MLS Cup moves further up the dial with network return on ABC
August 30 – The MLS Cup final will return to a national American network in 2019 with ABC airing the November 10 showpiece match in the US domestic calendar.
Liverpool’s van Dijk breaks the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly
August 30 – Liverpool’s Dutch Champions League-winning defender Virgil van Dijk has been named UEFA’s Men’s Player of the Year, edging out regular award-winning duo Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the prestigious prize.
Man City stays Premier Cool with renewed Nigerian deal
August 30 – Premier League champion Manchester City have extended their Nigerian partnership with PZ Cussons’ soap brand, Premier Cool.
FIFA power player Leoz, indicted in US, dies in Paraguay, aged 90
By Andrew Warshaw
August 29 – Nicolás Leoz, the one-time Paraguayan powerbroker alleged to have been one of the masterminds of the corruption scandal that brought FIFA to its knees but who managed to escape the clutches of US prosecutors, has died at the age of 90.
Champions League draw: Ajax back for more as Europe’s elite line-up for €1.95bn share out
August 29 – Ahead of today’s draw Ajax Amsterdam, Club Brugge and Slavia Prague have completed the 32-team playing field of the Champions League, a competition whose future format will decide the direction of European football.
English fan groups hit UEFA with list of ticket and venue demands
August 29 – Supporters groups of four English Premier League clubs have jointly submitted a list of demands to UEFA covering ticket allocation and venue choice following complaints surrounding last season’s Champions League and Europa League finals.
Indonesia forge ahead with bid to host U-20 World Cup
August 29 – Myanmar and Thailand have pulled out of a joint bid to stage the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2021, leaving Indonesia to take on the joint bid from Saudi Arabia and the UAE to try and bring the tournament to Asia.
Homophobic abuse forces ref to remove players in Nice-Marseilles derby
August 29 – The top-flight derby between Nice and Marseille was suspended for 10 minutes on Wednesday following yet another instance of homophobic abuse in French football.
China vs Japan club battles end all square after AFC Champions League first leg
August 29 – The first legs of the AFC Champions League quarter finals in the eastern zone have both ended all square and with all to play for in two weeks.
Bolton back in business after Football Ventures finally completes acquisition
August 29 – Twenty-four hours after the demise of Bury, the first English club in 27 years to go out of business, fellow third-tier Bolton Wanderers, one of the most iconic names in the domestic game with a long and illustrious history, have avoided a similar fate by being sold at the 11th hour.
New US pro-league NISA to debut this weekend
August 29 – The second third tier US professional league opens for business this weekend when Oakland Roots meet California United Strikers in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) inaugural 2019 fall season.
Qatar gives Asian Cup winning coach Sanchez Olympic task
August 29 – Asian Cup winning coach Felix Sanchez has been tasked with leading Qatar to the Tokyo Olympic Games, having been handed the responsibility over the country’s U-23 team.
Esperance wait for Champions League winning cash as centenary season gathers pace
By Osasu Obayiuwana in Tunis
August 28 – Esperance, winners of the 2019 African Champions’ League, have told Insideworldfootball that they are yet to receive the $2.5 million prize money to which they’re entitled.
FIFA tweaking Women’s World League proposal to find a global balance
By Samindra Kunti in Brussels
August 28 – FIFA will launch a new proposal to revive the creation of a Women’s World League within the next year, according to the organisation’s head of women’s development and governance Emily Shaw. In 2018 the FIFA Council failed to approve the introduction of the new competition.
EFL ends Bury’s 125-year league history; Bolton given two-week reprieve
By Andrew Warshaw
August 28 – In what will go down as one of the darkest days in recent English football history, Bury, one of the country’s oldest clubs, were expelled from the Football League (EFL) on Tuesday after failing to resolve their financial problems, the first English club to go out of business for 27 years.