By Paul Nicholson
August 15 – In what looks like a further attempt to clean house of dissenting voices within the federation, the Liberian FA (LFA) has suspended its legal director Benedict Yarsiah “with immediate effect without pay, for time indefinite, pending an investigation.”
August 14 – Probably the worst kept secret of the USL, the second-tier of professional leagues in the US, has become official. Las Vegas will have a team playing in the 2018 competition.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 14 – As widely anticipated, Morocco has formally decided to take on the three-way candidacy of the United States, Mexico and Canada in a bid to stage the 2026 World Cup.
August 14 – At the weekend, Me Augustin Senghor (pictured) was re-elected for a third four-year term as the head of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) whilst the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) elected Wallace Karia, former vice-president as the new president.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 11 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, one of the most influential figures in European football, has announced he is stepping down as head of the European Club Association.
August 11 – In a move which prompted fans – presumably from outside of the country – to take to social media to express their anger, two Iranian internationals have been banned for life from their national team as punishment for playing for their Greek club against an Israeli side.
August 11 –United Soccer League, the second tier of US professional football, has announced two new clubs in Birmingham, Alabama, and Austin, Texas, who will being playing in the 2019 season.
August 11 – England are to bid to host the 2021 European Women’s Championship following the success of this summer’s event in the Netherlands which generated a peak audience of 4 million TV viewers in the UK as the finals were expanded to 16 teams.
August 10 – Mexico’s national team captain Rafael Márquez has been sanctioned by the US treasury department for allegedly being a “front person” for a drug-trafficking cartel.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 10 – In the latest example of a government controlling its national FA, Sierra Leone’s sports ministry has given the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) until August 14 to hold an ordinary congress to pave the way for elections now that the four-year mandate of SLFA boss Isha Johansen has expired.
August 10 – Neymar’s €222 million record-breaking move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain has upset the balance of French football according to Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 9 – After maintaining a discreet silence while his country’s credentials for hosting the 2019 African Nations Cup were constantly called into question, former African football chief Issa Hayatou has lashed out at comments made by his successor, Ahmad Ahmad, over Cameroon’s readiness to stage an expanded 24-team event.
August 9 – Aberdeen fans are crying foul following UEFA’s decision to open disciplinary proceedings against them because of crowd trouble at the recent Europa League tie against Apollon Limassol in Cyprus.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 8 – Cameroon’s bid to cling on to hosting the 2019 African Cup of Nations, which has come under intense scrutiny since the decision to expand the finals to 24 teams, has suffered a further blow with the president of African football himself questioning the country’s credentials.
