PSG face Lyon as they look to secure French treble with League Cup win
July 31 – Paris St Germain will be aiming for a domestic treble tonight when they take on Lyon in the rescheduled French League Cup final.
With Saudi buy of Newcastle in limbo, KSA moves to appeal WTO piracy ruling
By Samindra Kunti
July 30 – Saudi Arabia has appealed the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) ruling that it facilitated piracy of Premier League matches after the Kingdom had first claimed that the ruling had been in its favour. It is a move that could impact on Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) controversial bid to acquire Newcastle United.
In a world (cup) of their own. Will Trinidad be left playing Tobago?
By Paul Nicholson
The fate of Trinidad and Tobago’s 2020 World Cup qualifying campaign currently looks to be lieing in the hands of a Port of Spain High Court judge rather than at the feet of a team on the pitch.
FIFA Bureau greenlights release of $1.5bn for Covid-19 relief fund
July 30 – The FIFA Bureau – the top table of the world governing body comprised of the confederation and FIFA presidents – has greenlighted the release of $1.5 billion for its coronavirus relief fund from FIFA’s reserves.
Real and Barca head world’s highest value club brands, Man Utd and Liverpool follow
July 30 – Real Madrid are the world’s most valuable football brand according brand valuation specialists Brand Finance. Barcelona are valued just €6 million behind them while Man Utd rank third, €105 million behind Real, but €62 million ahead of all-conquering but fourth ranked Liverpool.
Canadians revamp CPL into a one-off made-for-TV tournament
July 30 – The Canadian Premier League (CPL) has announced it will kick off its delayed second season August 13, with a 35-match centralised tournament that will crown a CPL champion mid-to-end September.
Saudi Pro League to return with final 8 rounds starting next week
July 30 – The Saudi Pro League (SPL) will resume with the first of the final eight rounds of fixtures kicking off next Wednesday with the Riyadh derby between Al Hilal and Al Nassr.
Brentford shake off Griffin Park shackles as they bid for Premier League glory
July 30 – Brentford defeated Swansea 3-2 on aggregate to reach the Championship play-off final in their Griffin Park farewell game as they chase Premier League riches and a return to top-flight football for the first time since 1947.
English grassroots boosted by grants with 40,131 teams helped with return to play
July 30 – The £7 million government grant to England’s Pitch Preparation Fund, administered by the Football Foundation grassroots charity, will see 40,131 teams given a boost.
CAS critical of Man City’s disrespect of UEFA, but saw no evidence of inflated sponsorships
By Andrew Warshaw
July 29 – Manchester City showed a “blatant disregard” for UEFA’s investigation into alleged Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches but, crucially, no cover-up was committed by the club.
Malaysia steps up to host AFC Champions League East Zone matches
July 29 – Malaysia will host two of the unfinished AFC Champions League’s East Asian groups as well as the knock-out rounds, assuming travel and quarantine restrictions allow teams to cross international borders.
Man City vs Real Madrid CL decider still on despite Diaz positive virus test
July 29 – Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz has tested positive for Covid-19, but UEFA says it is confident Real Madrid’s Champions League last-16 second leg clash at Manchester City will go ahead as planned next week.
Bility calls on UEFA and Conmebol chiefs to demand Infantino resigns
By Paul Nicholson
July 29 – Musa Bility, the banned former Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee member and former president of the Liberian FA, has kept up his pressure on FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino with an open letter to UEFA president Alexander Ceferin and Conmebol president Alexander Dominguez demanding they call for the FIFA president’s resignation.
SIGA launches Sport Integrity Week series of webinars for September
July 29 – SIGA has launched its first-ever Sport Integrity Week which will be conducted as a series of webinars taking place September 7-11.
Lockdown eased in UK: Irish Cup final to admit 500 fans
July 29 – This Friday’s Irish Cup final between Ballymena United and Glentoran is set to be the first official football fixture played in front of spectators in the UK since lockdown in March.