Real Sociedad secure Reale Seguros for naming rights to refurbed stadium
August 5 – Basque club Real Sociedad has signed a reported six-season €9 million stadium naming rights deal with insurance company Reale Seguros.
UEFA appoint first female ref to major club cup final
August 5 – For the first time ever, a female referee will take charge of a senior men’s European showpiece fixture after France’s Stephanie Frappart was appointed by UEFA to handle the Super Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea in Istanbul on August 14.
Bedoya calls for action on gun violence in US
August 5 – Philadelphia Union captain and US international Alejandro Bedoya has called on US Congress to “end gun violence” after 29 people were killed in two mass shootings in Texas and Ohio over the weekend.
Warner acolytes battle for return to control of Trinidad and Tobago FA
By Paul Nicholson
August 2 – The former president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), Tim Kee, who left the federation with a crippling TT$40 million debt when he vacated the presidency in 2015, is making a bid to regain control as part of a group calling itself ‘United TTFA’ when elections take place later this year.
FIFPRO warns of increasing player health dangers in packed match schedule
August 2 – The health of elite footballers is being put at risk by an increasingly overcrowded international calendar that gives them no chance to recover in time, according to their global union, FIFPRO.
FIFA unveils its Euro-dominated awards lists… déjà vu, all over again
August 2 – FIFA has unveiled the shortlisted candidates shortlisted for its Best men’s and women’s players of the year and coaches of the year.
Match-fixing: AFC bans four players for life for fixing AFC Cup games
August 2 – The Asian Football Confederation has banned four players for life for attempting to fix matches in the AFC Cup in 2017 and 2018.
Brazil confirm they remain in bidding for 2023 Women’s World Cup
August 2 – Brazil are the second nation to reconfirm they will be a candidate to host the expanded 2023 Women’s World Cup, following Australia’s announcement yesterday. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) had expressed an interest in staging the 24-team tournament, and have indicated the new 32-team format would not be a hurdle for them.
Arsenal pay record £72m fee for Lille’s Pepe
August 2 – Arsenal have completed a club-record £72 million deal to sign Nicolas Pepe from French club Lille OSC in a bid to bolster their squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
Man City and Yokohama combine for Melco partnership
August 2 – Manchester City have returned from their Japan pre-season jaunt with a new sponsor. Melco Resorts & Entertainment is to become the club’s Official Partner in Japan in a deal that also covers City’s sister club in Japan, Yokohama F. Marinos.
Turkish Airlines land on River Plate with $15m shirt deal
August 2 – Argentina giants River Plate will carry Turkish Airlines as their new shirt sponsor in a three-year deal reportedly worth $15 million.
Southampton renew eToro trading platform for a second season
August 2 – Premier League Southampton have extended their one-season deal with trading platform eToro for the 2019/20 season.
Jack is back…in court. But this time he is suing the Trinidad FA for $2.3m
August 1 – He has become the most notorious ‘villain’ still at large in world football – if the US indictments of 2015 are to be taken a face value – Jack Warner has returned to the Trinidad and Tobago courts. This time he is not fighting his extradition to the US – still on-going – but battling the local FA for $2.3 million of loans he claims he provided but hasn’t been repaid.
FIFA to boost Women’s World Cup to 32 teams and reopens bidding for 2023 edition
August 1 – The women’s World Cup finals will expand to 32 teams in 2023, putting it on a par with the men, though prize money will still doubtless remain an issue.
Juve’s Agnelli counters Korean claims that club broke contract over Ronaldo no-show
August 1 – Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli has rejected allegations that the Italian champions broke contract terms when Cristiano Ronaldo failed to feature in a pre-season friendly against the K League All Stars in Seoul last week.