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.
World Football
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.
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.
Bility highlights FIFA’s ‘sinister’ manoeuvring and asks if CAF has been liquidated
By Paul Nicholson
August 16 – Musa Bility, the former Liberian FA president and Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee member, is not slowing down in his mission to hold FIFA and CAF to account over their co-operation initiative that has seen control of African football fall under the dominating wing of the world governing body.
Morocco appoint Halilhodzic to spearhead Qatar 2022 qualification bid
August 16 – Vahid Halilhodzic has replaced Herve Renard as the new boss of Morocco in a reported three-year deal.
FIFA set to join CAF to defend Bility complaint at CAS
By Osasu Obayiuwana
August 15 – FIFA, world football’s governing body, has applied to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) to become a co-defendant with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which is being sued by Liberia’s Musa Hassan Bility, who was recently banned for 10 years by FIFA’s Ethics Committee.
Ahmad and Infantino cheerleader Chiyangwa banned for life by Zimbabwe FA
By Andrew Warshaw
August 15 – One of Gianni Infantino’s staunchest allies, former Zimbabwe FA (ZIFA) boss Philip Chiyangwa, has been banned for life by his own federation for “bringing Zimbabwean football into disrepute.”
US women head for court as wage mediation talks with USSF break down
August 15 – Mediation talks aimed at securing a better pay deal for female players in the United States are over according to the players who say they will now go to court amid an increasingly bitter war of words.
Former FIFA governance chair Maduro questions legality of Samoura’s African gig
By Osasu Obayiuwana
August 15 – Miguel Maduro, the immediate past chairman of FIFA’s Governance Committee, has questioned the legitimacy of the appointment of Fatma Samoura as FIFA’s General Delegate for Africa, while the Senegalese still functions as the Secretary-General of football’s world governing body.
Liverpool and referee Frappart win the plaudits at Super Cup final
August 15 – Liverpool won the European Super Cup on penalties against Chelsea in Istanbul on what was a historic night for women’s refereeing. The reigning European champions prevailed 5-4 from the penalty spot after an extra-time 2-2 draw.
Poisoning fumes likely to have been factor in Sala plane crash
August 15 – Emiliano Sala was exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide before the light aircraft that was carrying the Argentine striker crashed into the English Channel en route to Cardiff City for whom he had just signed, air accident investigators have revealed.
QPR U-18s walk off as racism mars pre-season friendly in Spain
August 15 – English Championship club Queens Park Rangers have called on UEFA to intervene after their under-18 team were forced to leave the pitch during a recent friendly in Spain because of racism.
Germans to put trust in Freiburg’s Keller to lead the DFB
August 15 – Freiburg’s Fritz Keller has been nominated to head the German Football Association (DFB) and succeed the discredited Reinhard Grindel, who stepped down in April.
Bility says railroaded FIFA TV deals for African rights could damage FA funding
By Paul Nicholson
August 14 – Musa Bility, the CAF executive committee member who has been banned by FIFA, has criticised the mandate issued by FIFA for the collection of African FA World Cup qualification TV rights to be controlled and sold directly by FIFA.
Cats have nine lives, will Jeff Webb get 10?
By Paul Nicholson
August 14 – When Jeff Webb was president of Concacaf he was always a pretty cool cat – approachable, friendly, always reasonable, nice guy to be around and pretty generous with it. Since his US Justice Department indictment in 2015 on corruption chrages he has needed all of a cat’s nine lives to stave off sentencing.