Save the Date: SIGA set March 2020 date Sport Integrity Forum VI in New York
October 25 – SIGA have opened registrations for its sixth Sport Integrity Forum to be held in New York in 2020 at the New York Athletic Club on March 24.
Olympiakos vs Bayern U19s abandoned after thugs invade pitch
October 25 – Bayern Munich have made an official complaint to UEFA after a youth match against Olympiakos was abandoned because of crowd violence.
Man City adds Nestle Professional to partner roster with emphasis on social initiatives
October 25 – Manchester City has brought on Nestlé Professional as the club’s Official Coffee, Vegan and Vegetarian Partner in what is described as a multi-year deal.
2030 World Cup bidding to launch in 2022 with decision in 2024
October 25 – The host nation for the 2030 World Cup will be chosen in 2024, giving the winner just six years to prepare, following a decision by the FIFA Council.
All about the money: China rubber-stamped to host 24-team Club World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
October 24 – China will host the first edition of the expanded Club World Cup in 2021 with FIFA president Gianni Infantino hailing the landmark event as “historic” and describing it as “the first real and true [Club] World Cup”.
Palace accelerate receipt of £22.5m Wan-Bissaka transfer instalment
By David Owen
October 24 – Crystal Palace, off to a good start to the season under former England boss Roy Hodgson, appear to have made arrangements in effect to receive a £22.5 million instalment of the transfer fee for wing-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka earlier than scheduled.
Spanish women vote to strike over minimum wage conditions in club game
October 24 – Almost 200 women players in Spain’s first division have voted to strike in a disagreement over pay and conditions.
IFAB working group to target Spring for potential new rule on concussion subs
October 24 – The introduction of so-called concussion substitutes has moved a step closer after the game’s rule-makers set up an expert group to begin looking into whether changes to the laws need to be made.
Flamengo turn on the style at Maracana to set up Copa Libertadores final against River Plate
By Samindra Kunti in Rio de Janeiro
October 24 – Flamengo trashed Gremio 5-0 to reach the Copa Libertadores final. They will meet Argentina’s River Plate, who had previously eliminated Boca Juniors. The winner of South America’s premier club competition will represent the continent at the Club World Cup in Qatar.
Brugge boss Verhaeghe says joint Belgium-Netherlands league talks are back on
By Samindra Kunti
October 24 – Club Brugge president Bart Verhaeghe (pictured) has reignited talk around the formation of a ‘BeNe League’, saying that Belgium and the Netherlands are in discussion on how they join forces to found an 18-team league that could begin play as early as 2021.
Holland’s eDivisie revamps league and brings in DreamHack as platform partner
October 24 – Holland’s Eredivisie is gearing up for the start of the eDivisie’s fourth season on November 11 with a new partnership with DreamHack and an updated competition format.
Dispute over date for re-arranged El Clasico fixture gets royally heated
October 24 – LaLiga is considering legal action after the season’s first El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid was rescheduled for December 18 by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Spurs probe ticketing protocols after Red Star fans break stadium ban
October 23 – UEFA are reported to be considering whether to join Tottenham Hotspur in launching an investigation into how more than 200 Red Star Belgrade fans “illegally” bought tickets for their side’s away Champions League fixture on Tuesday despite a blanket ban for racism.
English FA boss to push for concussion subs rule at FIFA Council meet
October 23 – English Football Association chairman Greg Clarke wants concussion substitutes to be introduced “as quickly as possible” in the wake of a highly publicised report which found a higher incidence of neurodegenerative disease among former footballers than in the population as a whole.
Three Chelsea fans suspended for racially abusing one of their own
October 23 – Three Chelsea fans are potentially facing lifetime bans for racial abuse – against one of their own.