Nissan boosts UK football spend with Sky Sports partnership
July 8 – Car manufacturer Nissan has expanded its football media sponsorship as the weekend sponsor of Sky Sports’ Premier League action in a three-year partnership.
Euro 2016 final preview: France vs Portugal, a party waiting to happen
July 8 – No side ever wins a major football tournament without a modicum of good fortune and France arguably had theirs in the semifinal against Germany when they were outplayed for large parts of the game and were awarded a soft penalty.
Whether France or Portugal lift trophy, Nike win Euro 2016’s Battle of Brands
By David Owen
July 8 – We will have to wait and see whether hosts France or Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal lift the European Championship trophy at the Stade de France on Sunday. But we can already say with absolute clarity that the US mark Nike has won Euro 2016’s Battle of the Brands.
Match-fixing: Brazilian police arrest 7 in Sao Paulo as investigation widens
July 8 – Seven people suspected of match-fixing – including players, coaches, agents and club presidents – have been arrested in Brazil.
Man City sign eSports starlet Kez to play for the club
July 8 – Manchester City have signed a new player. Kieran ‘Kez’ Brown will represent Manchester City in football gaming tournaments and fan events.
Barca backs Messi in appeal against 21-month jail sentence for tax fraud
By Andrew Warshaw
July 7 – Lionel Messi has vowed to appeal and clear his name after being sensationally sentenced to 21 months in prison on three counts of tax fraud. Both Barcelona’s Argentine superstar and his father were handed the same jail term though it is unlikely they will serve time since custodial sentences are regularly suspended in Spain for first offences for non-violent crimes carrying a term of less than two years.
A question of compliant? FIFA parachutes Vesel into audit hot seat
By Andrew Warshaw
July 7 – A new member of Gianni Infantino’s inner protective clan or a genuinely positive step in FIFA’s reform process? Make up your own mind.
Euros semi-final preview: France vs Germany
July 7 – Is this the moment when France finally write a new chapter in their football history by beating Germany for the first time for 58 years in a competitive match? Anticipation has reached fever pitch ahead of the host nation’s Euro semifinal but a giant hurdle faces Didier Deschamps’ team in one of the tightest games to call.
Champagne bubble bursts as Russian party goes wrong in Monaco
July 7 – Two Russian players have been punished by their clubs after video evidence showed them partying in Monaco following the national team’s humiliating Euro 2016 exit.
CAS dismisses Skenderbeu appeal with key decision in battle against match-fixers
July 7 – The dismissal of the appeal by Klubi Sportiv Skenderbeu to have their Champions League ban lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) could prove to be a landmark decision in the battle against match-fixing.
Man City focus on developing in China as pre-season tour nears
July 7 – Manchester City, hard on the heels of its Cityzens weekend and the launch of various digital initiatives has now turned its attention back to China where it has extended its relationship with specialist business development company, Zhong An Holdings.
Qatar 2022 bosses learn from Euro 2016 inspection visits
By Samindra Kunti
July 7 – Qatar has been visiting and inspecting venues and facilities at Euro 2016 as it seeks to build its expertise in time for the 2022 World Cup.
Russia promises 2018 will be safe, and ticket prices cheap…for Russians
By Andrew Warshaw
July 7 – Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko (pictured) insists his country has learned from the bitter experience of hooliganism at Euro 2016 and that the 2018 World Cup will be safe for all supporters to attend.
Homeless World Cup set for Glasgow kick-off, and signs up Olso for 2017
July 6 – The Homeless World Cup kicks off this Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland, with 52 teams and 500 players competing in mens and womens competitions. It concludes July 16.
Valcke and Chung have bans reduced by FIFA appeals committee
By Andrew Warshaw
July 6 – FIFA’s appeals committee has cut the suspension of former secretary general Jerome Valcke (pictured) from 12 years to 10 and reduced Asian football powerbroker Chung Mong-joon’s ban from six years to five, though both moves represent only partial success for the two senior officials who served under the Sepp Blatter regime and were determined to clear their names.