Real Madrid opens new 5-year account with Liberbank
July 16 – Real Madrid will have a new official bank from the start of the 2020/21 season. An agreement with Liberbank will see the financial institution take over from Caixabank.
CAS throws out Afghan FA sex abuser Karim’s appeal
By Andrew Warshaw
July 15 – The former president of the Afghan FA, Keramuddin Karim (pictured), has lost his appeal against a life ban for “appalling” sexual abuse of female national team players.
Ashley’s £300m Saudi deal in balance as Qatar’s beIN Sports is ‘terminated’
By Paul Nicholson
July 15 – Saudi Arabia’s decision to “permanently terminate” beIN Sports license to broadcast in the country has been called a “sham” by the Qatari broadcaster, but also throws focus back on to the Premier League who are still to rule on whether Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund can buy Newcastle United.
India explores single venue option for new ISL and I-League seasons
July 15 – Indian football plans to stage the coming season’s Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League at a single venue in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Portuguese police swoop on Benfica over tax evasion and money laundering claims
July 15 – The president of Benfica, Luis Filipe Vieira (pictured), plus the company that operates the club and the one that owns the stadium, have all been indicted by the Portuguese justice for tax evasion, according to unconfirmed local reports.
Rule of law? PL bosses jump to criticise CAS ruling, Pep says City should receive apologies
July 15 – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says his club deserve an apology from rival managers who criticised the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision to overturn City’s two-year ban from European competitions for alleged “serious breaches” of financial fair play.
Drogba fails to score player support for run at Ivory Coast FA presidency
July 15 – Former Ivory Coast icon Didier Drogba’s hopes of becoming the next president of his country’s football federation has suffered a serious setback after the failure of his fellow players to support his candidacy.
Man City owners target French club for CFG’s growing portfolio
July 15 – City Football Group (CFG), owners of Manchester City, look to have upped their quest to take a stake in French club.
Rashford’s key lockdown child poverty intervention recognised with honorary degree
July 15 – Manchester United and England footballer star Marcus Rashford was one English footballer who covered himself in glory during Coronavirus lockdown campaigning against child poverty and child hunger.
CAS’s Man City ruling throws grenade into UEFA’s financial fair play rules
By Andrew Warshaw
July 14 – High-ranking officials and experts are questioning the entire future of UEFA’s financial fair play rules in the light of Manchester City winning their appeal against a two-year ban from European competition.
Serie A chases Sky for unpaid TV money as lobby intensifies to bring fans back to stadia
July 14 – With Juventus inching towards a new domestic crown and Cristiano Ronaldo still proving to be a decisive marksman, Serie A is demanding rights holder Sky fulfills its financial obligations. The league is also clamouring for fans to attend matches again before the end of the current 2019/2020 season.
Covid-19 fears push Cameroon to pull out of hosting CAF Champions League closers
July 14 – Kicked from pillar to post in recent months over staging major events, sometimes due to its own inadequacies, Cameroon has pulled out of hosting a planned mini-tournament to decide the 2020 African Champions League winners.
Neuer’s Nazi sing-a-long lands him in hot water
July 14 – Germany and Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer has hit the headlines after being filmed singing a controversial song about far-right nationalists while on holiday in Croatia.
Coronavirus: FC Zurich opt to play U-21s as first team players forced to quarantine
July 14 – Fears that the Swiss Super League might have to be ended prematurely were overcome with FC Zurich saying that they would their U21 side against Basel tonight after members of the first-team were placed in quarantine.
Belgian Pro League to vote again on 16-team format and Waasland-Beveren’s relegation
July 14 – Belgium’s Pro League wants to maintain a 16-team league format, despite a domestic sports tribunal that ruled against Waasland-Beveren’s relegation.