USA 2 Costa Rica 2 (USA win 4-3 on pens)
June 29 – You’d hate to use the word ‘sterile’ to describe a Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final, but following the drama and passion of Guatemala versus Canada, it all felt a little flat as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Costa Rica kicked off for the right to face Guatemala in St. Louis. After 90 minutes and the drama of penalty kicks,
August 8 – Members of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), who are also referred to as football stakeholders, are demanding an emergency extraordinary congress within three days’ time amid the chaos and confusion engulfing the country’s warring footballing factions.
August 8 – The manager of the England women’s team, Mark Sampson (pictured), has been cleared of any wrongdoing after one his star players Eniola Aluko made a complaint to the Football Association about “bullying and harassment”.
August 8 – German insurance group HDI has become the shirt sleeve sponsor of Bundesliga club Hannover 96. HDI is already holds the naming rights to the club’s stadium, a sponsorship it secured in 2013.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 7 – The bitter divisions within Sierra Leone football have taken an intriguing twist with FIFA giving Isha Johansen the green light to remain as interim federation president even though her mandate has expired.
August 7 – In another depressing illustration of how political ideology infiltrates football, Iran’s FA has denounced two Iranians contracted to a Greek side for competing against an Israeli team.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 7 – Time after time when quizzed on the subject, former UEFA president and later FIFA presidential candidate Michel Platini repeatedly denied suggestions he had voted for Qatar to stage the 2022 World Cup under pressure from the French government.
By Samindra Kunti
August 7 – Hosts the Netherlands provided their perfect ending to Euro 2017 defeating Denmark 4-2 in the final on Sunday to be crowned European champions for the first time. Star striker Vivianne Miedema scored twice.
August 7 – A police officer was forced to go to hospital with a head injury and a steward suffered a dislocated shoulder as a weekend pre-season fixture between an English and a German club was abandoned.
August 7 – German carmaker Opel has extended and expanded its deal with Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund for a another five years. Opel will have its logo on the sleeve of the Dortmund shirt and will have increased branding and marketing activation throughout the club.
August 7 – Manchester City have launched a new free digital fan engagement platform that will personalise their interaction with the club and target fans with offers and information relative to their location and interests.
August 7 – Leading Greek club Olympiacos FC has renewed its support of UNICEF and particularly its contribution to UNICEF’s immunisation programme for children to help prevent child mortality from preventable diseases.
By Paul Nicholson
August 4 – Liberia’s national team coaches have been unpaid for eight months, while its women’s football co-ordinator has not been paid for a year. This is despite FIFA having sent Liberia millions in grant money and FIFA having been repeatedly asked to conduct a forensic audit into the activities of controversial Liberian FA president Musa Bility (pictured) and the distribution of FIFA cash.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 4 – Within hours of completing his world record move to Paris St Germain, Brazilian superstar Neymar insisted he did not leave Barcelona because he was in Lionel Messi’s shadow but that he wanted to “write history”.
August 4 – Amidst the wave of reaction emanating from Neymar’s blockbuster transfer from Barcelona to Paris, the international players’ union FIFPro has called on the European Commission to do something to stop the game rapidly being destabilised by the deep pockets of a select few clubs.
By Paul Nicholson
August 4 – He might be the most expensive player of all time, but €222 million Brazilian money machine Neymar does not even make it to the UEFA shortlist of best players for their 2016/17 club competition awards. His former club colleague Lionel Messi does make it.