Global diary
Stories from the four corners of the football world
Saturday November 7
PHILIPPINES: United City FC emerge as 2020 Philippines Football League champions after defeating Stallion Laguna 7-1, clinching the title with a game to spare.
INDIA: It’s announced that the 2020-21 I-League season will begin on January 9, with 11 teams vying for the trophy.
GERMANY: Bayern Munich come out on top in Der Klassiker with a 3-2 victory over rivals Borussia Dortmund to stay top of the Bundesliga. RB Leipzig maintain the pressure by beating Freiburg 3-0, leapfrogging Dortmund into second.
SPAIN: Barcelona secure their first win in five La Liga games thanks to Lionel Messi, who comes off the bench to score twice in a 5-2 victory over Real Betis.
Sunday November 8
SOUTH KOREA: Jeonbuk Motors complete the domestic league and cup double for the first time in their history by beating Ulsan Hyundai a 3-2 on aggregate in the 2020 Korean FA Cup final.
VIETNAM: Viettel are crowned champions of Vietnam after Bruno Catanhede’s goal proves enough to defeat Saigon 1-0 and stave off the challenge of secondplaced Hanoi FC.
CAMEROON: Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o escapes uninjured after being involved in a car crash in his home country.
ENGLAND: Manchester City and Liverpool play out a 1-1 draw, with Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Salah getting the goals. Kevin De Bruyne misses a penalty, meaning the gap between the two sides remains at five points.
USA: Philadelphia Union secure their first-ever Supporters’ Shield.
SPAIN: Valencia stun Real Madrid 4-1 at the Mestalla, with Carlos Soler scoring a hat-trick of penalties. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad go top of La Liga by beating Granada 2-0.
Monday November 9
AUSTRALIA: Former West Bromwich Albion midfielder and Scotland international Graham Dorrans joins Western Sydney Wanderers on a two-year deal.
ITALY: Fiorentina fire head coach Giuseppe Iachini and replace him with Cesare Prandelli, the former Italy coach who previously took charge of the Florence-based club between 2005 and 2010.
SPAIN: Celta Vigo become the first La Liga club of the season to change coaches, firing former Brighton and Watford manager Oscar Garcia.
Tuesday November 10
ENGLAND: Former Plymouth Argyle manager Tony Waiters, who also took charge of the Canadian national team twice, dies aged 83.
USA: CONCACAF announce that the final stages of the federation’s Champions League will take place at the Exploria Stadium, home to MLS club Orlando City.
BRAZIL: Rogerio Ceni, the legendary goalscoring goalkeeper, is officially confirmed as the new coach of Flamengo, replacing Domenec Torrent, who was sacked after just three months in charge.
Wednesday November 11
EUROPE: Croatia’s Domagoj Vida plays 45 minutes of his team’s friendly with Turkey before finding out that he had tested positive for coronavirus. Elsewhere, Finland stun world champions France with a 2-0 victory in Paris.
Thursday November 12
ENGLAND: Albert Quixall, one of Matt Busby’s first signings after the Munich air disaster in 1958 and FA Cup winner in 1963, dies aged 87.
CHINA: Jiangsu Suning claim their first-ever Chinese Super League title with a 2-1 victory over the ten men of defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande in the second leg of the 2020 championship play-off final.
EUROPE: In the Euro 2020 play-offs, North Macedonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Scotland all secure the places at the finals.
Friday November 13
ASIA: The AFC confirms that India, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan will move to the next stage of the bidding process to host the 2027 Asian Cup.
ENGLAND: Swindon Town appoint Wigan Athletic manager John Sheridan as their new boss, following the departure of Richie
Wellens to Salford City.
AUSTRALIA: Former Athletic Bilbao stalwart Benat joins A-League new boys Macarthur FC, joining former team-mate Markel Susaeta and ex-Blackburn Rovers striker Matt Derbyshire.
Saturday November 14
SOUTH AMERICA: Roberto Firmino’s goal gives Brazil a 1-0 win against Venezuela as they continue to top the 2022 World Cup qualification table.
TURKMENISTAN: Altyn Asyr secure a record-breaking seventh successive league title, wrapping up the 2020 championship with three games left.
ENGLAND: Phillip Cocu is sacked by Derby County, with Wayne Rooney taking on a player-manager role assisted by coaches Shay Given, Liam Rosenior and Justin Walker.
EUROPE: Sergio Ramos becomes the most capped European male player of all time, yet also misses two penalties against Switzerland.
Sunday November 15
AFRICA: Sadio Mane seals a 1-0 win for Senegal in Guinea-Bissau to become the second team to qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations after hosts Cameroon. Elsewhere, Comoros’ unlikely challenge for a place at their first-ever finals continues with a 2-1 victory over Kenya.
Monday November 16
BHUTAN: Thimphu City FC are named champions of the 2020 Bhutan Premier League.
ARGENTINA: Former Liverpool, Barcelona, Estudiantes and River Plate midfielder Javier Mascherano announces his retirement from professional football.
WALES: Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney complete their takeover of National League club Wrexham.
Tuesday November 17
ENGLAND: Former football agent Eric Hall dies aged 73.
EUROPE: Spain inflict Germany’s heaviest defeat since 1931 with a devastating 6-0 victory in the Nations League, thanks to a hat-trick from Manchester City forward Ferran Torres. France confirm their place at the finals with a 4-2 victory over Sweden, while the clash between Switzerland and Ukraine is
called off after three Ukrainians test positive for coronavirus.
AFRICA: Mali and Tunisia join Senegal in qualifying for AFCON 2022, with Algeria also joining them the day before.
Wednesday November 18
QATAR: The AFC Champions League East region restarts in Qatar. Dr. Abdulwahab Almusleh, head of the Medical Committee for the 2020 AFC Champions League, says that Qatar remains fully prepared on the health and safety front to host the event in light of the coronavirus situation around the world.
Thursday November 19
UZBEKISTAN: Pakhtakor become Uzbekistan Super League champions for the second season in a row, and a record-extending 13th time overall.
ENGLAND: Pep Guardiola signs a two-year contract extension with Manchester City. Meanwhile in the Women’s Super League, Matt Beard leaves his role as head coach of West Ham United by mutual consent, and Tottenham Hotspur appoint England assistant coach Rehanne Skinner to replace Karen Hills. In the EFL, Paul Tisdale replaces Ben Garner as Bristol Rovers manager.
FIFA: FIFA propose maternity cover for the women’s game in order to protect players, with 14 weeks cover on at least two thirds of their salary the suggested regulation.
Friday November 20
FRANCE: Monaco come from 2-0 down to beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2, with half-time substitute Cesc Fabregas the hero, scoring the winner in the 84th minute.
Saturday November 21
ENGLAND: Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester City 2-0 to go top of the Premier League after nine games played, while London rivals Chelsea win 2-0 at Newcastle United to go second.
GERMANY: On the day that he is named the European Golden Boy by Italian newspaper
Tuttospor t, Erling Haaland scores four goals in a 5-2 victory for Borussia Dortmund over Hertha Berlin, closing the gap to Bayern Munich at the top of the league.
SPAIN: Atletico Madrid’s unbeaten start to the season continues
with a 1-0 win over Barcelona thanks to a goal from winger Yannick Carrasco at the Wanda Metropolitano. Real Madrid are held to a 1-1 draw in Villarreal, while Real Sociedad stay top of La Liga.
Sunday November 22
ITALY: Milan remain top of Serie A after a 3-1 victory at Napoli, four points clear of holders Juventus in fourth. Sassuolo’s positive start continues with a 2-0 win over Verona, taking them up to second.
Monday November 23
BULGARIA: CSKA Sofia appoint former West Ham, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew as technical director.
ENGLAND: Theo Walcott hits his first league goal for Southampton since returning to the club – 14 years and 347 days after his last strike for the Saints.
CAF: Head of CAF Ahmad Ahmad is banned for five years by FIFA.
Tuesday November 24
QATAR: FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirms that 22 national teams will participate in the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar.
USA: After they failed to get the better of Philadelphia Union in five meetings in 2020, New England Revolution secure their revenge in the biggest game of the season, winning 2-0 in the MLS play-offs.
ENGLAND: Ex-England manager Steve McClaren is appointed technical director by his former club Derby County, his fifth spell at the club in a variety of roles.
EUROPE: Barcelona confirm their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 4-0 win over Dynamo Kiev, as do Juventus, Chelsea and Sevilla. Elsewhere, Manchester United beat Istanbul Basaksehir 4-1 at Old Trafford.
Wednesday November 25
FIFA: The 2020 FIFA Best Women’s Player award nominations are revealed, with WSL stars Lucy Bronze, Pernille Harder, Ji So-yun, Sam Kerr and Vivianne Miedema included on the 11-woman shortlist.
AUSTRALIA: Former Aston Villa striker Rudy Gestede signs for Melbourne Victory ahead of the 2020-21 A-League season.
ARGENTINA: Carlos Tevez announces he will retire in 2021 to embark on a career in football politics at Boca Juniors.
JAPAN: Kawasaki Frontale clinch the J.League title after hammering second-place Gamba Osaka 5-0.
EUROPE: Liverpool suffer a rare Anfield defeat, losing 2-0 to Atalanta. Bayern Munich and Manchester City secure their places in the last 16, but Inter’s qualification hopes are dealt a major blow after a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid.
Thursday November 26
EUROPE: Celtic crash out of the Europa League after a 4-1 defeat to Sparta Prague. Rangers draw 2-2 with Benfica and Jamie Vardy scores a 95th-minute equaliser for Leicester City in Braga, with Arsenal and Tottenham securing comfortable victories over Molde and Ludogorets respectively.
SCOLTAND: Gary Holt resigns as head coach of Scottish Premiership side Livingston.
Friday November 27 MEXICO:
Ecuador international and former Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia joins Mexican side Queretaro on a free transfer.
Saturday November 28
PORTUGAL: Much-travelled Portuguese player and coach Vitor Oliveira dies aged 67.
ENGLAND: Liverpool’s trip to Brighton ends in drama, with VAR awarding the home side a 93rd-minute penalty just moments after Sadio Mane has a goal ruled out for a fractional offside. Pascal Gross dispatches the spot-kick to seal a 1-1 draw, but the Reds remain top.
ITALY: Benevento hold Juventus to a 1-1 draw – their fifth of the season – with Alvaro Morata sent off in the 97th minute.
SPAIN: Eden Hazard picks up yet another injury as Real Madrid lose at home to Alaves. Atletico Madrid maintain their title challenge momentum with a 1-0 victory in Valencia.
FRANCE: PSG are held to a 2-2 draw at home to Bordeaux, with former players Hatem Ben
Arfa and Yacine Adli combing to score the equaliser.
Sunday November 29
ENGLAND: Pressure builds on manager Mikel Arteta after Arsenal lose 2-1 at home to Wolves. Meanwhile Edinson Cavani scores a 92nd-minute winner to seal a 3-2 win for Manchester United at Southampton.
Monday November 30
ENGLAND: Edinson Cavani is forced to apologise after thanking
a friend and referring to them as“negrito” in an Instagram post.
SPAIN: Former Atletico Madrid captain Gabi announces his retirement from the game.
Tuesday December 1
CANADA: Greg Vanney, the most successful coach in the history of Toronto FC, leaves the club after almost six years in charge of the Canadian outfit.
EUROPE: For the second time in the group stage, Shakhtar Donetsk upset Real Madrid,
this time with a 2-0 victory. Inter boost their qualification hopes with a 3-2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach, while Liverpool qualify with a 1-0 win at home to Ajax.
Wednesday December 2
NETHERLANDS: Feyenoord’s Dick Advocaat confirms he will retire at the end of the season after 34 years as a coach.
COLOMBIA: Carlos Quieroz is sacked as head coach of the national team after a disappointing
start to the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.
EUROPE: Fred is sent off as Paris Saint-Germain win 3-1 at Manchester United. In the same group, RB Leipzig beat Istanbul Basaksehir in a 4-3 thriller, while elsewhere France striker Olivier Giroud scores four goals as Chelsea hammer Sevilla 4-0.
ENGLAND: Carlisle United beat Salford City 2-1 in front of 2,000 fans in the country’s first non-trial professional game since the sport was suspended on March 13.