Breaking barriers: Dutch to trial woman in men’s senior team
August 5 – Dutch football is to pilot a scheme allowing a woman to play competitively in a men’s team, the KNVB has announced.
World Football
Germans set up task force to plot the future for professional game
August 5 – The German FA (DFL) is setting up a task force to examine the future of the professional game in the country in light of the coronavirus pandemic and to make recommendations as to how the game can be strengthened and made more sustainable.
Wigan lose last throw of the dice as appeal loss confirms relegation; Barnsley stay up
August 5 – It’s all over for Wigan Athletic who have been controversially relegated to the third tier of English football as a result of the club’s Hong Kong owner disgracefully pulling the plug on further funding.
CAF drops centralised Champions League finish in favour of home and away semis
August 4 – Following a meeting of its Emergency Committee, the African confederation (CAF) has revised dates and venues for its flagship Champions League and Total Confederation Cup club competitions.
Serie A clubs given more time to build as new season pushed back September 19 start
August 4 – Next season’s Serie A kick-off has been postponed by a week to September 19 the Italian league announced in a bid to allow clubs and players enough rest.
LaLiga rethink gives covid-ravaged Fuenlabrada second chance at a play-off spot
August 4 – Spanish football authorities have staged an unexpected u-turn by ruling that the all-important final tier-2 fixture of the season between Deportivo La Coruna and Fuenlabrada can go ahead after all tomorrow.
English FA makes a ‘nasty’ cough a Red card offence
August 4 – Sent off for a cough? It could soon happen. Players who deliberately cough at opponents or match officials during the Covid-19 pandemic can be red-carded under new rules introduced by the English FA and the game’s law-makers.
UEFA explains new penalty laws as Champions League knock-out rounds return
August 4 – With both the Europa League and Champions League resuming this week, UEFA’s chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti has explained the amendments to football’s laws of the game in greater details.
Coronavirus: Second shutdown forces Zambia to cancel Super League
August 3 – Zambia has cancelled its top flight, the Super League, following a steady rise in coronavirus infections with clubs flouting medical protocols. The league had resumed in July after the pandemic shutdown.
Belgians increase Pro League to 18 teams giving a boost to Thai and Saudi club owners
By Samindra Kunti
August 3 – Belgian football has settled on a 18-team format for the next two seasons in the top flight after a court ruling, confirming Waasland-Beveren couldn’t be relegated, forced a u-turn from the Pro League. As a result, both OH Leuven, owned by King Power, and Beerschot, with a Saudi majority owner, were promoted to 1A.
Barca’s Bartomeu closes door on Neymar’s return as austerity kicks-in
August 3 – Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu (pictured) says the club will not be splashing out on re-signing Neymar this summer, putting an end once and for all to rumours of his return.
Belgian Pro League plunged back into chaos as court rules Waasland-Beveren must stay in
July 31 – Belgium’s Pro League will again consider plans for the 2020/21 season after a court ruled that Waasland-Beveren, previously relegated, needed to be included in the fixtures list. The new season is due to kick off on August 8.
New email cache puts spotlight back at Man City’s sponsorship dealing
July 31 – Manchester City’s battle with UEFA over alleged financial fair play breaches is back in the spotlight after the German newspaper Der Spiegel, on whose leaked information UEFA originally based their case, claimed it had fresh evidence showing that City had lied to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
A win for FFP: Trabzonspor loses CAS appeal of UEFA club comps ban
July 31 – The UEFA Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules are not completely in tatters after the Manchester City case. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled against an appeal filed by Turkish club Trabzonspor that will see them banned from next season UEFA club competition.
PSG face Lyon as they look to secure French treble with League Cup win
July 31 – Paris St Germain will be aiming for a domestic treble tonight when they take on Lyon in the rescheduled French League Cup final.