Why players need to stay in school to be better, winning, players
September 12 – A research report has found that athletes who study for a second career are more likely to have a more successful sports career.
‘United’ ECA fail to find agreement on Champions League reform
By Samindra Kunti
September 11 – The European Club Association (ECA) and its chairman Andrea Agnelli (pictured) have said that reform talks to restructure European club football might drag on another “18 months” or even have a 2022 deadline after failing to find enough of a consensus for the current proposal of a 32-team Champions League with a guaranteed entry for 24 clubs. They maintain however that the proposal isn’t dead in the water yet.
Agents cashed in with $529.3m in fees in Summer transfer window
By Paul Nicholson
September 11 – Intermediaries earned a massive $529.3 million in commissions in the last transfer window, according to data from FIFA TMS (transfer match system) covering the summer transfer window.
Not takeover, its reform: FIFA gets its teeth into CAF’s ‘reform’ process
September 11 – Originally sold as ‘help’ to run the organisation and conduct an audit of its financial affairs, to be led by FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura in an additional role as FIFA Delegate for Africa, the takeover has now morphed into what is being called a CAF-FIFA Reform Task Force.
For the love of the game: Iranian Sahar Khodayari dies after self-immolating
By Samindra Kunti
September 11 – Sahar Khodayari, an Iranian female football fan, who set herself on fire a week ago outside a courthouse, has died. She had been arrested trying to enter a football stadium.
World Cup 2022 qualifiers: Somalian heartbreak, Guinea-Bissau history makers
By Samindra Kunti
September 11 – Zimbabwe’s Khama Billiat broke Somalian hearts with a late strike on Tuesday to end East Africans dreams of progressing to the group phase of World Cup qualifying for the first time. At the end of the emotions, Guinea-Bissau created history, progressing for the first time with a 2-1 aggregate win over Sao Tome e Principe.
France’s Le Graët under fire after saying matches won’t be stopped for homophobic chants
September 11 – The president of the French Football Federation Noël Le Graët has instructed referees that they should no longer stop matches over homophobic chants. The directive has prompted anti-discrimination groups to demand that Le Graët resigns.
LaLiga to launch TV channel in UK in all-encompassing Premier Sports deal
September 11 – The troubled UK TV deal for LaLiga’s live broadcast rights has now found a multi-platform solution with Premier Sports in a deal that will see live matches on Premier Sports 1 and 2, as well as LaLigaTV as a standalone channel as part of the Premier Sports package.
Arsenal toast Germany’s Ganzberg with Cambodian launch
September 11 – Arsenal have signed German brew Ganzberg as its Official Beer Partner in Cambodia.
Ecuador edges towards World Cup 2030 bid with Colombia and Peru in tow
By Samindra Kunti
September 10 – Ecuador have announced proposals to bid alongside Colombia and Peru to host the 2030 World Cup, launching a second South American contender alongside the joint candidacy of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile.
Man City’s Billion Euro babies top club value ranking, Man Utd are 4th, Liverpool 7th
September 10 – Manchester City are the world’s first billion euro squad by transfer value, with a combined player cost of €1.014 billion following activity in the summer transfer window just closed.
Divided ECA could force Champions League reform back to the drawing board
September 10 – In a blow to Europe’s super clubs, plans for a future reformatted, semi-closed Champions League competition now seem to have been thwarted by an alliance of leagues and smaller clubs across the continent.
Barça on course to break €1bn revenue mark but development costs rise
By Paul Nicholson
September 10 – FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said that the club is on course to break the €1 billion revenue barrier for the 2019/20 season, and set a new football club record.
Lawyer says it is time for managers to have their own organisation and protection
By Paul Nicholson
September 10 – They are the most important person in the workings of a club but they are also the least protected. A session at last week’s Edinburgh Sports Conference examined the role of managers and coaches in what is a precarious and ever-changing landscape.
AFC and CFA send inspection teams to proposed cities and venues for 2023 Asian Cup
September 10 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Chinese Football Association (CFA) will jointly assess 20 candidate host cities – including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hangzhou – for the 2023 Asian Cup.