Rangers fans told to end sectarian abuse as UEFA focus centres on Europa League tie
August 28 – Scotland manager Steve Clarke Scotland hopes a UEFA ban on Glasgow Rangers will help the club eradicate racist behaviour.
Saudi contenders lead challenge for semi-final slots in AFC Champions League west zone
August 28 – Asian Champions League focus was in Saudi Arabia yesterday as three Saudi clubs competed in the West Asian quarter finals of the competition. The fourth club battling for a semi-final spot was from Qatar.
Belgians to plough €3m into women’s game to boost clubs, participation and league
By Samindra Kunti in Brussels
August 28 – The Belgian FA (KBVB) has unveiled an ambitious five-year plan to develop and grow the women’s game, investing an additional €3 million into the domestic women’s game over the next two seasons.
ESPN triple USL live output with expanded 3-year rights deal
August 28 – US sports broadcaster ESPN is taking a deeper step into domestic soccer with a new three-year deal the United Soccer League (USL) which will see it triple its coverage of the league.
Mediapro secure Nations League for Canada’s OneSoccer digital service
August 28 – Broadcast group Mediapro, that has been putting down roots in Canadian football this year, has acquired the rights to the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League which will air on the OneSoccer digital platform dedicated to Canadian football.
Cantona to receive UEFA President’s Award for charitable work
August 28 – Former France and Manchester United forward Eric Cantona has been selected for this year’s UEFA President’s Award and will collect it at a special ceremony in Monaco tomorrow on the day of the Champions League draw.
Niersbach, Zwanziger, Schmidt and Linsi face German trial over alleged 2006 tax fraud
August 27 – Four former top football officials face trial in Germany after a Frankfurt court ruled they must answer tax evasion charges linked to the 2006 World Cup vote-buying scandal.
New Chinese FA boss Chen Xuyuan focusses on financial stability, saying CFA and CSL will grow closer
August 27 – In a reshuffle at the top of Chinese football during the 11th membership congress of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), Chen Xuyuan, former president of Shanghai International Port Group which owns China Super League team Shanghai SIP, was elected as the FA’s new president.
Women can attend Iran’s World Cup qualifier in October, says deputy sports minister
August 27 – Iran may be on the verge of allowing women into football stadia after a long campaign of pressure from FFIA, the AFC and various fan groups. Local news agency IRNA has reported that women will be allowed to attend Team Melli’s World Cup qualifier against Cambodia in October.
Bolton on the brink. Administrator says shut down will start if no buyer secured in 2 days
August 27 – Unthinkable, impossible, devastating. Just three of the reactions to Bolton Wanderers, one of English football’s most iconic teams who were in the Premier League as recently as nine years ago, possibly disappearing into oblivion after a proposed takeover of the troubled League One (third-tier) club collapsed.
CUPRA drives global push with hometown club Barca
August 27 – Motor manufacturer SEAT has signed a five-year deal with its hometown club FC Barcelona for its new CUPRA brand to be Barça’s Official Automotive and Mobility Partner.
RoboLino. Is FIFA getting lost in cyber space?
August 27 – With opinions over VAR increasingly diverging and yet more controversial cases in the English Premier League at the weekend, FIFA are reportedly probing the possibility of replacing linesmen with – wait for it – robots.
CFA to open up China’s playing talent with LaLiga with expanded GoalFuture programme
August 27 – LaLiga and the Chinese Football Association (CFA) have launched a joint elite player and coach development project – GoalFuture – alongside an initiative to develop competitions and promoting youth football in the both the male and female games.
Is it time for Twitter to pay the penalty for promoting racism on its platform?
August 27 – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he was “lost for words” after yet another vitriolic case of racial abuse on social media towards a player missing a penalty, this time directed against Marcus Rashford who fluffed a second-half spotkick as United suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Man City add Gacha partner Superbloke to sponsor line-up
August 27 – Manchester City have added a new gaming partner in Asia with Superbloke becoming the Club’s Official Blockchain-Based Gacha Partner for its ‘FC Superstars’ online game.