Ajax upgrades CST in new 3-year sponsorship
By Samindra Kunti
August 13 – Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam have named Cheng Shin Tire (CST) as an official partner of the club.
World Football
Romario and the €2m Swiss account that never was
By Ricardo Setyon
August 12 – In Brazil former footballers becoming politicians is not unusual – Bebeto, Vampeta, Tulio, Roberto Dinamite, and even Zico and Pelé had their time as members of governments – but none have reached the heights of Romário, one of the best goalscorers the country has ever produced.
Securing Sport announces Haass and Rice as key speakers at NY summit
August 12 – ICSS (the International Centre for Sport Security) has announced that Richard Haass (pictured), president of US think tank, Council on Foreign Relations, will give the opening address at Securing Sport 2015, to be held in New York, November 3-4. Condoleezza Rice, 66th U.S. Secretary of State, will also be speaking at the conference.
Lokomotiv Plovdiv threatens to quit league after BFU hands down tough fine
By Alexander Krassimirov
August 12 – The owners of Bulgarian top tier side Lokomotiv Plovdiv have threatened to pull the club out of the A Grupa division after being hit with a BGN 37,500 (€18,750) fine by the Disciplinary Committee of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) for racist chants by fans during a match against Litex Lovech.
CAS orders Paraguay’s Olimpia to pay Ariosa ‘moral damages’
August 12 – A Paraguayan club has been ordered to pay compensation to a footballer whose contract was suspended while he was being treated for cancer, according to world players’ union FIFPro.
Fenerbahce player escapes after car fired at in ‘terrorist’ attack
August 12 – A top-flight Turkish footballer has escaped unharmed after gunmen fired on his bulletproof car in Istanbul.
US shakes up youth soccer thinking in bid for national team glory
By Ben Nicholson
August 11 – Although the MLS is deep into its regular season, US youth soccer seasons are soon to start again, in line with the conventional European calendar. And as the youth teams gear up, they will be adjusting to the new player development initiatives that the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) has established.
Germany’s Continental adds Brazil to roster with Copa do Brasil tie-up
August 11 – Tyre manufacturer Continental has signed up to sponsor the Copa do Brasil, the Brazilian Cup organized by the Brazilian Football Confederation CBF.
German Cup game abandoned after ref struck by lighter
August 11 – A German Cup first-round tie between third division VfL Osnabruck and RB Leipzig was abandoned in the 71st minute on Monday after the referee was struck by a lighter thrown from a section of the crowd.
Ukraine moves towards law to criminalise match-fixing
August 11 – Two Ukrainian lawmakers, Andriy Kozhemiakin and Andriy Pavelko (pictured), the latter president of the country’s football federation, have registered a bill in parliament that would criminalise corruption and eradicate match-fixing.
Polish FA chief Boniek enters racism row defending Lech Poznan
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
August 10 – Zbigniew Boniek (pictured), the president of the Polish Football Association (PZPN) and former Polish international with spells at Roma and Juventus, has spurred controversy with a string of negative tweets criticising Never Again (Nigdy Wiecej), a Polish anti-racist association which cooperates with the anti-discrimination group FARE.
Joy turns to despair as Palestinian cup final called off after Israel denies entry permits
By Mark Baber
August 10 – Sunday’s second leg of the historic cup final between Al-Ahly, the top team in the West Bank and Gaza’s champion Shejaia was called off by the Palestinian Football Federation on Friday as Israel denied entry permits to seven of the Gaza party, including four players, whom it demanded be subjected to questioning.
US and Mexico line up for winner-takes-all Rose Bowl shoot-out
August 10 – It looked lined up to be the Gold Cup final in July, but it never happened once Jamaica knocked out the US in the semi-final. Now the US and local rivals Mexico will have the chance to kick a ball in competitive anger with the winners taking the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup berth.
One game, one loss and Bielsa quits Marseilles leaving stunned fans and board
By Andrew Warshaw
August 10 – Marseille are looking for a new coach after one solitary game of the new French season. Marcelo Bielsa stunned supporters by announcing his resignation within minutes of their opening-day Ligue 1 defeat by Caen having just started his second campaign in charge.
Hertha bus shot, no-one hurt
August 10 – Police in Germany are investigating an unprovoked attack on a Bundesliga team bus which was on its way to pick up players travelling to an away game.