports competitions in future. Nita Ambani, a Reliance board member, told the Financial Times: “I would be very interested to get the digital rights of some of these games to be shown on digital in India.”
Klopp say VAR missed a foul, Solskjaer says it’s time to man-up
October 21 – Another weekend, another raging VAR controversy, this time surrounding Liverpool’s high-profile globally televised fixture at Manchester United on Sunday with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp declaring the way the technology is being used in England does not make “too much sense”.
ISL beats I-League to become India’s top league
By Samindra Kunti
October 18 – At last, Indian football has a roadmap. After years of dragging its feet the Indian governing body, AIFF has presented a plan to establish a single league by the 2024-25 season.
Club World Cup hits jam as Brazil says clubs won’t play
October 18 – Conmebol has proposed the format for South American qualification route for the revamped club World Cup in 2021, but has met opposition to the proposal from heavyweight regional giant.