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Rules & refereeing

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El Peñón stadium in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, where Güímar and Hortaleza will play their Copa del Rey tie behind closed doors.

Copa del ReyRules & refereeing7 October 2026

Güímar-Hortaleza to be played on Sunday 11 behind closed doors in Tenerife

The single disciplinary judge of the Spanish Football Federation has ruled on the suspended Copa del Rey preliminary tie between Atlético Unión Güímar and Sporting de Hortaleza. The second leg will be played on Sunday 11 October at 12:00, behind closed doors at the El Peñón stadium in Puerto de la Cruz. The winner will face Sevilla in the competition's first round.

Javi

·4 min read

Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi in action for the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the World Cup

World CupRules & refereeing6 October 2026

FIFA let DR Congo play at World Cup despite ineligible goalkeeper in qualifying

FIFA allowed the Democratic Republic of the Congo to compete at the World Cup even though an internal investigation reportedly found that goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi never completed his switch of nationalities. Nigeria filed a complaint over the case and is considering seeking financial compensation.

Javi

·5 min read

Slavko Vincic officiates the 2026 World Cup final, the last match of his refereeing career

World CupRules & refereeing6 October 2026

Slavko Vincic opens up on refereeing the World Cup final: His last ever match

Slovenian official Slavko Vincic has revealed what it feels like to take charge of the 2026 World Cup final, the biggest game in football. It was also his final match before retirement.

InfoBlaugrana

·5 min read

Manchester CityPremier League6 October 2026

Manchester City sponsor OKX hit with €471 million fine over money laundering breaches

Cryptocurrency exchange OKX, a Manchester City sponsor since 2022, has been fined 400 million pounds, around 471 million euros, in the United States for violating anti-money laundering laws. The sanction comes days after the club was found guilty of 114 financial irregularities.

Javi

·6 min read

Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak standing together on the pitch before a match at the Etihad Stadium.

Premier LeagueManchester City6 October 2026

Premier League clubs demand retrospective and future sanctions for Manchester City

A group of Premier League clubs want Manchester City to face both retrospective punishments and future sanctions after an independent commission found the club guilty of breaching financial rules. The charges relate to the period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. Some executives believe a one-off points deduction leading to relegation would not be enough given the severity of the case.

Natilla·5 min read

DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi during a match at the 2026 World Cup.

World CupRules & refereeing6 October 2026

FIFA knew in March that DR Congo goalkeeper Mpasi was ineligible, reports say

FIFA lawyers reportedly knew in March that DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi was allegedly ineligible and drew up possible sanctions, but no action was taken. The keeper went on to play at the World Cup and featured in his side's 2-1 defeat to England in the last 32. The case puts fresh pressure on Gianni Infantino after the Folarin Balogun controversy.

Matt

·5 min read

Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness during an assembly where a request was approved for FIFA to investigate Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump.

Rules & refereeingWorld Cup6 October 2026

Norway asks FIFA to investigate Infantino and Trump

The Norwegian Football Federation has filed two formal requests with FIFA seeking an investigation into the rescinded red card shown to Folarin Balogun at the 2026 World Cup, the FIFA Forward Enterprise project and the peace award given to Donald Trump. The NFF wants the Ethics Committee and Governance Committee to establish the facts.

Natilla·5 min read

UEFA flag waving outside the organization's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, on a day of official meetings.

Rules & refereeing6 October 2026

UEFA presidential election 2027: date, venue and candidate requirements

UEFA has set the date and venue for the election that will shape its immediate future. The 50th Ordinary Congress will be held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, and will produce the next president of European football. Along with the succession of Alexander Ceferin, eight seats on the Executive Committee and four European representatives on the FIFA Council will also be filled.

varela·6 min read

Police officers stand guard at the entrance of the Djibouti Football Federation headquarters during the crisis over the removal of president Souleiman Waberi.

Rules & refereeing5 October 2026

Police occupy Djibouti football headquarters as clubs move to remove president Souleiman Waberi

Police took control of the Djibouti Football Federation headquarters on Monday after club presidents called an extraordinary general assembly to oust Fifa council member Souleiman Waberi. The federation rejected the meeting as illegitimate and warned that government interference could trigger an international suspension.

Javi

·5 min read

Courtroom with scales of justice in the background while a referee watches a VAR monitor on a football pitch.

Rules & refereeing5 October 2026

FIFA wins VAR ownership lawsuit: Madrid court dismisses €300 million claim

The commercial section of Madrid's Court of First Instance No. 6 has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Francisco Antonio López Romera against FIFA and the Spanish Football Federation over the use of the VAR. The ruling, dated September 30, concludes that the system described in the claimant's registered work does not match the video assistant referee technology used in football.

Natilla·5 min read