UEFA scraps away goals rule opting for extra time and penalty deciders
June 25 – In an historic move, the away goals rule, in place since the mid-1960s, is being scrapped in all European club competitions from the start of next season.
World Football
Derby fined £100K but Championship status looks safe as new owner sought
June 24 – Derby County have been fined £100,000 for breaching English Football League (EFL) accountancy rules but look set to escape a points deduction that would see them relegated to League One and Wycombe Wanderers keep their place in the Championship.
FIFA bans former Congo and CAF boss Omari for a year for $66,000 graft
June 24 – Constant Omari, for years one of African football’s most influential as well as controversial figures, has been suspended by FIFA for a year for breaking its ethics code.
Danish Superliga’s Viborg takes on new money and an owner link to Notts County
June 24 – Danish investment group Better Collective has acquired a majority stake in Danish Superliga club Viborg FF.
Tebas wraps season up: strong financials, the dirty duo, full stadia and a Messi of a situation
By Paul Nicholson
June 23 – Javier Tebas was his typical forthright self at a media event today where he covered multiple topics from the failed European Super League to next year’s LaLiga attendance expectations, the importance of LaLiga’s right to govern itself, and the relative importance, or unimportance, of Lionel Messi to Spain.
Motsepe chases the cash with African Super League proposal
June 21 – Spurred on by Gianni Infantino, Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe believes Africa can succeed where Europe failed and launch its own Continental Super League.
US drop Pulisic for Gold Cup. Mexico, Canada and Jamaica tool up with superstars
By Paul Nicholson
June 21 – With the provisional rosters for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup having been announced the biggest surprise comes from the US who have dropped their three biggest stars for the tournament – Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Weston McKennie (Juventus) and Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund).
Congo’s Omari blows final whistle on his career at top of African football
June 18 – After 18 years at the head of Congolese football, Constant Omari, for years one of African football’s most influential as well as controversial figures, is calling it a day after a career marked by claims of shady dealing and corruption.
CBF reshuffles again as Nunes fires general secretary Feldman
June 18 – CBF interim president coronel Nunes has dismissed the organisation’s general secretary Walter Feldman, who will be replaced by Eduardo Zebini.
ESL debacle forces Relevent to pull ICC plans for 2021, but promise 2022 return
June 18 – The mens International Champions Cup (ICC) organised by US sports marketing group Relevent has been cancelled for a second year. Relevent will be continuing with its four-team women’s tournament announced last month.
DAZN boosts football output in Japan with AFC Champions League deal
June 18 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has partnered with global sports streaming giants DAZN as the exclusive media rights partner in Japan to broadcast the next eight seasons of Asia’s flagship club competition, the Champions League.
Platini to return to football with FIFPro board role
June 17 – Former UEFA head Michel Platini will return to football administration, confirming that he will become the French representative on the board of world players’ union FIFPro.
ECA chief promises new era of trust and transparency after night of the long knives
June 17 – The European Club Association (ECA) held its first in-person Executive Board meeting since February 2020 earlier this week in Munich.
Somalia fire ‘incompetent’ and ‘undisciplined’ coach after just three weeks
June 17 – With football in Somalia returning rapidly after years of violent conflict in the country, and the federation only recently having been given control back of its national Stadium Mogadishu after the departure, it seems that not all is easy going in the new reality.
Brazil’s top clubs unite for breakaway plan from CBF
By Samindra Kunti
June 16 – Is revolution coming belatedly to Brazilian club football? Local top flight clubs want to establish a league governing body to run the Serie A and gain more of an influence in how the Brazilian game is administered. Currently the league is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).