Rangers’ €7,000 paper balls-up; Celtic players get over incited
July 18 – Rangers have been fined €7,000 by UEFA for throwing balls of paper on to the pitch during their Europa League tie against Luxembourg minnows Progres Niederkorn.
Gold Cup 2025
Guate bang their drum on a night of passion in Los Angeles
Jamaica 0 Guatemala 1
June 16 – It has been 12 years since Guatemala have beaten Jamaica. Six days ago they lost 3-0 to the Jamaicans in World Cup 2026 qualifying. On the opening night of their Gold Cup campaign they turned the form book on its head.
Unpaid Italian coaches forced out of Trinidad as questions mount over TTFA monies
By Paul Nicholson
July 18 – Trinidad and Tobago FA president David John-Williams who two weeks caught the ire of his members at the federation’s extra ordinary general meeting, this week could be facing a $600,000 plus lawsuit for failing to pay the Italian coaches of its women’s team.
Spanish FA president Villar arrested in anti-corruption swoop on RFEF headquarters
By Andrew Warshaw
July 18 – Who says the crisis at FIFA is over? Angel Maria Villar, FIFA’s senior vice-president and one of the last surviving members of the organisation’s old guard, has been sensationally arrested in his native Spain along with his son in an anti-corruption raid carried out by Spanish authorities.
Africa to debate shifting its AFCON showcase from Jan to June
July 18 – A new future for African football could be about to be plotted if a two-day symposium this week, followed by an extraordinary general assembly, agrees to change the format of the continent’s top regional competition.
Bundesliga opens up gaming rights adding Konami and Sega to renewed EA deal
July 18 – Germany’s Bundesliga has renewed one of its key digital gaming partnership with Electronic Arts but at the same time added to the sponsorship category with new partners in Konami and Sega.
Qatar says Al Wakrah stadium is on schedule for 2018 delivery
July 18 – A second stadium being built for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be ready on time by the end of next year, despite the blockade imposed by Gulf neighbours.
Falken tread global path with multi-year Liverpool deal
July 18 – Liverpool, in Hong Kong on the first leg of their pre-season tour, have announced Japanese firm Falken Tyres as a new global sponsor.
Virgin Media adds sleeve sponsorship to shirt deal at Saints
July 18 – Southampton’s main club sponsor Virgin Media has added the shirt sleeve sponsorship to its package. The media brand will now have its logo on the front of the shirt and the newly created sleeve position.
Morocco says it is ready to stand in for 2019 AFCON if Cameroon drop out
By Andrew Warshaw
July 17 – Having missed out numerous times on hosting the World Cup, Morocco says it is ready to take over from Cameroon in staging the 2019 African Cup of Nations “in case of lack of capacity”.
Biggest ever Women’s Euros open with win for Dutch hosts
By Samindra Kunti
July 17 – Hosts Holland opened the biggest edition of the Women’s Euros to date with a 1-0 over Norway. The 2017 Women’s Euro has been expanded to 16 teams with an increased prize pot of €8 million (£7 million).
FIFA says Cameroon complaint on CAS ruling, Infantino and Samoura is still to be decided
By Paul Nicholson
July 17 – FIFA has written to Cameroon club Etoile Filante to emphasise that its Disciplinary Committee has not yet ruled on the complaint that a Court of Aribitration for Sport (CAS) decision that would immediately suspend Cameroon FA (Fecafoot) president Tombi A Roko Sidiki was not being followed.
Gold Cup heads into knock-out rounds with big guns all firing
July 17 – The 12-team Gold Cup tournament has reached the quarter final stage with three power nations of the CONCACAF region – Costa Rica, Mexico and the US – all avoiding each other in the first round of knock-out games.
Fake news: Arab states did not send anti-Qatar 2022 demand to FIFA
By Andrew Warshaw
July 17 – Reports that FIFA has received a collective request from Arab nations to strip Qatar as 2022 World Cup hosts have emerged as fake.
Ajax fans gather to show support for Nouri
July 17 – In a commendable show of support, hundreds of Ajax fans staged an emotional rally at the weekend outside the family home of Abdelhak Nouri, the midfielder who tragically suffered brain damage after collapsing in a friendly match.
Tempobet doubles up in Football League with Preston North End deal
July 17 – Online bookmaker Tempobet has signed a second shirt sponsorship deal in the English Football League, becoming principal partner at one of the Football League’s founding clubs Preston North End.