AirGoal extends China deal to first team as Uzbeks land in Wuhan in chase of 2018 spot
August 31 – The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has announced AirGoal as the new equipment supplier for China’s national team.
Ceferin warns Euro giants that FFP still has teeth, and floats possibility of salary cap
By Andrew Warshaw
August 30 – As the summer transfer market reaches its denouement and the spending spree winds up for six months, UEFA president Alexandre Ceferin has made it clear his organisation is not turning a blind eye to the financial excesses many believe are spiralling out of control.
Bolivia lose CAS appeal handing World Cup points boost to Chile over Argentina
By Samindra Kunti
August 30 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed Bolivia’s two appeals against forfeiting two World Cup qualifying games for fielding an ineligible player. The ruling hurts Argentina and boosts Chile.
Iran’s Safi is recalled after apologising for playing against Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv
By Andrew Warshaw
August 30 – Fresh information has emerged over why Iranian authorities decided to ban only one of the two European-based players the government said would never be picked for the national team again as punishment for playing against an Israeli club.
Olympiacos partners Harvard University to host talkshop on football’s social responsibility
August 30 – Forget the obsequious amounts of money being lashed out on footballers, next week Olympiacos FC is hosting a conference in partnership with Harvard University promoting football’s social responsibility, particularly in relation to refugees and other vulnerable groups. The real world people transfers that no-one really wants to face up to, and certainly not club owners.
Spanish regions call for Villar to stand down, he demands payment of his RFEF wages
August 30 – Spain’s 19 regional federations and the government’s council for sport (CSD) have unanimously called for the resignation of Spanish FA (RFEF) president Angel Maria Villar (pictured), the former FIFA and UEFA powerbroker, following an emergency meeting.
AFC builds on Dream Asia CSR work with Red Cross hook-up
August 30 – The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The agreement will bolster the AFC’s effectiveness in its social responsibility campaigns, particularly around the IRFC’s commitment to ‘partner for more resilient communities’.
Aguero, Kane, Pobga and Lindelof in one-on-one challenges with NFL stars
August 30 – Premier League or NFL, who has the bigger, better, faster, most skilful athletes? Whistle Sports in partnership with the NFL have picked up the challenge to find out via a series of tests that pits the athletes against each other.
Mansion go all-in with Bournemouth adding sleeve to shirt front sponsorship
August 30 – Premier League Bournemouth’s main sponsor Mansion has extended its deal with the club to include the sleeve sponsorship position. The club played with the new logo on its sleeve for the first time last weekend against Manchester City.
Kia Motors adds to UEFA sponsorship with Europa League deal
August 29 – UEFA have secured one of their long-standing partners, South Korean car manufacturer Kia Motors, as an Official Partner for the UEFA Europa League for three seasons from the start of the 2018/19 championship through to the UEFA Europa League final in 2021.
Barca secure €147m Dembele and still have sights set on Liverpool’s Coutinho
August 29 – Barcelona were never going to waste time spending the €222 million world record fee they received for Neymar. But the fact they have spent two thirds of the money on the vastly less experienced Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund is already being viewed by some experts as something of a gamble with the transfer window slamming shut in two days’ time.
Iran drop Shojaei over Maccabi game, Queiroz warns of ‘winds of havoc’
By Andrew Warshaw
August 29 – Despite intervention by FIFA and a fan backlash, team captain Masoud Shojaei has been left out of Iran’s final World Cup qualifiers against South Korea and Syria after playing against an Israeli club for the Greek team that pays his salary.
AFC to back NMIFA bid for FIFA and proposes workshops to ‘educate’ governments
August 29 – Meeting for the first time in Beirut, Lebanon, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Associations Committee has come up with a package of recommendations including regular bilateral meetings between the AFC and its Member Associations to forge closer relationships.
Johansen clings on to Sierra Leone rule as court rules for integrity checks
August 29 – Opponents of embattled Sierra Leone Football Association president Isha Johansen appear to have lost the latest stage of their legal battle over who controls the game.
Juventus women’s team hits the ground running with 13-0 debut win
August 29 – Juventus’ women’s team defeated Torino Calcio Femminile 13-0 in a Coppa Italia match on Sunday to win their first ever competitive game.