US denies entry visas for Guatemalan U-15s
July 29 – Nine members of the Guatemalan under-15 team have been denied travel visas to the United States to play in a Concacaf competition according to reports.
World Football
FIFA waited 5 months before using Ethics ban blackmail on Bility
By Paul Nicholson
July 26 – FIFA waited more than five months before issuing the verdict banning Liberian Musa Bility from football activity and stripping him of his position on the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The ban was issued after Bility refused to support the FIFA intervention and two days after he said he was taking his complaint to CAS.
Carjackers outgunned by Arsenal’s Kolasinac and Ozil
July 26 – Two Premier League players have been involved in a carjacking attempt by an armed gang in London.
Cosafa hits Zimbabwe with suspension and £200k fine
July 25 – The 16-member Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) has suspended Zimbabwe from participating in next year’s Cosafa Cup, the region’s biggest tournament, and slapped the Zimbabwe FA (ZIFA) with a $200,000 fine.
FIFA follows through on threat and bans Bility after his refusal to toe line on CAF takeover
By Paul Nicholson
July 24 – Two days after announcing he would be taking the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), in order to stop FIFA’s direct intervention in CAF’s day-to-day affairs, Liberian Musa Hassan Bility has been banned for 10 years by FIFA’s Ethics Committee and fined CHF500,000.
Conmebol strips Tapia of FIFA Council seat after he criticises Copa America refs
July 24 – Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia (pictured) has been stripped by Conmebol of his place on the FIFA Council following criticism of this year’s Copa America in Brazil.
Musonye steps down from Cecafa role
July 24 – Kenya’s Nicholas Musonye is standing down secretary-general of the 12-member Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) after two decades at the helm.
Brazil hunt for new women’s coach as Vadao moves on
July 24 – Brazil have parted ways with their women’s coach Vadao just weeks after the World Cup. In France, the hosts eliminated Vadao’s team in the round of 16.
Conmebol give Messi one-game ban but sidestep action over ‘corrupt’ claim
July 24 – Lionel Messi has been banned from Argentina’s first qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup and fined $1,500 by Conmebol after being sent off against Chile in the Copa America third-place playoff.
Bility slams FIFA’s ‘hostile takeover’ of CAF saying Africa must manage Africa
By Osasu Obayiuwana in Cairo, Egypt
July 22 – The crisis in African football governance appears to have taken a new turn, as an executive committee member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is taking the body, of which he is an important member, to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), in order to stop FIFA’s direct intervention in CAF’s day-to-day affairs.
Racism: UEFA close section of Bulgaria’s Vasil Levski stadium for Euro 2020 qualifiers
July 22 – Bulgaria have been ordered by UEFA to play their next two home Euro 2020 qualifiers in a partially-closed stadium due to racist behaviour by their supporters.
Play but no pay: Fenerbahce escape Euro club ban but will lose UEFA cash
July 22 – Fenerbahce have avoided a ban from UEFA competitions despite breaching Financial Fair Play rules in 2018-19.
Gold Cup by numbers: Expanded Concacaf showcase feeds growing appetite for football
July 19 – Concacaf has released a new set of numbers from the recently completed 2019 Gold Cup that show a host of tournament records being set from attendances to viewing figures.
CAF comms fumble causes confusion with late switch of AFCON final referee
By Osasu Obayiuwana in Cairo, Egypt
July 19 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has partially explained why it made a sudden change to the referee that will take charge of Friday’s final of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
MLS and Liga MXs’ combo Leagues Cup to expand to 16 teams next year
July 19 – As the new League Cup to feature four MLS and four Liga MX teams gets ready to kick off next week, the two leading leagues in North America have announced that next season the fledgling competition will be expanded to 16 teams.