India bring youth player registration app to combat age fraud
August 20 – In a move to combat age fraud, the Indian FA (AIFF) is introducing an app to build a database of youth players.
Author: Paul Nicholson
AC Milan’s digital push sees launch of mobile app with Cesena friendly
August 20 – AC Milan launched their mobile app with the a live stream of their pre-season friendly against Cesena last Saturday with dual language commentary in Italian and English.
Bookies back Lechia and Bochum in last minute sponsorship deals
August 20 – Online betting firms are mopping up last minute club sponsorships as the European season kicks off with French bookmaker Betclic partnering with Poland’s Lechia Gdansk, and VfL Bochum 1848 of the 2. Bundesliga becoming the first German betting partner of Stockholm based operator LeoVegas.
Real Betis exchanges Green Earth for easyMarkets as short sponsor
August 20 – LaLiga’s Real Betis has secured a three-year shirt sponsorship with foreign exchange broker easyMarkets, who take over from Green Earth, an environmentally-friendly cryptocurrency company.
ECA still wants Champions League revamp but happy to wait for ‘meaningful’ meeting
By Andrew Warshaw
August 19 – European clubs have re-iterated their opposition to the current format of the Champions League but have welcomed UEFA’s decision to postpone a summit meeting between all stakeholders that had been scheduled for September 11.
Honduran rioting leaves three dead, three critical and players needing hospital treatment
August 19 – Three people were killed and 10 injured, three critically, in rioting between fans of bitter rival clubs in the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, at the weekend.
Guinea FA bans Belgian coach Put and VP Diaby
August 19 – The Guinea Football Federation (Feguifoot) has slapped a life ban on the country’s former Belgian coach Paul Put and issued a seven-year suspension on the federation’s vice president, Amadou Diaby.
Lampard fury at fan’s social media abuse of Abraham after Super Cup penalty miss
August 19 – Chelsea fans are once again back in the spotlight all the wrong reasons after their own striker Tammy Abraham was racially abused online following last week’s Super Cup defeat to Liverpool when he missed the decisive penalty in the shootout.
ESPN digs deeper into women’s game with global rights for NWSL
August 19 – The US women’s national team may hold the attention and hearts of the nation but their women’s professional league has never enjoyed anything like the same profile. A new deal with ESPN could be a step towards changing that.
French ref halts Ligue 2 game in Nancy to stop homophobic chanting
August 19 – French Ligue 2 match between AS Nancy and Le Mans was halted by the referee following homophobic chanting by a section of fans.
Nigerian coaching legend Samson Siasia banned for life for match-fixing
August 19 – Yet another prominent African footballing figure has been thrown out of the game for bribery related to match-fixing, with FIFA hitting former Nigeria coach Samson Siasia with a life ban.
Union Berlin fans silently protest RB Leipzig ownership and remember passed supporters
August 19 – Germany’s Union Berlin reinforced their cult status when their fans staged a 15-minute silent protest aimed at opponents RB Leipzig’s ownership by energy drinks company Red Bull at the weekend.
Japan’s Nagoya Oceans take record fourth AFC Futsal title
August 19 – The AFC club Futsal championships in Thailand closed with a competition recrod fourth title for Japan’s Nagoya Oceans who defeated reigning champions Mes Sungun Varseqan from Iran 2-0 in the final at the Bangkok Arena.
Adidas turns 70 and enters new Arena
By David Owen
August 19 – Sporting goods group Adidas has marked the opening of the latest phase of its €1 billion headquarters complex in Germany in the month of the 70th anniversary of its foundation.
Ceferin postpones Champions League revamp powwow as UEFA still canvassing members
By Andrew Warshaw
August 16 – A crucial meeting next month between the main stakeholders aimed at reaching agreement to overhaul the Champions League from 2024 has been postponed by UEFA.