UEFA fines Croatia €150k for racist fan chants at Nations League finals
July 26 – The Croatian FA has been fined €150,000 for offensive chants and disorder by fans at the Nations League Finals last month.
World Football
Vardar Skopje uses funds form membership card scheme to settle debt and secure license to play
July 24 – North Macedonia’s Vardar Skopje has been granted a license to play in the country’s top tier after the clubs used funds raised from the sale of membership cards to settle debt built up by the club’s former owner Slobodan Krstevski.
Soccer Champions Tour loses first match as Barca squad hit by illness
July 25 – The ‘Soccer Champions Tour’, which sees Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester United, Juventus and AC Milan play a series of pre-season fixtures from July 22 to August 2 starting on the west coast of the US, got off to a disastrous start with the first match being cancelled.
Mbappe to Saudi? PSG accept €300m bid from Al-Hilal, reports
July 24 – Could the exodus of elite players to Saudi Arabia be about to take its most sensational step yet?
England mourns loss of Trevor Francis, 69, Britain’s first £1m player
July 24 – Former England forward Trevor Francis, who famously became Britain’s first £1 million player when he moved to Nottingham Forest from Birmingham in 1979, has died aged 69 of a heart attack in Spain where he regularly spent half the year.
Messi’s dream debut delivers a spectacular opener for new Leagues Cup
July 23 – It was a dream start for Lionel Messi, Inter Miami and the first edition of the Leagues Cup which sees MLS and Liga MX clubs halt league play for a month-long tournament across the US and Canada in July and August.
Serbian league kick-off on hold after CAS ruling keeps Kolubara in top tier
July 24 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne has reduced the punishment of Serbian club FK Kolubara. In May, the Serbian Football Union deducted 9 points from Kolubara a round before the end of the championship, effectively relegating them from the first division.
Drone show celebrates Concacaf’s qualified women’s teams as World Cup 2023 kicks off
July 23 – To mark the start of the Women’s World Cup 2023 and as a send-off for a record number of Concacaf nations playing in the event, Concacaf through Skyworx Drone Shows, staged another spectacular drone light show.
Mexico’s Gold Cup win pushes them up World Ranking. Argentina remain top
July 21 – Concacaf Gold Cup winners Mexico have moved up FIFA World Ranking to 12th place, one behind the USA in 11th.
Concacaf W strategy bears results as Montagliani sends message of support to his six 2023 nations
July 21 – Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, coming off the back of the successful conclusion of the Gold Cup, has turned his attention to his six member nations competing at the Women’s World Cup.
Sam Baro buys €30m stake in Belgian Pro league’s AA Gent
July 21 – AA Gent will remain in Belgian ownership hands with Sam Baro taking control of the Flemish club, replacing current owner Ivan de Witte.
City council votes to financially support North Macedonia’s Vardar Skopje
July 21 – The Skopje City Council have voted unanimously to grant financial aid to the local football club Vardar Skopje.
UCL giantkillers: Faroe Islands’ Klaksvik stun Hungary’s Ferencváros
July 20 – The champions of the tiny Faroe Islands, Klaksvik, have made history by reaching the Champions League second qualifying round for the first time.
Cleared of rape charges, Mendy returns to France and signs for Lorient
July 20 – Former France international Benjamin Mendy has signed a two-year deal with French club Lorient on Wednesday, only days after being cleared of rape allegations.
MLS vs Saudi Pro League? Garber says the point is expansion of the game beyond Europe
July 19 – Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber insists the rise of the cash-rich Saudi Pro League won’t threaten the MLS’s potential expansion into emerging viewing markets.