Real Madrid turns to banks to raise funds for €500m revamp of Bernabeu
July 27 – Real Madrid are going to the financial markets to raise between €400 million and €500 million for a remodeling of their Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
10Bet build EFL Championship presence with West Brom deal
July 27 – Online sports betting operator 10Bet has added West Bromwich Albion to its EFL Championship sponsor portfolio in a one-year deal believed to be worth £1 million.
Pinnick’s return saves football jobs, says NFF boss, but Dalung says he isn’t back yet
July 26 – The return of Amaju Pinnick as head of the Nigerian Football Federation will help save hundreds of jobs, according to his number two, General Secretary Muhammed Sanusi.
UEFA fine Marseilles and threaten Euro ban unless fans behave
July 26 – Marseille face a one-year suspension from European competitions unless the behaviour of their fans improve, UEFA have warned.
Is Gazidis next? Are back-from-the-bring AC Milan gunning for Arsenal boss?
July 26 – Speculation is mounting that Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis is set to follow manager Arsene Wenger out of the club, marking the end of an era, to join AC Milan.
Hot work. Bayer Leverkusen’s Bellarabi given medical all-clear
July 26 – Bayer Leverkusen winger Karim Bellarabi has been discharged from hospital after collapsing from exhaustion in a pre-season friendly.
South African Ajax’s relegation appeal puts PSL kick-off in doubt
July 26 – The South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) remains in a limbo after a decision on Ajax’s bid to prevent the start of the new domestic season was postponed to today. The Cape Town-based club is seeking to clarify if they are a topflight or second-tier club.
Leonardo back at AC Milan as club battles for stability and a return to former glories
July 26 – AC Milan, cleared to play in the Europa League this season having initially been banned, and under new administrative leadership off the field, have brought former player and manager Leonardo back to the club as general manager.
LeBlanc takes top women’s development job at Concacaf
July 26 – Former Canadian women’s national team goalkeeper and FIFA legend Karina LeBlanc has been appointed head of Concacaf Women’s Football.
Fewer than one in 200 football samples produced adverse doping finding in 2017
By David Owen
July 25 – Over 37,000 anti-doping samples from footballers were analysed by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratories in 2017, more than for any other sport on the Summer Olympic programme.
Maradona calls for more Argentine FA reform, suggesting that corruption is still ruling
July 25 – The Argentine Football Association (AFA) needs to be restructured for the national team to get back to winning ways, according to the country’s most fabled player Diego Maradona.
Ghanaian court passes FA assets and control to government, and bars GFA old guard
July 25 – A High Court in Accra has granted an application filed by the government seeking to allow the Registrar General to take over the assets of the Ghanaian FA, pending liquidation.
Turkey’s Erdogan backs Germany’s Ozil saying Islamophobic behaviour is unacceptable
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has waded into the row over Mesut Ozil’s shock retirement from international football on racism grounds by saying the treatment towards the Arsenal midfielder was unacceptable.
Out of ammo? Usmanov now looks ready to sell 30% Gunners stake
July 25 – The on-going shareholder battles at Premier League Arsenal have taken a new turn with Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov (pictured), who has repeatedly failed in his attempts to increase his 30% stake in the club, now apparently putting his holding on the sales block to anyone but rival American shareholder Stan Kroenke.
Spain boosts women’s structure with addition of second tier league
July 25 – Spain’s national federation (RFEF) has created a new second tier league for its women’s clubs with the aim of promoting and strengthening the women’s game in the country.