Ronaldo finalises €19m Spanish tax deal clearing way for Juve move
July 27 – Spanish tax authorities have struck a deal with Cristiano Ronaldo whereby he will plead guilty to tax fraud and pay a fine of close to €19 million.
South Africa’s PSL cleared for kick-off as Ajax Cape Town drop court case
By Samindra Kunti
July 27 – The Premier Soccer League in South Africa will now get underway as scheduled next weekend after Ajax Cape Town dropped their bid to suspend the big kick-off in the South Gauteng High Court.
Grindel regrets Ozil mis-management but rejects racist accusations
July 27 – German Football Association (DFB) chief Reinhard Grindel has broken his silence over the Mezut Ozil affair by admitting he should have taken a stronger stance in support of the midfielder who last weekend announced his retirement from international football on racism grounds.
Fergie thanks medical teams and looks forward to return to Old Trafford
July 27 – Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken publicly for the first time since returning from hospital following emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage in May.
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.