India’s I-League teams fail licensing tests as AIFF and IMG-Reliance forge ahead

I-League clubs

By Mark Baber
August 19 – Indian club football has been thrown into chaos with all its I-League clubs failing to pass the club licensing test – leaving the league without a single eligible club. At the same time the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and their sponsors IMG-Reliance are continuing their drive to emulate the success of Indian cricket by restructuring football including setting up a new tournament and new franchise clubs.

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Ex-FA chief Bernstein says leave Summer 2022 alone, or re-vote

David Bernstein

By Andrew Warshaw
August 19 – Former English FA chairman David Bernstein has waded controversially into the Qatar World Cup debate by calling for a revote for the 2022 tournament in preference to any rescheduling. In recent weeks, debate has intensified over a possible switch to winter because of the fearsome mid-summer Gulf heat – an idea Bernstein has long opposed yet one that is supported by his successor, Greg Dyke.

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Afghan football returns with Pakistan friendly and new league

Afghan football

August 19 – FIFA are hailing this week’s international friendly between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the start of the second edition of the Afghan Premier League (APL) two days later as major milestones in the recent history of Afghan football.
Tuesday’s landmark friendly in Kabul is the first such fixture in Afghanistan since 2003, when the host nation played Turkmenistan, and is expected to be a full house.

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