Inside World Football

UEFA bans Czech coach Petr Vlachovsky for secretly filming women’s team

May 20 – UEFA has handed former FC Slovako Women coach Petr Vlachovsky a lifetime ban from all football-related activity after he secretly filmed players undressing and showering without their knowledge.

European football’s governing body also confirmed it has asked FIFA to extend the sanction worldwide and called on the Czech Football Association (FACR) to revoke Vlachovsky’s coaching licence permanently.

The case has become one of the most disturbing safeguarding scandals to hit European women’s football.

FIFA

Players add their voices to fear that FIFA’s World Cup extreme heat safety measures aren’t enough

May 19 – Players are calling on FIFA to mitigate the heat extremes teams will face at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The players’ message comes after last week health experts issued their own call for FIFA to address heat stress during the tournament more adequately. Players are increasingly adding their voices to the warning that the climate crisis is heightening player welfare risks.

In an open letter,

Premier League

Old pals, new relationship. Alonso and Garcia set up pre-season Chelsea friendly against Malaysia’s JDT

May 20 – Chelsea will round off their 2026 pre-season tour with a fixture against Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim, as the Premier League club continues to deepen its commercial and sporting footprint across Asia-Pacific.

A year on from their successful summer in the USA for the club World Cup, the match will take place on August 11 at the 40,000-capacity Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor, bringing Chelsea back to Malaysia for the first time in 13 years.

Europe

‘Boro get their wish and lose upwardly, but does EFL decision question league’s competitive integrity?

May 19 – Southampton have been kicked out of the Championship play-off final for spying. Middlesbrough, who were beaten by Saints in the play-off semi-finals over two legs, and who have repeatedly demanded from the final whistle of that loss that they should be in the final, have had their noisy demands heard by an EFL disciplinary commission.

As things stand, Middlesbrough will now meet nearest Championship neighbours Hull in the final at Wembley on Saturday.

Legal

Over and out. Appeals court rules against NASL’s last ditch claim in USSF anti-trust case

May 19 – The defunct National American Soccer League (NASL) has lost its appeal against a February 2025 ruling by a federal jury in New York that found that the US Soccer Federation did not violate anti-trust law in denying the NASL Division II league status.

As part of the same proceedings the NASL’s appeal of a May 6, 2025 post-judgment order denying its motion for a new trial was also turned down.

Finance

Newcastle’s Saudi owners PIF open investor talks for funding of new stadium

May 20 – Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF is in talks with potential investors over taking a minority stake in Newcastle United, as part of fundraising plans tied to the Premier League club’s long-anticipated stadium decision.

According to three sources familiar with the discussions, PIF, which is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is weighing whether to expand St James’ Park or build an entirely new stadium, and could issue new shares to back the plan.

Broadcast

Portuguese league’s streaming channel Liga TV to air play-offs live

May 20 – Portugal’s top-flight will broadcast its relegation and promotion playoffs live worldwide through its proprietary streaming platform Liga TV.

The broadcast initiative, developed in partnership with Sport TV, will provide global coverage of the Liga Portugal Betclic and Liga Portugal 2 Meu Super playoff fixtures involving Casa Pia AC, SCU Torreense, SC Farense, and Belenenses SDUQ. Matches will be accessible across Liga TV’s digital ecosystem, including its website and mobile applications.

World Cup

Dallas prepares to give a North Texas welcome to 2026 visitors

May 20 – The North Texas FWC Organizing Committee has ramped up Dallas’s 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations on three fronts by opening registration for the official Fan Festival Dallas, announcing the Dallas Cowboys and Daniel L. Hunt as Host City Supporters, and unveiling the freshly installed playing surface at AT&T Stadium.

Free ticket registration is now open for the Fan Festival at Fair Park, the region’s signature watch party across the 34 match days.

Premier League

Cynergy Bank lead Brentford community financial literacy workshop

May 20 – Cynergy Bank and Brentford Community Trust teamed up this week to deliver a financial literacy workshop for young people enrolled in the club’s Post-16 Football and Education programme.

Held at the Gtech Community Stadium, the sessions involved more than 50 male and female students aged 16 and above, focusing on practical money management skills as participants prepare for employment, further education and adult life.

The initiative marks the latest in a growing trend across football community programmes,

Europe

LaLiga builds community and confidence in London

May 20 – LaLiga and Bloomsbury Football Foundation brought more than 120 young girls together in London this week for the latest edition of their Girls Schools Programme Finals Day, as the partnership continues to expand its grassroots footprint in the UK.

Held against the backdrop of growing momentum in the women’s game, the event featured 15 teams from 11 schools competing across Cup and Plate competitions, while also taking part in football and education sessions led by the LaLiga foundation.

FIFA

FIFA’s Dominguez “took millions” in recovered funds, complaint alleges

May 19 – South American football boss Alejandro Dominguez is facing an ethics complaint at FIFA over allegedly misappropriated funds.

The New York Times reports that the Conmebol President is under investigation following a complaint by a whistleblower that he received more than $5 million in payments recovered from the 2015 FIFAgate scandal which rocked world football’s governing body.

Senior FIFA officials have been aware of the complaint, made to the organisation’s ethics committee, for more than a year,

Sponsorship

PSG extend partnership with Accor

May 19 – Paris Saint-Germain and Accor have extended their long-running partnership through to 2030 – a renewed four-year agreement that will see ALL Accor continue as the club’s premium hotel partner.

This builds on a collaboration that first began in 2019 when the hospitality group became the club’s principal shirt sponsor (though was then displaced by Qatar Airways in June 2022).

The deal has helped position ALL Accor’s loyalty platform internationally through PSG’s vast and growing global audience,

Broadcast

Streaming giant DAZN set to broadcast Queens League Spain

May 19 – Streaming heavyweight DAZN has agreed a deal to broadcast Queens League Spain during the competition’s latest edition next month.

The platform will become an official partner of the women’s seven-a-side competition in Spain, adding another digitally-driven property to its growing portfolio as it pursues its target of younger audiences whilst expanding its women’s football offering.

The new season officially launches today (19 May) with the Queens League Kick-off Night presentation event, where organisers will unveil the latest details surrounding the competition,

South America

Neymar surprises with Brazil selection for World Cup

May 19 – Neymar will feature in a fourth World Cup for Brazil after Carlo Ancelotti picked the veteran as part of his 26-man squad.

The 34-year-old Santos player will get his Hollywood ending after his surprise inclusion in Brazil’s World Cup squad. He is Brazil’s all-time top goalscorer with 79 but has struggled with fitness. The Brazilian tore his ACL in 2023 when he last played for Brazil.

“He has improved his fitness,