Vinícius Will Watch El Clásico From the Stands, Kane Stays at Bayern Until 2029, and Elmas Scored in Under a Minute

Vinícius misses El Clásico: Real lose the appeal

The Spanish Football Federation's appeals committee upheld the four-match ban on Vinícius Júnior. Two for the red card he got for pulling an opponent's hair in the match against Villarreal, and two more for how he then went after the referee - so aggressively that his teammates had to hold him back. The bill is brutal: Sevilla, Racing Santander, Valencia and, most importantly, Barcelona at Camp Nou on 25 October. Real will seek justice before the Administrative Sports Tribunal as well, but José Mourinho can't build a plan on an appeal. One goal and three assists in the first ten matches, whistles from part of the Bernabéu - the 26-year-old Brazilian has narrowed his own space. When a star ties his own hands, whose fault is it that he'll watch the Clásico from the stands?

Kane commits to Bayern until 2029

Harry Kane has verbally agreed a new three-year contract with the Bundesliga champions, and the club was preparing the paperwork. The England captain has 50 goals in 2026, eight in nine matches this season, and is one of the main favourites for the Ballon d'Or. Everyone expected a big move to Barcelona - instead, the 33-year-old striker stays at the club he joined in 2023 for around 100 million pounds from Tottenham. There's no sign his wage of 400,000 pounds a week will rise. The family with four children has put down roots in Munich - to the point of going to Oktoberfest. Do we really think the Ballon d'Or is won by moving house, not by scoring goals?

Elmas scores for Atalanta in under a minute

Eljif Elmas scored his first goal in an Atalanta shirt - and it took him less than a minute. Against Cyprus's Pafos, a side that played in the Champions League last season, the Macedonian international opened the scoring for 1:0, and the Italians won 3:1. The assist came from Giacomo Raspadori, with whom Elmas shares an old joke: when Elmas set up Raspadori in Serie A, the Italian was left "owing" him 500 euros for the pass. "Now we're even," said Elmas, adding that he's sorry his teammate is injured. Italian media recalled that he was the one who scored Napoli's fastest European goal - after 13 seconds against Spartak Moscow. A Macedonian who measures his goals in Italy in seconds - news like this mustn't end up in the small print.

UEFA looks for a challenger to Infantino: Figo, Wenger or Kang

UEFA is openly looking for a candidate to stand against Gianni Infantino, who has already confirmed he is going for a fourth term. On the shortlist are Luís Figo, Arsène Wenger and London City Lionesses owner Michele Kang. UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister says they're looking for someone who can gather votes on several continents and reduce politics in football. Infantino replied in the way he knows best - with money: an extra 15 million dollars for each of the 211 member associations, or 25 million each for the 2027-2031 cycle. The deadline for candidacies is 18 November, and the election is on 18 May 2027. When votes are bought with development funds, is there ever a real race?

Ohrid without a coach for a month, Bashkimi facing disciplinary action

The Football Federation of Macedonia's disciplinary committee handed the harshest sanction to Ohrid coach Romeo Kočoski - a one-month ban from his duties, while player Valentin Kočoski can't play for two matches. Bashkimi face proceedings over poor organisation of the round 9 match in the First MFL against Struga Trim Lum, and proceedings have also been opened against Muarem Muarem, for unauthorised presence in the technical area, and against Durim Hida, for obstructing the away team's officials at the entrance to the official premises. One-match bans went to Endrit Rustemi (Shkupi 1927), Stefan Babunski (Detonit), Trajče Nikov (Kožuf) and Hristijan Torneski (Novaci). While Europe hands out millions, in the First MFL the committee is still ruling on who didn't let whom into the official premises.