Welsh FA survey finds 25% of match officials have been physically abused and 88% verbally
August 24 – A Football Association of Wales (FAW) survey has revealed that one in four match officials has suffered physical abuse.
Federations
Plovdiv opens up its stadia for Bulgarian national teams free of charge
August 21 – The Municipality of Plovdiv in Bulgaria is to provide the Hristo Botev and Lokomotiv stadiums to the country’s teams of Bulgaria free of charge.
Makkabi Berlin become first Jewish team to play in German Cup
August 14 – Makkabi Berlin, a German sports club with Jewish roots, made history on Sunday when it became the first Jewish team to compete in the German Cup – first played under the Nazis in 1935.
Greeks call on UEFA to ban Dinamo Zagreb after fan stabbed to death in Athens
August 10 – Greece’s AEK Athens, Greek media and fan groups have called on UEFA to ban Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb from European competition after clashes before a Champions League third qualifying round match in Athens left one fan stabbed to death and the match being postponed.
PSG leave Mbappé out in the cold with only Real Madrid on the distant horizon
August 7 – Kylian Mbappe is reported to have been barred from training with Paris St Germain’s first team as his contract dispute with the club continues.
World Cup ignites passion in Ireland but FAI stalls on how to move forward
August 3 – Ireland’s Football Association (FAI) won’t be rushed into a decision about the future of women’s coach Vera Pauw (pictured), saying that they will “undertake a full and comprehensive review of the campaign and tournament, as is our standard practice, and this will be discussed at the next FAI board meeting in the coming weeks”.
English to clamp down on players and managers behaving badly
August 1 – English football authorities have introduced a series of disciplinary measures to improve the behaviour of players, managers and fans at all levels of the game next season.
No shirt off their backs. FC Copenhagen join ban on banners asking players for jerseys
July 28 – Danish champions FC Copenhagen have banned fans from taking signs to matches asking for players’ shirts.
Vardar Skopje uses funds form membership card scheme to settle debt and secure license to play
July 24 – North Macedonia’s Vardar Skopje has been granted a license to play in the country’s top tier after the clubs used funds raised from the sale of membership cards to settle debt built up by the club’s former owner Slobodan Krstevski.
Serbian league kick-off on hold after CAS ruling keeps Kolubara in top tier
July 24 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne has reduced the punishment of Serbian club FK Kolubara. In May, the Serbian Football Union deducted 9 points from Kolubara a round before the end of the championship, effectively relegating them from the first division.
City council votes to financially support North Macedonia’s Vardar Skopje
July 21 – The Skopje City Council have voted unanimously to grant financial aid to the local football club Vardar Skopje.
Welcome to the USA. Wrexham open tour against Chelsea, Man Utd to come
July 19 – Wrexham, the unheralded Welsh side owned by American Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and globally recognised after the documentary series ‘Welcome to Wrexham’, have gained even more notoriety.
FA study links repetitive heading to brain impairment in later life
July 18 – Researchers have found evidence suggesting that repetitive heading of balls during a professional football career is associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment in later life.
Ukraine call on FIFA and UEFA to take action over Crimean teams in Russian league
July 18 – Ukraine’s FA have sent an official letter to FIFA and UEFA urging them to take action over two Crimean clubs being incorporated into the Russian domestic league.
Mediapro accuses Spanish FA of on-going discrimination over VAR contract award
July 14 – The on-going dispute between the Spanish football federation (RFEF) and the Mediapro group has hit a new impasse with the media giant accusing the RFEF of ‘covertly’ awarding the federation’s VAR contract.