PSG knock the wings off RB Leipzig to secure CL final spot
August 19 – It took them 110 games in the competition stretching back several years to get this far.
Europe
England opens doors for return of fans to non-league stadia
August 19 – With so many grassroots clubs in danger of going out of business, English football’s lower non-league divisions will be allowed a limited number of fans after the government updated its guidance on recreational team sport events.
French Ligue 1 new season in turmoil as Covid cases force Marseilles to call off opener
August 18 – The start of the new French domestic season scheduled for this Friday has been plunged into turmoil by Covid-19 after Olympique de Marseille said they had confirmed four cases of the virus and had their game against St Etienne called off.
Kompany swaps shirt for tracksuit as he formally takes over as Anderlecht head coach
August 18 – Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has finally hung up his playing boots to become head coach at Anderlecht.
New-ish faces in UEFA’s final four mask increased competitive polarisation of Big 5
August 18 – The telescoping of the UEFA club competition final rounds to a mini-knockout competition and the impact of Covid-19 has seen some surprise results but in reality has also served to emphasise the polarisation of European around the Big 5 leagues, according to research by KPMG Football Benchmark.
Big talking Texan Dan Friedkin rides into Rome with promises of global glory
August 18 – Texas-based Italian-American billionaire Dan Friedkin (pictured), the new owner of Roma, has promised to turn the club into “one of the greatest names in world football” after completing his €591 million purchase of an 86.6% majority stake.
Jawahir Roble breaks cultural boundaries as England’s first female muslim ref
August 18 – Ten years old when her family fled the civil war in Somalia, Jawahir Roble is English football’s first female Muslim referee and has her sights set on getting to the top.
Inter blow Shakhtar Donetsk aside to set up Europa League showdown with Sevilla
August 18 – Inter Milan set up what should be an intriguing climax to the Europa League against five-time champions Sevilla after thrashing Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 in Monday’s second semi-final.
UEFA warns September is too early to let fans back in for international matches
August 17 – UEFA has decided that September is too early to allow limited fans back into international matches according to Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell.
RB Leipzig make East German history, Real Madrid and Bayern are CL’s hardy perennials
By David Owen
August 17 – In six and a half decades, RB Leipzig, who take on one of the Middle East-backed super-clubs, Paris Saint-Germain, in Lisbon on Tuesday night, will be the first team from eastern Germany to appear in a Champions League/European Cup semi-final.
Armenian League, ravaged by match-fixing, secures record betting sponsorship with VBET
August 17 – Armenian football, which has been so plagued by match-fixing that it abandoned its second tier league, has announced a new sponsorship deal with online bookmaker brand VBET, owned by BetConstruct.
Belarusian political crisis overspills players and coaches back protestors
August 17 – The political protests sweeping through Belarus have spilled over into football with CSKA Moscow’s Belarusian striker Ilya Shkurin (pictured) saying he won’t play for his country until President Alexander Lukashenko steps down.
Messi on the move? Rumour mill puts Man City at head of the list
August 17 – Is Lionel Messi about to light up the English Premier League? Rumours are rife that Messi wants to leave Barcelona following last week’s 8-2 Champions league humiliation – and that Manchester City, themselves desperate hunting for exciting new players, could be his destination.
Ceferin says FFP rethink on the cards but super rich cannot be allowed to boss the game
August 14 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says sweeping changes will have to be made to Financial Fair Play rules in the wake of Manchester City’s successful appeal against a ban from the Champions League.
Calendar crunch: Premier League cuts winter break as FA Cup replays are scrapped
August 14 – The world’s oldest domestic knockout competition, England’s FA Cup, is to be radically restructured next season to help ease fixture congestion with all replays scrapped in every round.