Dentsu adds TV rights to J-league representation package
October 11 – Dentsu will replace French agency Lagardere Sports as the sales agency for Japan’s J-League international broadcast rights between 2020 and 2022.
Bulgarians say England’s walk-off threat is ‘unjust’ branding of country as racist
October 11 – The Bulgarian FA have written angrily to UEFA to protest against a threat by England players to walk off the pitch en masse if any of them are racially abused during Monday’s Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia.
Esprit becomes UEFA’s third women’s football partner alongside Nike and Visa
October 11 – UEFA have added global fashion brand Esprit as the Official Branded Apparel Partner of UEFA Women’s Football in deal running through to 2021.
Uganda’s Magogo suspended over 2014 World Cup ticket resale scandal
October 11 – FIFA have suspended Uganda FA president Moses Magogo from all football-related activity for two months for his role in the resale of World Cup tickets. The football official has also been slapped with a $10,000 fine.
FIFA vow to keep pressure on Iran to continue to allow women in stadia
By Andrew Warshaw
October 10 – Iran’s World Cup qualifier against Cambodia today is being lauded as a landmark occasion, with women officially allowed to attend a men’s game for the first time in two generations.
UEFA ban Slovan Bratislava fans for Wolves game but U-14s can still go for free
October 10 – UEFA have confirmed that Slovan Bratislava’s Europa League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers will be played behind closed doors after dismissing their appeal against being charged for racist chants by fans in a play-off game against PAOK of Greece.
Messi ready to end his career at Barca but says he is not God
October 10 -Lionel Messi has revealed wanted to leave Spain in the midst of his case for tax fraud because of the way he was being treated but stayed when no offers emerged.
Sligo parody ‘WAGatha Christie’ in quick-witted PR coup
By David Owen
October 10 – Sligo Rovers currently reside, it is fair to say, some way below the pinnacle of European football. But the League of Ireland club plays a mean social media game.
Security issues force Sierra Leone World Cup qualifier behind closed doors
October 10 – Sierra Leone have been ordered to play their next official match behind closed doors following “a number of incidents” linked to the recent World Cup qualifier against Liberia.
Beckham’s Inter Miami and New England Revolution commit to 3rd tier USL
October 10 – The USL, operator of professional leagues below the MLS, have won the commitments of David Beckham’s Inter Miami and MLS old stagers New England Revolution to enter teams in the second season of their third tier League One in 2020.
Adidas builds esports positioning with official in-game ball for FIFA 20 Global Series
October 10 – Adidas, one of FIFA’s six top tier partners, has added sponsorship of the the governing bodies esports package – the FIFA 20 Global Series – and will provide the official in-game ball.
LA fashion brand 424 cuts new cloth with two-year Arsenal deal
October 10 – Los Angeles fashion brand 424 has become the Official Formal Wear partner of Premier League Arsenal in a two-year partnership.
Europe’s clubs and leagues on collision course over Champions League set up post-2024
By Andrew Warshaw
October 9 – The heads of the two bodies representing Europe’s clubs and league have renewed their war of words over qualification for the Champions League in the post-2024 cycle and how European competitions should be structured.
Why football’s impending TV rights disaster is a self-inflicted wound
By Paul Nicholson
October 9 – Football only has itself to blame for the bombshell dropped by beIN Media Group CEO, Yousef Al-Obaidly yesterday at the Leaders in Sport conference in London, who outlined a future of dramatically reduced rights fees from broadcasters worldwide, even for premium leagues and events.
All for one and one for all: England promise walk off if players are racially abused
October 9 – England players are threatening to walk off the pitch all together if any of them receive racist abuse from the stands when they take on Bulgaria in Sofia in a World Cup qualifier next Monday.