Kompany swaps shirt for tracksuit as he formally takes over as Anderlecht head coach
August 18 – Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has finally hung up his playing boots to become head coach at Anderlecht.
New-ish faces in UEFA’s final four mask increased competitive polarisation of Big 5
August 18 – The telescoping of the UEFA club competition final rounds to a mini-knockout competition and the impact of Covid-19 has seen some surprise results but in reality has also served to emphasise the polarisation of European around the Big 5 leagues, according to research by KPMG Football Benchmark.
Big talking Texan Dan Friedkin rides into Rome with promises of global glory
August 18 – Texas-based Italian-American billionaire Dan Friedkin (pictured), the new owner of Roma, has promised to turn the club into “one of the greatest names in world football” after completing his €591 million purchase of an 86.6% majority stake.
Another day, another dollar. Will Singapore buyer succeed where Saudis failed with Newcastle
August 18 – In the latest twist and turn in the long-running Newcastle takeover saga, a Singapore-backed company Bellagraph Nova Group (BNG) has claimed it has opened ownership talks with the Tyneside club.
Bayern’s ‘feel-good’ bubble burst as multiple racist instances at FCB academy revealed
August 18 – Just as Bayern Munich were plotting a return to European greatness after their 8-2 demolition of Barcelona in the Champions League quarter finals, the club has been hit by racism allegations towards a leading coach in its academy that has now triggered a police investigation.
Jawahir Roble breaks cultural boundaries as England’s first female muslim ref
August 18 – Ten years old when her family fled the civil war in Somalia, Jawahir Roble is English football’s first female Muslim referee and has her sights set on getting to the top.
Inter blow Shakhtar Donetsk aside to set up Europa League showdown with Sevilla
August 18 – Inter Milan set up what should be an intriguing climax to the Europa League against five-time champions Sevilla after thrashing Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 in Monday’s second semi-final.
Manchester’s miserable weekend see City and United crash out as Germans march on
By Andrew Warshaw
August 17 – First City, then United. Within 24 hours of each other, the European dreams, hopes and expectations of Manchester’s two rival football clubs were shattered for another season over the weekend.
UEFA warns September is too early to let fans back in for international matches
August 17 – UEFA has decided that September is too early to allow limited fans back into international matches according to Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell.
Samoura speaks for FIFA’s MAs saying they are ‘heart-warmingly’ behind Infantino
August 17 – Another weekend, another member of FIFA’s staff rolled out to stand fully behind FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his ‘innocense’ campaign, a public relations push that is threatening to become the football PR campaign to end all football PR campaigns by a sitting FIFA president.
RB Leipzig make East German history, Real Madrid and Bayern are CL’s hardy perennials
By David Owen
August 17 – In six and a half decades, RB Leipzig, who take on one of the Middle East-backed super-clubs, Paris Saint-Germain, in Lisbon on Tuesday night, will be the first team from eastern Germany to appear in a Champions League/European Cup semi-final.
Saudis rejected arbitration before pulling out of Newcastle buy, says PL boss
August 17 – Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has finally broken his silence over the doomed £300 million Saudi-led bid to buy English Premier League club Newcastle United.
Armenian League, ravaged by match-fixing, secures record betting sponsorship with VBET
August 17 – Armenian football, which has been so plagued by match-fixing that it abandoned its second tier league, has announced a new sponsorship deal with online bookmaker brand VBET, owned by BetConstruct.
Belarusian political crisis overspills players and coaches back protestors
August 17 – The political protests sweeping through Belarus have spilled over into football with CSKA Moscow’s Belarusian striker Ilya Shkurin (pictured) saying he won’t play for his country until President Alexander Lukashenko steps down.
Indian Super League to centralise November start in Goa
August 17 – Goa will be the central venue for the 2020 Indian Super League, organisers have announced.