Croatia and China agree knowledge exchange and player development agreement
July 29 – The Croatian Football Association (HNS) and the Chinese National Football Academy have signed a cooperation agreement.
Federations
Sylvinho agrees new deal with Albania
July 26 – Albania have retained Brazil’s Sylvinho as their national team manager, extending his contract until the end of 2025.
Bulgarian efbet League kicks off but three clubs warned for ‘dangerous’ playing surfaces
July 25 – The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) has threatened three of its top tier clubs with sanctions over the quality of their pitches following the first round of the efbet League which the BFU said were endangering the health of the players.
Cypriot FA lifts ban on away fans against government wishes
July 24 – The Cypriot FA (CFA) has ignored the request of the country’s Minister of Justice and Public Order, Marios Hartsiotis, and is lifting a ban on away fans for the start of the 2024/25 season.
English FA looks for a winner to take Southgate role
July 24 – The English Football Association has started the process of replacing Gareth Southgate as manager by inviting applications.
Flying fish cake protest forces Rosenborg vs Lillestrøm to be abandoned, but still no VAR review
July 22 – In Norway, supporters threw fishcakes on to the field during the Rosenborg vs Lillestrøm to protest the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), eventually resulting in the top-flight match being abandoned.
Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu wins Turkish FA presidency by five votes
July 19 – The former president of Turkish club Trabzonspor, İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu (pictured) has been elected as Turkish Football Federation (TFF) president at the TFF Financial and Electoral General Assembly.
Spanish sports court suspends RFEF boss Rocha two days after Euro 2024 win
July 17 – Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) chairman Pedro Rocha has been suspended for two years by the Spanish Sports Administrative Tribunal (TAD) for abuse of authority.
Southgate subs himself out of the England line-up, saying it is time for a ‘new chapter’
July 16 – Two days after the heartbreak of losing the final of Euro 2024, England manager Gareth Southgate resigned today calling for a “new chapter” for the national team.
Cyprus greenlighted to build new national team training centre
July 16 – The Cyprus Football Federation (CFA) has received a long-awaited permit for the construction of its new national team football base.
Turkey’s UEFA power broker Yardımcı pull out of TFF elections citing ‘dirty campaign’
July 15 – Turkey’s Servet Yardımcı is reported to be quitting UEFA’s executive committee after withdrawing as a candidate for the Turkish FA presidency.
Deschamps gets vote of confident for 2026 from FFR boss Diallo
July 11 – Didier Deschamps is staying on as France coach after being praised by the head of the country’s federation for leading the team “in the best possible way” at Euro 2024.
Wales opt for former captain Craig Bellamy as country’s new manager
July 10 – Former Wales captain Craig Bellamy is the new manager of his country until 2028, replacing Rob Page who was fired in June after failing to qualify the team for Euro 2024.
Erdogan calls the Demiral ban a political act and directed at Turkey’s nationhood
July 9 – Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called the suspension of Turkish international Merih Demiral, scorer of two goals in the last 16 round, a “political” act.
BFU to improve VAR in efbet League with addition of GLT
July 8 – The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) is to bring in goal-line technology for the first time for the top tier of the efbet League next season.