By Andrew Warshaw
July 12 – As an entire nation digests the disappointment of football not coming home after all, Croatia’s star player insists his side were underestimated and deserved to reach the World Cup final at England’s expense.
July 12 – AC Milan’s Chinese buyer Yonghong Li has lost control of the club after US hedge fund Elliott Management announced it has taken over the Italian giants following Li’s failure to make a €32 million loan payment.
July 12 – Africa will never fulfil their potential on the World Cup stage unless they develop their youth properly and have strong enough characters on the field.
July 12 – The David Beckham-led investment group behind Miami’s Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise may have been slow to secure the slot but is now gathering pace with meetings scheduled today with city officials regarding the plans for an ambitious new multi-use stadium complex.
July 12 – US brand Kohler has become a global partner of Manchester United in a multi-year partnership that will see the company take the club’s sleeve branding.
July 12 – While racism has been virtually non-existent at the World Cup, the anti-discrimination group advising FIFA says broadcasters have focussed too much on picking out attractive females and that there has been too much sexism generally in and around cities.
July 12 – It will hardly register amid the disappointment of semi-final elimination but the English FA has been fined CHF70,000 after three players – Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Raheem Sterling – wore unauthorised equipment at the World Cup.
July 12 – Championship play-off winners Fulham – who in doing so guaranteed themselves a £160 million three-season Premier League income stream – have capitalised further on their promotion with a club record two-year sponsorship with global betting brand Dafabet.
July 11 – As the World Cup reaches its climax in Russia, the FifaGate scandal has reared its head again with The Imagina Group, parent of Spanish broadcaster MediaPro, agreeing to pay $24 million after its US-based affiliate US Imagina pleaded guilty to charges of corruption.
July 11 – FIFA is investigating a new video of Croatia defender Domagoj Vida’s comments in the wake of his side’s quarterfinal World Cup victory over Russia.
July 11 – Online bookmaker Betway, which has just added two top-tier LaLiga clubs to its sponsorship roster, has now signed its first Italian club, AS Roma.
July 11 – A massive self-indulgent risk for a 33-year-old or a masterstroke? The latest phase in the remarkable career of Cristiano Ronaldo has seen him join Juventus from Real Madrid for about €112 million, making him one the four most expensive players of all time.
July 11 – As anticipated, Spain have named former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique as their new head coach after Fernando Hierro stepped down from temporary charge following their shock last-16 World Cup exit to Russia.
July 11 – Manchester City have announced a global multi-year partnership with water technology company Xylem. The company will also partner with Man City’s sister club New York City FC and the Manchester City women’s team.
July 11 – The transfer window is open, but not for everyone, at least theoretically. Birmingham City, who have reportedly been placed under a transfer embargo by the English Football league, have nevertheless continued to pursue players currently under contract at other clubs.