By Andrew Warshaw
October 18 – No final decision on the format to revamp the Champions League post-2024 will be taken for at least a year but a closed shop competition is a “no go” area, according to the head of the umbrella body representing Europe’s major leagues.
October 18 – Senegal has denied reports of age-cheating after announcing their 21-man squad for the Under-17 World Cup in Brazil later this month.
October 18 – British politicians from across all parties are urging UEFA to ban teams who do not tackle racism effectively, following Monday’s highly publicised incidents in Sofia when England played Bulgaria.
October 18 – English Premier League clubs have been reassured there are no plans to strip them of their fourth automatic Champions League place.
October 18 – This month’s El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid has been called off because of fears of civil unrest just 24 hours after reports suggested that Spanish football chiefs would reject reversing the two league fixtures between the clubs.
October 18 – Bulgarian police have made six arrests in the aftermath of Monday’s Euro 2020 qualifier against England, which was twice halted for racist chanting and Nazi salutes and led to the Bulgarian football president, Borislav Mihaylov, resigning 24 hours later.
October 17 – South Korea’s players say their World Cup qualifier against North Korea in Pyongyang was physically brutal and included abusive language.
By David Owen
October 17 – Tensions are reported between Senegalese players and the national federation over appearance money and travel conditions for the recent friendly against Brazil. According to France Football, citing in turn Senegalese media, the players turned down an appearance payment of €1,000, compared with the usual €1,150.
October 17 – Sacramento’s long wait may have paid off with media reports suggesting the new club franchise will become the latest Major League Soccer (MLS) team.
October 16 – Concussion substitutes will be discussed next week by football’s law-making body to mirror the success of similar changes in Rugby Union in an attempt to improve player safety.
October 17 – Spanish football chiefs are reportedly likely to reject La Liga’s request to switch El Clasico on October 26 from Barcelona to Real Madrid because of the ongoing civil unrest throughout Catalonia.
October 17 – Bulgarian football legend Hristo Stoichkov was reduced to tears in response to the racist abuse dished out by Bulgaria’s fans towards England’s players during their Euro 2020 qualifier earlier this week.
October 17 – In a key move that provides a significant political and psychological boost for Qatar’s World Cup organisers, the Gulf state has pledged to fully eliminate the antiquated and controversial kafala sponsorship system that ties foreign workers to their employer.
October 16 – Former Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has been parachuted into Australia’s A-League as a ‘special advisor’ in a bid to the clubs to turnaround the commercial fortunes of the country top professional competition.
October 17 – Two English players top an ‘experience’ ranking of young players. Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho (pictured) and Tottenham’s Ryan Sessegnon lead the way in a top 20 that has ten young players coming from Europe’s Big 5 leagues and four of them from England’s Premier League.