Ajax’s Nouri out of coma but brain damage is irreparable
July 14 – The Ajax midfielder Abdelhak Nouri, who collapsed during a recent pre-season friendly, has suffered serious and permanent brain damage, the club have announced.
FIFA lifts Sudan suspension allowing AFCON qualifier against Burundi to go ahead
July 14 – The Bureau of the FIFA Council has lifted the suspension imposed on the Sudan Football Association (SFA) for government interference, but it is too late for the Sudanese clubs who had already been disqualified from CAF competitions. However, the good news is it is in time to allow to the national team to fulfil this weekend’s fixture against Burundi in African Nations Championship 2018 qualification.
US soccer legend, FBI informant, tax cheat, self-enricher, thief – Blazer passes
By Andrew Warshaw
July 13 – Love him or loathe him, no-one can deny Chuck Blazer his legendary place in the annals of football politics. The burly American, whose admissions of guilt set off the corruption scandal that heaped disgrace on FIFA, has died aged 72 after battling cancer and other illnesses, bringing to an end one the most colourful and controversial careers in the history of the sport.
Just win it. Adidas eat Nike’s lunch in Europe’s big competitions
July 13 – Nike may have been the dominant brand when it comes to winning major European leagues and titles over the past 11 years (Nike 37 Adidas 26), but last season Adidas wiped out the swoosh winning six out of seven major European tournaments.
South African second tier club buys rival and its place in Premier Soccer League
By Andrew Warshaw
July 13 – South African football has been plunged into controversy after the country’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) allowed a Durban-based club to buy their way into the top flight.
AFC hand life ban to Timor-Leste’s Henriques for fixing match vs Malaysia
July 13 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has banned former Timor-Leste Technical Director Orlando Marques Henriques (pictured) for life for serious match-fixing offences.
Relegated Bastia lose appeal and drop another division to third tier
July 12 – French club Bastia have failed in their appeal against relegation to the French third division, having already been demoted once on financial grounds after finishing bottom of Ligue 1.
DHL activate Man Utd sponsorship with UNITED.DELIVERED. campaign
July 13 – Manchester United sponsor DHL has activated a marketing campaign that invites Manchester United fans to host a match. DHL will deliver the match ball and the playing kits for the teams, wherever in the world the match is to be played.
Sierra Leone battle intensifies as sports minister accused of deceiving public
By Andrew Warshaw
July 12 – The crisis enveloping Sierra Leone football has taken a further twist with the country’s sports minister facing accusations of deliberately misleading the public in an attempt to oust the country’s female FA president Isha Johansen.
Malouda takes shine off French Guiana’s Gold Cup after eligibility complaint
July 12 – Capped 80 times by France, Florent Malouda has sparked an eligibility investigation having played in the Gold Cup group match for French Guiana against Honduras which was drawn 0-0 last night.
Roadmap set for Sudan to return to FIFA as security services raid sports newspapers
By Mark Baber
July 12 – A roadmap was agreed on Sunday between the Sudanese Minister of Youth and Sports, the Sudan Football Federation, and the so-called ’30 April Group’ to try and restore the country to FIFA after last week’s suspension.
Vasco da Gama to play behind closed doors after fan shot dead in riots
July 12 – Brazilian club Vasco da Gama have been ordered to play home matches behind closed doors after a 27-year-old fan was shot dead during clashes with military police.
Deloitte report shows English football scoring £4.4bn revenue record, with more to come
By Paul Nicholson
July 12 – English football has never had it so good as Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football Finance shows total revenue for the 92 league clubs hitting a record £4.4bn for the 2015/16 season.
AFC issues warning to Champions League clubs to settle their debts
July 12 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has reminded member associations that their clubs must settle all outstanding payments by August 31 or face exclusion from the AFC Champions League in 2018.
Modeste turns down €35m move to Tianjin after deal talks with Cologne collapse
July 12 – In a rare rejection of a move to China, Cologne’s French striker Anthony Modeste has turned down a €35 million transfer to Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian.