LeBlanc takes top women’s development job at Concacaf
July 26 – Former Canadian women’s national team goalkeeper and FIFA legend Karina LeBlanc has been appointed head of Concacaf Women’s Football.
Fewer than one in 200 football samples produced adverse doping finding in 2017
By David Owen
July 25 – Over 37,000 anti-doping samples from footballers were analysed by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratories in 2017, more than for any other sport on the Summer Olympic programme.
Maradona calls for more Argentine FA reform, suggesting that corruption is still ruling
July 25 – The Argentine Football Association (AFA) needs to be restructured for the national team to get back to winning ways, according to the country’s most fabled player Diego Maradona.
Ghanaian court passes FA assets and control to government, and bars GFA old guard
July 25 – A High Court in Accra has granted an application filed by the government seeking to allow the Registrar General to take over the assets of the Ghanaian FA, pending liquidation.
Turkey’s Erdogan backs Germany’s Ozil saying Islamophobic behaviour is unacceptable
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has waded into the row over Mesut Ozil’s shock retirement from international football on racism grounds by saying the treatment towards the Arsenal midfielder was unacceptable.
Out of ammo? Usmanov now looks ready to sell 30% Gunners stake
July 25 – The on-going shareholder battles at Premier League Arsenal have taken a new turn with Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov (pictured), who has repeatedly failed in his attempts to increase his 30% stake in the club, now apparently putting his holding on the sales block to anyone but rival American shareholder Stan Kroenke.
Spain boosts women’s structure with addition of second tier league
July 25 – Spain’s national federation (RFEF) has created a new second tier league for its women’s clubs with the aim of promoting and strengthening the women’s game in the country.
FIFA’s Best: Time for Messi and Ronaldo to make way for Mbappe, Modric and Kane?
July 25 – FIFA has named its 10 shortlisted nominees for Best Men’s and Women’s players for the year. The men’s award – usually a run-off between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – for the first time in many years looks wide open.
Suning Sports raises cash and buys into streaming channel as Inter add new Chinese partners
July 25 – China’s Suning Sports, part of the Suning group of companies that owns Italy’s Internazionale, is moving more aggressively into the sports business with a find raising reported to have raised $600 million.
Pinnick back in control in Nigeria after government backs down and removes Giwa
July 24 – After months of political in-fighting and with the threat of a FIFA ban hanging over the country, Nigeria has spectacularly restored Amaju Pinnick as its federation president.
UN’s Møller calls for more ‘trust’ and higher integrity in advance of SIGA Forum in Geneva
July 24 – United Nations Geneva director-general Michael Møller has emphaasised the importance of the role sport has to play in breaking down boundaries between nations and cultures. He also talked of the importance of integrity in enabling sport to achieve it potential in this regard.
Parma to appeal 5 point sanction after striker found guilty of matchfixing attempt
July 24 – Italy’s Parma, promoted back into Serie A at the end of last season, will keep their place in the top tier but will start the season five points behind their rivals after striker Emanuele Calaiò was ruled guilty of attempting to fix Parma’s final match of the season against Spezia.
DFB rejects Ozil’s racist claims as German media bangs the drum for ‘being German’
By Andrew Warshaw
July 24 – The German Football Association (DFB) has hit back strongly over Mesut Ozil’s claims over racism and disrespect but conceded they could have done more to protect him.
Ethiopia and Eritrea agree friendly match after years of war and boycotts
July 24 – Ethiopia and Eritrea, at war for 20 years until a recent peace accord and rapprochement, have agreed to stage an historic friendly in August.
Hyundai drive deeper into Euro club sponsorship market with Serie A’s Roma
July 24 – Hyundai have added their first club sponsorship in Italy becoming AS Roma’s new Global Automotive Partner in a three-year deral that will see the Hyundai logo on the back of AS Roma shirts.