Giggs cleared of assault as retrial abandoned after prosecutors withdraws charges
July 18 – Former Manchester United star and ex-Wales manager Ryan Giggs has been cleared of allegations he assaulted his ex-girlfriend and her sister.
Author: Paul Nicholson
UEFA aims to raise the bar with launch of Euro 2024 ESG strategy
July 18 – UEFA has published its ‘UEFA Euro 2024 environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy’ which it says aims to be a benchmark for sports event sustainability for German and European societies.
Haaland tops Mbappé as world’s most valuable player
July 18 – Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has overtaken PSG ‘want-away’ Kylian Mbappé as the world’s most valuable player, according to the latest update of Football Benchmark’s Player Valuation platform.
SPFL extends BBC domestic TV rights and Infront overseas agency deal until 2029
July 18 – The Scottish Premier League (SPFL) has agreed multi-year extensions to its BBC broadcast deal and with Infront, for its international TV rights sales.
Telekom Serbia channel Arena Sport holds on to Bosnian domestic TV rights
July 18 – The Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (NS/FS BiH) has renewed its TV rights contract with Telekom Srbija. All Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina matches, as well as cup games, will be broadcast on Arena Sport TV.
Women behaving badly: Ireland and Colombia abandon (un)friendly, Spanish apologise for disrespecting Haka
July 17 – A women’s World Cup warm-up game at the weekend between the Republic of Ireland and Colombia was called after 20 minutes because of “overly physical” challenges.
UEFA fines Barca and Man Utd in latest round of FFP sanctions
July 17 – Barcelona and Manchester United are among a group of clubs punished by UEFA in the latest round of Financial Fair Play sanctions.
Hoeness confident that if Kane leaves Spurs, Bayern will sign him
July 17 – Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness is confident England captain Harry Kane will join the Bundesliga champions this summer from Tottenham Hotspur.
Fans pour out to officially welcome Messi to Miami
July 17 – Messi mania erupted at the weekend when 20,000 fans braved a downpour at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale to see Lionel Messi officially presented as Inter Miami’s new superstar signing.
Croatia lists two football stadia as buildings of national interest
July 17 – The Croatian government has declared the Maksimir (pictured) and Poljud stadiums as sports buildings of national interest, according to a new ‘Law on Sports’ in Croatia allowing the government to designate certain sports buildings as such.
Aussie women hold FIFA to account over gender World Cup prize money gap
By Samindra Kunti in Sydney
July 17 – Australia’s women’s team have called FIFA out over the prize money gender gap with the men’s game, following their last friendly before the World Cup, where the Australians beat France 1-0.
Arsenal break transfer records to land Rice
July 16 – Arsenal have smashed their transfer record with the signing of midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham. The London club reportedly paid a transfer fee of £100 million plus £5 million in add-ons.
Mexico hit late winner against Panama to secure their 9th Gold Cup
By Paul Nicholson in Los Angeles
July 16 – Mexico won their ninth Gold Cup title in the magnificent SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in front of a full house 72,953 crowd, beating Panama 1-0.
Montagliani says Gold Cup 2023 has been a step forward on and off the pitch
By Paul Nicholson in Los Angeles
July 16 – Speaking ahead of the Gold Cup 2023 final in Los Angeles, Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has praised the increased level of competitiveness of his member nations and said that World Cup 2026 qualification is going to be fierce.
Gold Cup final at SoFi Stadium sold out
July 16 – The 2023 Gold Cup Final, to be played between Mexico and Panama tonight has sold out, with more than 70,000 now converging on the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles.