November 19 – With the Premier League returning to action this weekend, so will its latest game changer, VAR. With Michel Platini being the latest to weigh in with expletives over the use of video refs, and the Premier League having met with the VAR bosses with a demand to sort the inconsistencies out, the pressure for a controversy free weekend is building.
November 19 – Four Australian under-23 players have been banned for “unprofessional conduct” during a night out at the end of the Asian Football Confederation U-23 championship qualifying tournament in Cambodia last March.
By Osasu Obayiuwana
November 18 – With just 72 hours to Thursday’s CAF executive committee (exco) meeting in Cairo, the first since the Africa Cup of Nations final in Egypt, a member of the executive committee has lashed out against CAF President Ahmad for “not respecting the rules of the organisation.”
By Andrew Warshaw
November 18 – The bitter war of words between the respective bosses of the Spanish FA (RFEF) and La Liga has plumbed new depths of acrimony amid claim and counter-claim following last week’s court ruling against the latest attempt to stage a league fixture in the United States.
By Samindra Kunti in Brasilia
November 18 – Brazil have won the U-17 World Cup on home soil, coming from behind to defeat Mexico 2-1 in dramatic style, a considerable feat as the Brazilians had initially failed to qualify for the tournament. Substitute Lazaro was Brazil’s hero again with a 93rd-minute winner.
November 18 – With debate over the format of the 2021 Club World Cup guaranteed to dominate headlines over the next two years, FIFA hosted the inauguration of a new club organisation in Zurich last week.
November 19 – The broadcast market may be disrupted by piracy and challenger broadcast platforms, but big money for premium product is still available if the £1.2 billion UK pay TV broadcaster BT Sport is paying for the next cycle of Europe’s Champions League is an indicator.
November 18 – Manchester City have lost their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to halt UEFA’s investigation into alleged financial fair play irregularities.
November 18 – The World Leagues Forum (WLF), set up four years ago to represent professional football leagues from across the world, has named Liga MX president Enrique Bonilla (pictured) as its new chairman, the first non-European to hold the post.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 15 – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hit back at Michel Platini’s claim that he voted for Qatar to stage the 2022 World Cup, saying Platini’s recollection of events is “totally untue” and that he backed the losing United States bid.
“In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in folly.”
― Samuel Taylor Coleridge
While the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to unilaterally terminate its 12-year $1 billion contract with Lagardere Sports (LS) continues to reverberate around the continent – and outside of it – informed Insideworldfootball readers will not be surprised about the development.
By Paul Nicholson
November 15 – More than £2.37 million has been paid to 17 Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee members since Ahmad took over the presidency of the regional body in 2017.
November 15 – LaLiga’s attempts to get interim permission to play a league fixture in Miami this December have been knocked back by Madrid’s Mercantile Court No. 12.
November 15 – The criticism of the Spanish FA’s (RFEF) decision to move its Super Cup to Saudi Arabia in a €130 million deal is now alienating broadcast partners with state broadcaster RTVE saying it will not bid for the TV rights due to human rights concerns.
November 15 – Marcello Lippi has quit as China coach after a 2-1 defeat by Syria in a 2022 World Cup qualifier in Dubai. It is the second time this year that the Italian has resigned from his role.