By Samindra Kunti
June 23 – In perhaps the biggest European-focussed step by China’s football sector to date, next season could see China’s national U20’s team play in the German fourth division.
By Mark Baber
June 23 – As the Gulf diplomatic crisis rumbles on, with no end in sight, the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) has issued a statement aimed at limiting the spread of damage to football, in the wake of Egypt’s national team and Cairo club Ahly refusing to give access to Qatari-owned sport channel beIN Sports in recent matches.
By Paul Nicholson
June 22 – A storm is brewing in the Caribbean between the St.Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) and its member clubs. Elections take place later this month with president Anthony Johnson standing for re-election.
June 22 – A row has broken out over wages in the top divisions of South African football following claims that Kaizer Chiefs’ Bruce Bvuma was earning just R5000 (£303) per month against the background of a FIFPro survey which suggests 38% of players are earning less than R8000 (£486) a month.
June 21 – Both RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg have been given the go ahead to participate in the UEFA Champions League, having restructured their relationships with the Austrian Red Bull energy drinks company to overcome the regulatory prohibition on common ownership of clubs.
June 21 – European governing body UEFA has partnered with conference organiser Leaders for the Generation XX Series to promote dialogue and profile of the women’s game.
By Mark Baber
June 18 – After a week of inspections of stadia CAF have given Kenya more time to make progress, whilst assuring that a Plan B is in place for hosting of the CHAN tournament in January 2018, in case “there are some problems.”
June 18 – The on-going confusion and controversy around Bulgaria CSKA-Sofia shows little sign of ending as the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) rejected an urgent request to suspend UEFA from, potentially, ruling the club cannot compete in the upcoming Europa Cup.
By Mark Baber
June 16 – Despite optimistic noises from sections of the Kenyan press and Football Federation of Kenya officials and with a African football confederation (CAF) inspection team currently in the country to examine preparations, Kenya’s hosting of CHAN 2018 is in peril due to delays in preparing adequate host stadiums.
June 16 – Brussels’ Eurostadium has suffered another setback after the province of Flemish Brabant refused to issue an environmental permit for the stadium. The due delivery date of the Euro 2020 stadium is now in doubt.
June 14 – UEFA has expanded its club competition players’ awards with the addition of five new categories. The awards will be presented the kick-off draw ceremonies for the Champions League and Europa League in Monaco at the end of August.
By Mark Baber
June 12 – A busy weekend of international football saw African Cup of Nations qualification under way in earnest, with all 48 teams in contention having now completed their first game in the Group stage, whilst European qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup have passed the halfway stage.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 9 – One month after suspending the elections of the Sudan Football Association (SFA) at the request of the incumbent SFA officals, FIFA have now threatened to throw out the African country altogether if a controversial government decree is not revoked within the next 24 hours.
June 9 – Four years after starting proceedings, a consortium headed by David Beckham has cleared a crucial hurdle in bringing a Major League Soccer franchise back to Miami.
June 8 – Russian Premier League side Terek Grozny is to change its name to ‘Akhmat’ in honour of the father of Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov.