Tasmania "looms as a big winner" as the Australian Football League prepares to expand the AFL Women's competition in readiness for '19, with the "long-neglected football state" set to win a national license in a joint bid with North Melbourne. Geelong is the "other hot favourite" for a new license after the commission reached a decision early on Monday. While the head office has "maintained its silence over the announcement scheduled for Wednesday," the league reportedly could introduce "as few as two new teams" from '19, with more clubs to be granted licenses in '20 (THE AGE, 9/26).
Juventus insisted that Monday's ticket verdict "completely rules out all possible links with organised crime." It was fined €300,000 ($353,800) and President Andrea Agnelli was given a one-year ban for "illegally selling tickets to ultras," although the club has since confirmed that it "will appeal both punishments" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 9/25).
The Chinese FA told Chinese Super League side Henan Jianye to "seek salvation from goals rather than the gods" after Taoist priests performed an on-pitch ritual -- "and the team duly won at home for the first time in over three months." The CFA is investigating after fans of the club invited 15 Taoist priests onto the pitch to "pray for a good result in Sunday's match" (AFP, 9/26).
Indian Super League side Goa signed a memorandum of understanding with three Shillong-based clubs. Goa agreed to a partnership with Mawkhar Sports Club, Mawlai Sports Club and Royal Wahingdoh Sports Club "wherein the Goan club will offer technical expertise to the three clubs while in return, it will have the option to sign players from these clubs in the future for a fixed fee," the ISL said in a release (IANS, 9/26).
