August 20 – Marco Villiger, the brains behind much of FIFA’s decision-making for over a decade, parted company with the organisation today as Gianni Infantino’s regime completed a clean sweep of the old guard that served under Sepp Blatter.
By Paul Nicholson
August 20 – The Saudi Arabian competition authority has today released a ruling that bans Qatari-based broadcaster beIN Sport from transmitting into the kingdom. The cancelling of the beIN Sport license means that the only way to view top level international football in Saudi Arabia will be illegally via the pirate channel beoutQ.
August 20 – UEFA has welcomed the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision to reject an appeal filed by the Maltese player Samir Arab against a two year-suspension issued by the UEFA Appeals Body in April for matchfixing.
August 20 – The long-awaited sentencing of former Brazilian supremo Jose Maria Marin (pictured right) is scheduled for Wednesday (August 22) in Brooklyn, New York, with federal prosecutors reportedly pushing for a 10-year jail term for the 85-year-old.
August 20 – Inter Milan have announced their intention to sue La Liga president Javier Tebas (pictured) over his claims the club used underhand methods to try and sign Luka Modric from Real Madrid.
August 20 – Hardcore fans of Lazio have caused outrage by circulating a flier saying women should be banned from part of the Curva Nord of Rome’s Olympic Stadium described by supporters as their “sacred space”.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 20 – The first shots have been fired in the bid to govern Asian football next year with Saudi Football Federation chief Adel Ezzat resigning his domestic post to concentrate on taking over from Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa.
August 20 – Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t score on his debut as Juventus edged past Chievo Verona 2-3, but the Portuguese superstar’s landing in Italy has firmly turned the spotlight on Serie A, with the league’s commercial appeal skyrocketing.
August 20 – In what is probably the shortest shirt sponsorship deal in Serie A history, online bookmaker Marathonbet has agreed with SS Lazio to take the club’s premium sponsorship position in a deal that will terminate in January 2019.
August 20 – German Football Association (DFB) chief Reinhard Grindel (pictured) has again admitted that he could have dealt better with the Mezut Ozil affair after the midfielder quit the national team and announced his retirement from international football on racism grounds.
August 20 -. Online bookmaker bwin has strengthened its brand positioning in Germany across the top three tiers of the German league game becoming the exclusive betting partner of FC St Pauli, Union Berlin and Dynamo Dresden in the 2.Bundesliga.
By Paul Nicholson
August 16 – LaLiga are planning to play a regular season league game in the US under a joint venture signed with Relevent, the sports and entertainment group that runs the International Champions Cup pre-season tournament.
By Samindra Kunti
August 17 – Steven Lowy has said he will not seek re-election as chair of Football Federation Australia. His departure, following a bitter governance battle within the game in the country, will bring an end to his family’s 50-year association with football in Australia.
August 17 – Bidding nations don’t normally formally announce who will organise the tournament they want to stage until after the vote takes place.
August 17 – Authorities in Ghana finally appear to have backed down in their determination to snub a FIFA directive ordering them to stop interfering in football or risk a global ban.