By Paul Nicholson
June 14 – The Palestine Football Association (PFA) is taking FIFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) claiming FIFA broke its own statutory rules and denied the PFA its rights over the decision taken by the FIFA Congress not to go to a vote on whether six Israeli teams playing league matches on occupied territory in Palestine should be allowed to continue.
June 14 – Iran became the second team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup as they defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 in Tehran with goals from Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi.
June 14 – Long time Czech league sponsor Grambinus is to pull out of its deals with the Czech football Association (FAČR), including its title sponsorship of the country’s top league, saying that the corruption scandals that have hit the presidency of the federation are now impacting on their brand image.
June 16 – Brussels’ Eurostadium has suffered another setback after the province of Flemish Brabant refused to issue an environmental permit for the stadium. The due delivery date of the Euro 2020 stadium is now in doubt.
June 14 – UEFA has expanded its club competition players’ awards with the addition of five new categories. The awards will be presented the kick-off draw ceremonies for the Champions League and Europa League in Monaco at the end of August.
By Samindra Kunti
June 13 – South Korea’s president, Moon Jae-in, has suggested North Korea could be part of a bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup. Moon (pictured) is trying to foster a dialogue with the isolated North Koreans.
By Paul Nicholson
June 13 – Chinese construction firm Lander Sports Development now looks the most likely new owner of Premier League Southampton after the company announced to the Shenzen stock exchange that owner Gao Jisheng had received verbal approval from the Premier League for the acquisition.
June 13 – The Indian Super League announced on Monday that Tata Steel Limited & JSW Group have won the bids for the two new franchise teams for the next season. The decision means JSW Group owned Bengaluru, one of the strongest teams in the rival I-league, will now join the ISL which will expand from eight to ten teams.
She coined the phrase “FIFA Slayer” and prided herself to be just that: the woman who dismantled FIFA.
June 13 – Australia is to launch a bid to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup after the country’s federal government has pledged its support to stage the tournament.
By Mark Baber
June 13 – As China continues to increase its investments in football, at home and abroad, Wednesday’s meeting between President Xi Jinping and FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Beijing has ignited speculation on a potential Chinese World Cup bid for 2030.
June 12 – Neymar has the highest transfer value in the world at €210.7 million, according to latest data. Tottenham’s Dele Alli is second placed, €55 million less than Neymar at €155.1 million, but worth €1.5 million than third placed teammate Harry Kane. Both are ahead of Lionel Messi who is valued at €151.7 million. Messi topped the list in 2016 with a €211.1 million transfer valuation.
By Paul Nicholson
June 13 – The rapidly re-growing sport of Subbuteo – the table football game where players use their fingers to move figures on the pitch to score goals – is adding a new regional confederation in Asia to help develop the sport in the region.
By Paul Nicholson
June 12 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has expressed confidence that the diplomatic crisis surrounding Qatar in the middle east will not threaten the 2022 World Cup, but that FIFA is monitoring the situation closely.
By Paul Nicholson
June 12 – If there was a World Cup for mergers and acquisitions in football, China would win it. Over the last three years Chinese investors have spent €2.1 billion acquiring non-Chinese football assets outside the country. Second placed USA spent just €313 million over the same period.