By Samindra Kunti
August 26 – Lionel Messi has done what previously would have been considered unthinkable. The greatest player of his generation has told his club FC Barcelona that he wants to leave. On Tuesday, he handed in his transfer request, dealing an existential blow to the Catalan giants.
August 26 – UEFA has confirmed that the Super Cup to be played on 24 September 2020 in Budapest will be the first of its competitions to see a partial return of fans to the stadium, but all other matches will continue behind closed doors “until further notice”.
August 26 – US food and beverage giant PepsiCo has taken a deep step into the women’s game in Europe with the signing of a five-year sponsorship running through to the end of the 2025 season.
At a time where the Swiss are engaged in some legal house-cleaning, having appointed a Special Prosecutor to investigate the former Swiss AG Lauber and his motley crew (as well as the odd birds that flew in from the increasingly legendary Canton of Valais: birthplace of Blatter, Infantino and local celeb AG Rinaldo Arnold), Infantino’s professional defenders have decided unequivocally that they don’t see eye to eye with Swiss Legal Eagles and declare, to anyone who will listen,
August 26 – With most women’s leagues cancelled when the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc with schedules worldwide, the National Women’s Soccer League continues to carry the flag for the women’s game announcing that its 2020 season will resume on September 5.
August 26 – Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been handed a suspended prison sentence after he was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult in Greek court.
August 26 – Premier League Southampton have signed a one-year shirt sponsorship with cryptocurrency-based sports betting platform Sportsbet.io.
August 26 – Private equity is a step closer to investing in the Italian top flight with firms CVC Capital Partners and Advent International preparing a joint bid of €1.3 billion for a minority stake in Serie A.
August 25 – Sports fashion retailer JD Sports has become the first official sleeve sponsor for Premier League returnees Leeds United in a one-season deal for 2020/21.
August 26 – Caribbean travel restrictions and a compacted match calendar with few dates left have forced Concacaf to abandon the Caribbean Club Shield and Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship for 2020.
By David Owen
August 25 – Gianni Infantino’s pay has crashed through the $3 million barrier. FIFA’s 2019 annual report has made an appearance on the world governing body’s website, revealing the amounts that the FIFA president and his secretary general were awarded in salary and allowances last year.
August 25 – The noose is beginning to tighten around the neck of outgoing Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber (pictured) which could potentially have significant consequences for FIFA president Gianni Infantino amid the ongoing saga of those infamous undocumented meetings between the pair.
August 25 – The disgraced former president of the Afghanistan Football Federation, Keramuddin Keram (pictured), has escaped arrest in his home country after special forces failed to capture him. Keram is accused of rape and sexual abuse of members of the Afghani women’s national team.
August 25 – Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho has been released from house arrest in Paraguay after his detention for holding a forged passport after a local court accepted a plea deal.
August 25 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s predilection for private jet travel looks likely to cause him more discomfort than a trip in economy class.