Oscar ready for Chinese call-up, but rules would need to change
July 28 – Brazilian playmaker Oscar says he would be willing to switch nationality to play for China if FIFA changed its eligibility rules.
Performance
Premier League ends in tears for Cherries and Hornets, as Villa and Man Utd make the cut
By Andrew Warshaw
July 27 – Total elation for some, utter heartbreak for others. The English Premier League season, behind closed doors since lockdown, wound up on Sunday with Manchester United and Chelsea securing places in the Champions League at Leicester’s expense and, at the other end, Watford and Bournemouth being relegated along with already doomed Norwich City.
Slow to restart Juventus secure 9th Serie A title on the bounce
July 27 – Juventus have confirmed they are Europe’s most dominant team at home with a ninth consecutive Serie A crown after goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Federico Bernardeschi against Sampdoria clinched the league title.
VAR gets its own performance review as Riley opens formal Premier League discussion on use
July 24 – English football’s refereeing boss Mike Riley (pictured) was presenting his eagerly awaited season review of the video assistant referee system today at a Premier League shareholders’ meeting.
Henderson beats van Dijk, Mane and de Bruyne to player of year award
July 24 – Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning captain Jordan Henderson has been named England’s footballer of the year in the annual award by the country’s football writers.
Liverpool sign off at Anfield with a 5-3 spectacular and a home-alone trophy lift
July 23 – Liverpool’s players finally got their hands on their first ever Premier League trophy after a thrilling 5-3 victory over Chelsea in their last home game of the season.
Championship’s last day nail-biter sees West Brom squeeze back into Premier League
July 23 – West Bromwich Albion have won promotion back to the Premier League after a two-year absence, joining Leeds United in the top flight next season in a dramatic, nail-biting finale to the Championship season on Wednesday.
Villa’s win over Arsenal heats Premier League relegation battle up for final day showdown
July 22 – The final day of the prolonged English domestic season is set for a dramatic drop zone dogfight with two out of Aston Villa, Watford and Bournemouth exiting the top flight along with already doomed Norwich.
Leeds United return to Premier League after 16-year gap
July 20 – It’s taken them 16 years but one of England’s most iconic clubs, Leeds United, are back in the big time after winning promotion from the second-tier Championship, sparking huge celebrations among their legions of fans across the city.
Relegation-threatened Watford sack 3rd manager with two games left
July 20 – Not one, not two, not three – but four. That’s how many managers English Premier League Watford have had this season after they dispensed with services of Nigel Pearson on Sunday.
LaLiga title win is more important that Champions League, says Zidane
July 17 – Despite a season when they were often far from their scintillating best, Real Madrid are Spanish champions once again, ending Barcelona’s two-year grip on the title and prompting coach Zinedine Zidane to declare it felt sweeter than any of the three straight Champions League crowns the club has won under his tenure.
Inter Calling Kids: Inter Academy and Inter Campus youths dial-up legends on-line
July 17 – Inter Milan, who have expanded their academy concept to more than 21 sites worldwide, has launched a series of virtual meetings giving youngsters at Inter Academy and Inter Campus projects the chance to talk to former club stars.
FIFA referees boss steps in to bring order to VAR chaos
July 10 – With controversy still raging over the interpretation of VAR, even with matches played behind closed doors, FIFA is taking over the responsibility for the system from the game’s lawmakers.
Lewandowski fires Bayern to double with sights now set on Champions League treble
July 6 – Robert Lewandowski passed 50 goals for the season as Bayern Munich beat Bayer Leverkusen to win a record 20th German Cup and 13th domestic double at the weekend.
VAR stupidity takes wind out of Spurs sails, but Mourinho blow hard
By Andrew Warshaw
July 3 – The controversial use of VAR, which had taken something of a backseat amid the enthusiasm of matches getting back under way in the wake of Covid-19, burst into the spotlight again Thursday with one of the most farcical, non-sensical interpretations of the rule ever applied.