Power couple. UEFA and ECA extend MoU through to 2033
October 10 – Time was when UEFA and Europe’s top clubs did not always see eye-to-eye but a new era of co-operation has been increasingly cemented in recent months.
Europe
LaLiga expands Saudi links with 3-year Riyadh Season sponsorship
October 10 – LaLiga has announced a three-season commercial partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season – a series of entertainment, cultural, and sporting events held in the kingdom’s capital of Riyadh – become an official sponsor of Spain’s top football division until 2027.
Player’s survey finds fear of injury is a key impact factor in mental health
October 10 – A survey carried out by English football’s players union has revealed that a majority of players believe their mental health is impacted by the fear of injury.
Post-match red mist earns AC Milan’s French star Theo Hernandez a 2-match ban
October 10 – AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez has been suspended for two matches for his actions at the end of Sunday’s Serie A defeat at Fiorentina.
UEFA puts a further 50,000 Euro2025 tickets on sale after first release sells out in a week
October 10 – More than 137,000 tickets to the Women’s Euro 2025 finals in Switzerland have been sold in the first week of going on sale, prompting UEFA to release another 50,000 yesterday.
Valencia-supporting couple find themselves out on a Lim(b) in Singapore
October 10 – Valencia CF, one of the grand old names of Spain’s, La Liga and a club that has seen more than its fair share of ups and downs over the last three decades, has some of the most passionate support in Spain, however a couple of supporters have taken that to a new level in a protest against the club’s Singaporean owner Peter Lim.
Bulgaria’s Hristo Botev stadium revamp achieves UEFA Category IV status
October 10 – Botev Plovdiv’s Hristo Botev stadium has become just the third venue in the country to achieve a category 4 classification by UEFA.
Klopp returns to football as Red Bull’s head of global soccer
October 9 – Former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp has been appointed global head of soccer at Red Bull as he returns to football just three months after an emotional departure from Merseyside.
Konate supports strike to force a solution to overloaded schedule
October 9 – France and Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate (pictured) has become the latest player to speak out against the packed fixture schedule, saying he supports the right to strike.
Belgian Pro League invests in major data ecosystem to support clubs
October 9 – The Belgian Pro League has announced a series of major technological investments aimed at boosting its position in European football, with innovations focused on semi-automated offside technology, advanced data collection across all levels of the game, and precision limb-tracking.
ECA provides Greeks with support fund to help restore fire-damaged sports facilities
October 9 – The European Club Association (ECA) has organised a charity initiative in collaboration with non-profit organisations Eleven Campaign and Desmos, to support recovery projects for Greek communities and sporting facilities affected by this summer’s wildfires.
Spanish maestro Andrés Iniesta calls time on his world beating career, aged 40
October 9 – Spanish and former Barcelona legend, Andrés Iniesta, 40 has officially announced his retirement after 22 years of playing some of the most artistic football the world has ever seen.
Dutch legend Johan Neeskens dies, aged 73
October 8 – Johan Neeskens, part of the Ajax and Netherlands teams that created “total football” in the 1970s and a key team-mate of Johan Cruyff, has died aged 73.
AC Milan launch Hall of Fame as part of 125th anniversary celebrations
October 8 – AC Milan has announced the launch a Hall of Fame, in tandem with premium sponsor partner Emirates, as part of the club’s 125th-anniversary celebrations.
French fans critical of Mbappe for putting club before country
October 7 – Rarely out of the news, French superstar Kylian Mbappe is facing criticism for skipping Les Bleus’ Nations League games against Israel and Belgium while still being available to play for Real Madrid.