Milan clubs wants new €1.2bn San Siro. Politicians nervous
July 11 – AC and Inter Milan moved plans for a new stadium forward on Wednesday by disclosing a plan to invest more than €1.2 billion in the project.
Gold Cup 2025
Passion meets pragmatism in Austin as Panama secure QF spot
Guatemala 0-1 Panama:
June 20 – Friday night at Q2 Stadium bore no resemblance to the venue that hosted football just 24 hours earlier. The transformation was complete, and the catalyst was simple: unbridled passion provided by the hordes of Guatemala supporters who descended on Austin. Stark contrast to the lack of interest shown by US fans on Thursday.
Gallop to step down as boss of Aussie FA
July 11 – Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop has announced he is stepping down on December 31 as the sport prepares to implement far-reaching changes.
TECNO dials in Man City with new deal and Indian focus
July 11 – Mobile handset brand TECNO has extended its sponsorship of Manchester City that was first signed in December 2016.
Concacaf release qualifying structure for Qatar 2022 World Cup
July 11 – Concacaf have announced details of a two-part regional qualification for the 2022 World Cup and their 3.5 slots in Qatar.
Euro 2020 ticket applications hit 14m mark for first 1.5m on-sale
July 10 – More than 14 million tickets have been requested for the one-off 12-city pan-continental European Championship in 2020 during the first three weeks of the sales window, breaking the tournament’s record for registrations.
Women’s game is missing $1.2bn in sponsorship value, but will any catch up be shared equally?
July 10 –The total potential sponsorship value of women’s football globally is currently undervalued by a massive $1.2 billion globally, according brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance.
CAF in crisis: Disciplinary body fails to rule on headbutting Moroccan FA president Lekjaa
By Osasu Obayiuwana in Cairo, Egypt.
July 10 – In what is yet another chapter in the diary of governance troubles for the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the organisation’s Disciplinary Committee (DC) failed to deliver a verdict in the case of Fouzi Lekjaa, its 3rd Vice-President, returning the case to the body’s secretariat.
Liverpool joins Barca and Spurs on 1XBet sponsor roster
July 10 – Following up on their 1XBet has announced a five-year sponsorship deal with FC Barcelona, 1XBet has unveiled a new multi-year partnership with Liverpool. No value or term for the Liverpool deal has been released.
Messi claim of ‘fixed’ Copa America could land him two-year ban
July 10 – Lionel Messi’s much-publicised altercation with Conmebol, whom he accused of fixing Argentina’s Copa America semi-final in favour of hosts Brazil, could land the Barcelona star with a potential two-year ban according to local reports.
Captain Morgan opens up MLS market with as league’s first spirits sponsor
July 10 – Major League Soccer has signed its first spirit sponsor with Captain Morgan becoming the league’s official spiced rum and exclusive spirits partner.
Edu returns to Arsenal as technical boss, Juninho takes over in Brazil
July 10 – Edu Gaspar has returned to Arsenal to become the club’s new technical director. The Brazilian held a similar role with the Selecao, which won a ninth Copa America last Sunday on home soil.
Moroccan FA boss Lekjaa accused of assaulting Ethiopian ref Tessema. CAF to make ‘watershed’ ruling
By Osasu Obayiuwana in Cairo, Egypt
July 9 – Fouzi Lekjaa, 3rd Vice-President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is at grave risk of being fined and banned by the organisation of which he is a high-ranking member, when CAF’s Disciplinary Committee sits in Cairo on Tuesday, to hear a complaint the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) have filed against the Moroccan.
Zelkifli Ngoufonja calls on Africa to reject FIFA takeover and elect their own leaders
By Paul Nicholson
July 9 – Zelkifli Ngoufonja, who stood as a candidate for an African FIFA Council position in 2017, has written to CAF member association presidents on the eve of their Congress in Cairo this week urging them to do “the right thing” and not cede control of CAF and African football to FIFA.
PSG says stay-away Neymar can leave if the price is right
July 9 – French champions Paris St-Germain have said they will take “appropriate action” after Brazil striker Neymar failed to turn up for the first day of pre-season training. The 27-year-old was due back at the club’s training ground on Monday, but remained in Brazil for a charity event.
I-League clubs write to Indian PM calling for probe into AIFF
July 9 – The crisis in Indian football has reached the office of prime minister Narendra Modi. The I-League clubs have written to India’s head of state demanding a commission probe the functioning of the All India Football Federation Federation (AIFF).