Premier League returns but VAR once again provides the game changing talking point
June 18 – The Premier League resumed Wednesday night after being struck down by Covid-19, but what on earth happened to VAR?
German authorities refuse DFB request to bump up stadium limit to 1,000 for Cup final
June 18 – Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich will play the German cup final behind closed doors after local authorities rejected a request from the German FA (DFB) for fans to attend the match.
English leagues could see fans in stadia as early as September
June 17 – Small crowds could potentially return to English stadiums in September if there is no significant increase in the number of Covid-19 deaths and infections, according to Britain’s Culture Secretary.
UEFA confirm Lisbon Champions League finale with option of fans attending still open
By Andrew Warshaw
June 17 – This season’s Champions League, suspended in March at the last-16 stage because of the Covid-19 pandemic, will be completed with a mouth-watering eight-team knockout tournament held in Lisbon over 12 days in August, UEFA confirmed today following a meeting of its executive committee.
FIFA and UEFA welcome WTO ruling that Saudi connived with beoutQ to break piracy regs
By Andrew Warshaw
June 17 – The pressure on the English Premier League to step in and halt the £300 million takeover of Newcastle United following the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) verdict that Saudi Arabia had facilitated broadcast piracy by the Saudi-based BeoutQ operation is intensifying further after both FIFA and UEFA welcomed the ruling.
With Brazil in full corona-crisis, Flamengo head to Maracana to restart Carioca
June 17 – Brazilian champions Flamengo are pressing on with ‘Project Restart’ in Rio de Janeiro, but local rivals Botafogo and Fluminense have said they will go to court to prevent the season from resuming.
New criminal complaint against FIFA fixer Arnold plunges Infantino deeper into mire
June 17 – A key ally of FIFA president Gianni Infantino is reported to be the subject of a fourth criminal complaint to the Swiss authorities involving secret undocumented meetings between the FIFA president and under-fire attorney-general Michael Lauber.
Premier League reopening signifies a new start, a celebration of life and solidarity
June 17 – Premier League football returns tonight after a three-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic with Manchester City hosting Arsenal and Aston Villa taking on Sheffield United behind closed doors.
Lewandowski equals scoring record as Bayern wrap up 8th consecutive league title
June 17 – Bayern Munich wrapped up their eighth consecutive Bundesliga title on Tuesday night – in near silence.
Qataris polish their ‘Diamond in the Desert’ stadium; two more to open before year end
June 17 – Qatar organisers have now officially opened the third tournament-ready venue for the 2022 World Cup, and the largest to be completed so far.
Hunger games: Boris backs down as Rashford stands up for 1.3 million children
June 17 – Already facing widespread condemnation over playing catch-up with regard to Covid-19, the British government has now been forced to bow to pressure from a 22-year-old footballer and scrap its controversial policy of stopping free meals for needy school children.
SIGA Strives 28: Integrity group to expand university knowledge base
June 17 – The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) is expanding its Global University Network (GUN) via a platform to harness the collective wealth of knowledge, expertise and synergies to further advance Sport Integrity worldwide.
Newcastle takeover under pressure as WTO rules Saudi state backed broadcast piracy
By Paul Nicholson
June 16 – The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has published its report into broadcast piracy in Saudi Arabia stating that the country has not acted to prevent the industrial scale copyright theft by pay broadcaster beoutQ.
Markhaz Balatah win historic first Palestine title as league leads world in settling its season
By Paul Nicholson
June 16 – A country that faces more political difficulties and military interference than any other when it comes to getting matches played, has been the first anywhere in the world to crown a league champion by results on the pitch rather than points allocation off it.
Hearts refuse to be broken over failure of reconstruction talks and issue legal challenge
By Andrew Warshaw
June 16 – Scottish professional football has been plunged into yet more disarray after Heart of Midlothian, arguably the country’s biggest club after Celtic and Rangers, announced it was taking legal action following relegation from the top flight because of the curtailed season.