Palestine rise up FIFA rankings despite Gazan player restrictions
August 21 – Despite the ongoing military crisis in Gaza, Palestinian football has managed to achieve its highest ever world ranking by surging to 85th.
Arsenal complain to UEFA after bottle thrown at CL qualifier
August 21 – Arsenal have lodged a complaint with UEFA after a bottle was thrown at manager Arsène Wenger at the end of Tuesday’s tension-filled Champions League 0-0 playoff first-leg draw against Besiktas.
CAF set date for Rwanda’s AFCON appeal
August 21 – Rwanda’s appeal against being thrown out of the African Cup of Nations over a bizarre case of player identity will take place next Wednesday, August 27, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed.
Mr Manchester ‘United’ loses Bulgarian court battle over name change
By Alexander Krassimirov
August 21 – A Manchester United fan from Bulgaria has tattooed the club crest on his forehead in protest against the court system in the country.
Legia fury unabated as admin staff sacked and fans resort to threats
By Andrew Warshaw
August 21 – Despite pleading their innocence and accusing UEFA of foul play, Legia Warsaw have dismissed the administrator considered responsible for the clerical error led to the Polish club being thrown out of the Champions League.
Atlanta fans reserve 14,000 season tickets: first match…2017
By Ben Nicholson
August 21 – MLS’ Atlanta expansion team has received more than 14,000 season ticket applications, three years in advance. The team is yet to possess a squad, manager, even a name, and won’t play a game until 2017. However, this has not prevented the local community showing their excitement.
Pestilence, fire, sabotage accusations…what next for the NFF?
By Mark Baber
August 21 – A fire gutted the upper floors of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) Headquarters, known as the Glass House, in Abuja on Wednesday morning. The cause of the fire is yet to be established, with some suggestions an “electrical fault” may have been to blame.
Matt Scott: Third-party ownership – don’t bet your house on it
“It used to be the norm for people in their early thirties to set up a home of their own, but sadly being ‘priced out’ is rapidly becoming the new norm.” David Orr, UK National Housing Federation
You might think it odd that a football business-to-business column would focus on the UK housing market but there is a lot it can tell us about our game. Not because of what we can learn about club incomes,
In Scotland, another woman coach graduates into men’s football
By David Owen
August 20 – The University of Stirling claims to have made history by appointing the first woman manager in British men’s senior football.
UEFA investigate new Italian chief Tavecchio over racist comments
August 20 – Carlo Tavecchio (pictured) may have thought he had escaped censure after becoming the new head of the Italian FA despite his much-publicised racist comments about African footballers but UEFA have taken the unusual step of setting up an inquiry.
Barca spending spree over as FIFA enforces transfer ban
By Andrew Warshaw
August 20 – Barcelona have been ordered not to make any more signings after this summer until January, 2016, following a decision by FIFA’s appeal committee to re-impose their double transfer window ban for allegedly hoarding under-age players.
Indians agree dates for 2015 Federation Cup as Super League reveals draft names
By Mark Baber
August 20 – The All India Football Federation (AIFF) have announced that Jammu and Kashmir will host the Federation Cup in August 2015, whilst the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) announced the names of the international players who will be playing in the new league.
Age is just a number. Refs should be able to whistle longer, says Blatter
August 20 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes international referees are being forced retire too early under the current rules, especially when there is no age restriction for players or coaches.
Mutko rejects FIFA offer and sticks to 2018 World Cup plan as build ramps up
By Paul Nicholson
August 20 – Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko has turned down a FIFA proposal to reduce the number of stadiums and cities that will host the 2018 World Cup. FIFA president Sepp Blatter met with Russian president Vladimir Putin as well as Mutko in Sochi last weekend and suggested a possible reduction.
Garcia and Eckert on cast list for FIFA-hosted ethics summit next month
By Andrew Warshaw
August 20 – FIFA is to host the first ever conference on ethical sports leadership in conjunction with the Brussels-based World Forum for Ethics in Business.