Chinese Super League centralised in Suzhou and Dalian for July 25 restart
July 1 – The Chinese Super League season will finally kick off on July 25, five months after it was supposed to start.
World Cup 2026 planning kicks up a gear as 17 US cities bid for 10 host slots
July 1 – The World Cup waits for no-one. As Qatar rolls out its 2022 stadia, the North Americans are starting the next stage of venue selection for 2026 with a virtual workshop for candidate host cities in the US.
Coronavirus: Lisbon lockdown will not derail Champions League finale, says Ceferin
July 1 – Despite a spike in Covid-19 cases, Lisbon is still set to host the eagerly awaited finale of this season’s Champions League following talks between the relevant authorities.
Sané deal will boost City’s bottom-line, but may signal depressed summer market
By David Owen
July 1 – One of the more salient details of Leroy Sané’s big money move to Bayern Munich may turn out to be the date on which news of the deal broke: June 30 – the last day of selling club Manchester City’s financial year.
Stats: Bayern go the distance, Liverpool go long, Man City keep it close
July 1 – Newly re-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich also top a table of European clubs ranked by how far they move the ball while in possession.
Man City link with Capstone Games for football manager mobile game
July 1 – With virtual gaming having become the major growth area for football as the world has been in lockdown, Manchester City, one of the early adopters of efootball, has expanded its immersion in via a new regional partnership with mobile game developer, Capstone Games.
Coronavirus exacts heavy toll as FIFA projects 2020 revenues down by almost 50%
By David Owen
June 30 – FIFA is now budgeting for this year’s revenues to come in at little more than half of its original projections, as a consequence of coronavirus.
FifaGate: Two-time Concacaf boss Hawit spared jail time
By Andrew Warshaw
June 30 – After somewhat of a lull, the FifaGate scandal is back in the headlines with two-time Concacaf stand-in president Alfredo Hawit spared further jail time as a US judge ruled he could return home to Honduras, four years after he pleaded guilty.
Leicester lockdown puts Premier League contingency plan to the test
June 30 – The Premier League has drawn up a contingency plan for Leicester City’s home fixture with Crystal Palace because of the government-enforced local lockdown in the city. A postponement has not been ruled out.
The FA cuts jobs as losses hit £300m, Wembley events cancelled and sponsors rebated
June 30 – Staff at the English FA have been left shocked by the announcement of more than 100 job losses due to the “significant impact” of coronavirus.
New Liverpool kit brand Nike posts $790m loss for three months to end-May
By David Owen
June 30 – Sports footwear and apparel giant Nike swung heavily into loss in its March-to-May 2020 quarter, reflecting the impact of Covid-19.
English stakeholders take ‘small’ step with player-to-coach accelerator for BAME players
June 30 – English football stakeholders have joined forces to help BAME players move into full-time coaching roles in the professional game.
Military forces gone, renovation complete, Stadium Mogadishu returns to football
June 30 – Having waited since 2004, Somalia today sees the return to football in its national stadium – Stadium Mogadishu.
Out on a Lim. Valencia owner sacks sixth manager in six years
June 30 – Valencia have been plunged into chaos after sacking coach Albert Celades and appointing long-standing club servant Voro until the end of the Spanish La Liga season.
ESA survey finds confidence is returning for recovery of sponsorship business
June 30 – The European Sponsorship Association (ESA) has released results from the second edition of its ESA Sponsorship Sentiment Tracker, indicating that there is a growing confidence in the sponsorship business as coronavirus lockdown is eased across Europe.