Sports Integrity Week speakers lined up for 5-day September webinar series
August 27 – The SIGA organised Sport Integrity Week taking place September 7-11 has now released a list of 38 speakers as it nails down its final agenda.
EFL and Sky agree streaming deal to let fans in for non-TV games
August 27 – The English Football League (EFL) has agreed a streaming deal for non-TV matches with its anchor UK broadcaster Sky Sports to give fans access to games while stadium attendance is restricted during the Covid-19 crisis.
Maguire conviction annulled as appeal pushes retrial to higher Greek court
August 27 – Manchester United captain Harry Maguire will get a full retrial in a more senior Greek court after the appeal his lawyers lodged was accepted. The appeal nullifies Maguire’s suspended jail sentence of 21 months and 10 days handed down by a lower Greek court on Tuesday.
Celtic crash out of Champions League with loss to Ferencvaros
August 27 – Glasgow Celtic crashed out of the Champions League following a dramatic 1-2 defeat at the hands of Hungarian championss Ferencvaros. It was the Scottish club’s earliest exit in the competition in 15 years.
Qatar make first move on Asian Cup 2027 hosting with bid book submission
August 27 – World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar have become the first to submit their full bid documentation to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027.
Liverpool refuels expanded HollyFrontier sponsorship
August 27 – Premier League champions Liverpool has expanded its partnership with Petro-Canada Lubricants to include parent company HollyFrontier.
Messi tells Barca formally he wants out. Man City look favourites, if he can escape
By Samindra Kunti
August 26 – Lionel Messi has done what previously would have been considered unthinkable. The greatest player of his generation has told his club FC Barcelona that he wants to leave. On Tuesday, he handed in his transfer request, dealing an existential blow to the Catalan giants.
UEFA keeps stadia closed but Super Cup test to be played with 30% capacity
August 26 – UEFA has confirmed that the Super Cup to be played on 24 September 2020 in Budapest will be the first of its competitions to see a partial return of fans to the stadium, but all other matches will continue behind closed doors “until further notice”.
UEFA unbottles 5-year PepsiCo deal for Women’s competitions
August 26 – US food and beverage giant PepsiCo has taken a deep step into the women’s game in Europe with the signing of a five-year sponsorship running through to the end of the 2025 season.
Infantino is not guilty
At a time where the Swiss are engaged in some legal house-cleaning, having appointed a Special Prosecutor to investigate the former Swiss AG Lauber and his motley crew (as well as the odd birds that flew in from the increasingly legendary Canton of Valais: birthplace of Blatter, Infantino and local celeb AG Rinaldo Arnold), Infantino’s professional defenders have decided unequivocally that they don’t see eye to eye with Swiss Legal Eagles and declare, to anyone who will listen,
NWSL keep the 2020 ball rolling with unveiling of Fall series
August 26 – With most women’s leagues cancelled when the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc with schedules worldwide, the National Women’s Soccer League continues to carry the flag for the women’s game announcing that its 2020 season will resume on September 5.
Man Utd’s Maguire cries foul as Greek justice sentence him and Southgate drops him
August 26 – Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been handed a suspended prison sentence after he was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult in Greek court.
Saints dump shirt sponsor LD Sports as Sportsbet.io take a one-year punt
August 26 – Premier League Southampton have signed a one-year shirt sponsorship with cryptocurrency-based sports betting platform Sportsbet.io.
Serie A closes in on venture capital cash as CVC and Advent pitch a new deal
August 26 – Private equity is a step closer to investing in the Italian top flight with firms CVC Capital Partners and Advent International preparing a joint bid of €1.3 billion for a minority stake in Serie A.
JD Sports takes Leeds United sleeve patch in one season sponsorship
August 25 – Sports fashion retailer JD Sports has become the first official sleeve sponsor for Premier League returnees Leeds United in a one-season deal for 2020/21.