FIFAe Nations Cup 2022 finalists qualified for July showdown in Copenhagen
June 23 – From a starting entry of 84 nations, 24 have now qualified for the finals of the FIFAe Nations Cup 2022 to be held July 24 to July 30 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Brazil stay top of men’s World rankings, France drop to fourth as Argentina advance
June 22 – Brazil, who knocked Belgium off the top of the World rankings after a more than three-year reign in March, have remained at the top in the latest ranking of FIFA men’s national teams.
LaLiga renews Ziggo but hits the wall in China, RFEF issues Super Copa tender
June 23 – The trend to longer term broadcast deals and away from three-year licensing agreements has been re-emphsised in Spain.
Aston Villa sign Gym+Coffee as official partner of women’s team
June 23 – Aston Villa Women, who are going into their third season in England’s top flight Women’s Super League, have announced Gym+Coffee as a new official partner.
UCL hearings: Kallen keeps focus on Liverpool fans as French wise up to wider issues
By Samindra Kunti
June 22 – European governing body UEFA has doubled down on blaming Liverpool fans over the Stade de France fiasco at the Champions League final in June, but following testimonies from both Liverpool and Real Madrid fans the French senate is considering launching a full investigation into the scenes of dangerous chaos outside the Paris venue.
FIFA keeps window open for overseas players to suspend Russian and Ukrainian contracts
June 22 – FIFA has moved to help protect foreign players and coaches affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine by allowing them to suspend existing contracts until June 2023.
Motsepe accused of ‘buying’ his way into South African government contracts
June 22 – Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe (pictured) has been implicated in the latest criminal case against South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Eagles land back with Macron for new Premier League season
June 22 – Italian teamwear specialist Macron is returning to Premier League Crystal Palace from the start of next season as the club’s kit partner.
Barca plan season at Olympic Stadium while Camp Nou is renovated
June 22 – Spanish giants Barcelona will leave their gigantic Camp Nou stadium for the 2023/24 season while major construction work is being undertaken in the £1.3 billion renovation of the stadium and its surrounding area – the Espai Barca project.
Van den Bulck takes over at Belgian FA promising equality and a better national stadium
June 22 – Paul Van den Bulck has been elected the new chairman of the Belgian FA (KBVB). A lawyer, he becomes the first black and independent chairman of the governing body.
Qatar 2022 flip-flop on Taiwan’s nation status, returning to ‘one-China’ naming convention
June 22 – Taiwan has accused China of “bullying” after organisers of the World Cup in Qatar again changed the reference for Taiwanese visitors applying for an identification card that doubles as an entry visa, this time to “Chinese Taipei”.
Betcris enhances ‘historic’ commitment to Mexican market with FC Juárez
June 22 – Online bookmaker Betcris, based in Costa Rica, has added Mexican LigaMX side FC Juárez to its sponsorship roster in a four-year deal.
South Korea to bid for 2023 Asian Cup, Aussies debate late entry
By Paul Nicholson
June 21 – South Korea’s FA has formally announced it will bid for the 2023 Asian Cup and that it will meet the deadline for bid submissions of June 30.
US investor Textor closes in on majority control of Ligue 1’s Lyon
June 21 – John Textor and Eagle Football Holdings is on the verge of acquiring a majority stake in French top club Olympique Lyon. The American already has stakes in Brazil’s Botafogo, Belgium’s RWD Molenbeek and England’s Crystal Palace.
Spanish court hits Eto’o with €3.9m fine over hidden image rights payments
June 21 – Four-time African footballer of the year Samuel Eto’o (pictured) has been handed a 22-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to a €3.9 million tax fraud relating to his image rights while playing for Barcelona.