Mooney quits UEFA to take Welsh chief exec role
July 20 – The Welsh FA have landed Noel Mooney, UEFA’s head of national associations business development as its new chief executive
Europe
Spezia Calcio to appeal FIFA ban for trafficking Nigerian minors
July 19 – American-owned Serie A club Spezia Calcio say they will appeal against a two-year transfer ban imposed by FIFA based on the previous owners breaking transfer rules by recruiting young players from Africa.
Police arrest 5 for social media abuse of Rashford, Saka and Sancho
July 16 – Five people have been arrested in the wake of the racist abuse meted out to the three black players who missed penalties in England’s shootout defeat to Italy in the final of Euro 2020.
EU court makes ESL rebels wait in case against UEFA
July 16 – The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has rejected a Madrid court’s request for an accelerated judicial procedure in the European Super League case.
Beitar owner calls off Barca friendly over refusal to play in Jerusalem
July 16 – The owner of Beitar Jerusalem, Israel’s most extremist top-flight club and the only one never to have signed an Arab player, has called off a friendly with Barcelona over its refusal to hold the game in the contested city.
Messi agrees 50% pay cut to end career at Barca
July 15 – After all manner of speculation stretching back several weeks, Lionel Messi is set to stay at Barcelona until 2026, effectively the end of his career, despite taking a 50% wage cut according to Spanish reports.
LaLiga brands Spanish FA boss Rubiales’ latest power play as ‘irresponsible’
July 13 – LaLiga has told the Spanish FA (RFEF) and its president Luis Rubiales that under no circumstances will it be changing the format of its competitions which are working successfully, growing commercially and are sustainably supporting a football industry in Spain.
Brych blows final whistle on international refereeing
July 15 – Leading German referee Felix Brych has retired from the international game and won’t officiate at the World Cup in Qatar, he announced.
Canal+ reconfirms intent to switch off French league deal over Amazon row
July 14 – Has a separation between France’s LFP and its traditional anchor broadcaster Canal+ become inevitable? With Ligue 1 kicking off the first weekend of August, the broadcaster has renewed its request to terminate its contract with the league, confirming its position after Amazon won broadcast rights for the first time in June.
Standard Liège and Mouscron allowed to return to transfer market
July 14 – The Belgian FA has lifted the transfer ban of both Standard Liège and Mouscron, allowing the pair of clubs to enter the market again before the 2021/22 season kicks off.
Rashford overwhelmend by community support after mural defaced
July 14 – England striker Marcus Rashford, one of the three black players racially abused on social media following the penalty shootout loss to Italy, says he is “overwhelmed” and “lost for words” after hundreds of messages of support were placed on a mural depicting the England striker.
Lopez plan saves Bordeaux, Angers also to keep spot in Ligue 1
July 13 – Bordeaux and Angers can breathe a sigh of relief. Both clubs will play in Ligue 1 next season after their appeals against relegation imposed by France’s financial watchdog DNCG were successful, the clubs announced separately on Monday.
UEFA increases resource to tackle match-fixing and organised crime
July 13 – UEFA have moved to increase the resources to fight against betting related match-fixing in European football.
Tebas brands bi-annual World Cup as self destruction; says ESL is dead whatever the courts rule
By Andrew Warshaw
July 9 – La Liga chief Javier Tebas (pictured) has rubbished the idea of staging the World Cup every two years – and also insists the European Super League is dead in the water whatever the European Court of Justice decides.
Motherwell fans raise cash to buy season tickets for unemployed and low income workers
July 9 – Fans of Scottish Premiership side Motherwell have raised £60,000 to buy season tickets for unemployed and low-income families this season, with the club matching that figure.