Independent Football Regulator, David Kogan and Manchester City
21 October 2026

Independent Football Regulator chairman David Kogan has confirmed that the watchdog has the power to force Manchester City’s owners to sell the club if a future investigation concludes they are unfit to remain in control. However, Kogan stressed that no decision about action against City has been made while the club appeals its financial-rule verdict.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Kogan said the regulator has authority to require an owner to step away from a club when serious concerns arise about how it is managed. Manchester City are appealing an independent commission’s findings that the club breached Premier League financial regulations. Kogan said the regulator would assess the completed proceedings before deciding whether to conduct its own investigation. Any forced sale remains hypothetical rather than an announced sanction.

Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham
21 October 2026

Real Madrid are reportedly seeking financial contributions from the six Premier League clubs that withdrew from the European Super League project in 2021. The Spanish club believes the original participants remain responsible for part of the breakaway competition’s establishment costs, reportedly amounting to as much as €80 million.

Reporting attributed to The Athletic says Madrid is examining the financial obligations arising from the founding European Super League Company agreement. The six English clubs initially joined the proposed competition before withdrawing following substantial opposition from supporters and football authorities. Real Madrid remains committed to the project and is reportedly considering Bernd Reichart, previously chief executive of A22, for a senior business role. No court ruling or confirmed compensation payment was reported.

Fiorentina, Como and Lega Serie A
21 October 2026

Fiorentina have issued another formal statement challenging the explanations provided by Serie A over refereeing decisions in their defeat to Como. The club says unresolved questions about two major incidents threaten confidence in the competition’s officiating system.

Fiorentina requested clarification about the absence of a VAR review before Como’s opening goal and the disallowance of a goal by Marin Pongračić for offside. The club said Serie A’s response failed to explain the decisions adequately or provide definitive moving footage supporting the offside call. Fiorentina intends to pursue further explanations through the relevant sporting authorities. No refereeing decision has been overturned in the supplied report.

United States Soccer Federation, United States men’s and women’s national teams
21 October 2026

U.S. Soccer has reported attendance exceeding 165,000 across the first six senior national-team fixtures since the 2026 World Cup. Every match in the September and October international windows reached at least 95% stadium capacity, while three games sold out.

The federation attributed the strong turnout partly to accessible ticket prices, with entry-level seats available for approximately $25 to $35. Stadiums in Orlando, Glendale and Washington recorded sell-outs. The men’s October fixture against Mexico also attracted strong television audiences, including an average of 1.7 million viewers on Telemundo and 626,000 across TNT Sports’ English-language coverage. U.S. Soccer intends to reinvest proceeds in national teams and football development programmes.

Gianni Infantino, FIFA and The Times
21 October 2026

British newspaper The Times has reportedly apologised to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and corrected claims that he received an undisclosed second salary. The publication also withdrew an allegation concerning the circumstances of a Miami property purchase.

According to the supplied report, The Times acknowledged that expenses and reimbursements received by Infantino did not constitute additional remuneration under Swiss law and therefore did not require disclosure as salary in FIFA’s annual report. The newspaper also corrected its property-related allegation. FIFA welcomed the corrections while criticising what it described as inaccurate reporting. The apology addresses those specific claims and does not resolve the separate governance questions raised by UEFA.

VfB Stuttgart, Alexander Wehrle, Fabian Wohlgemuth and Sebastian Hoeneß
21 October 2026

VfB Stuttgart players have reportedly been instructed to stop driving their privately owned cars onto club premises, with substantial fines possible for those who ignore the rule. The unusual measure comes amid a disappointing Bundesliga start and a desire to reinforce discipline and commercial partnerships.

According to Sport Bild, players received written instructions requiring them to use company vehicles supplied through Stuttgart’s automotive partnerships with Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Both manufacturers hold minority shareholdings in the club. Sporting management has also introduced tougher training demands as Stuttgart attempt to improve results after collecting six points from their first six Bundesliga matches. The club has not publicly detailed the reported fine amounts.