Confederation tourneys bring change to FIFA rankings with Algeria gaining 26 places
July 25 – The now completed confederation championships for CAF, Concacaf and Conmebol have brought change to the FIFA men’s rankings.
Going back in: Gay Championship player changes mind on coming out
July 25 – In a stark example of the effect of homophobia in football, a Twitter user who claimed to be a player in England’s second-tier Championship, and who intended to come out as gay, has appeared to change his mind after admitting he is “not strong enough to do this”.
Cosafa hits Zimbabwe with suspension and £200k fine
July 25 – The 16-member Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) has suspended Zimbabwe from participating in next year’s Cosafa Cup, the region’s biggest tournament, and slapped the Zimbabwe FA (ZIFA) with a $200,000 fine.
Welsh secure JD as league title sponsor for 7 years and rebrand with Cymru name
July 25 – The Welsh FA (FAW) has announced a new seven-year title sponsorship deal for the top tiers of its domestic league and a rebranding of the competitions embracing the country’s Welsh-language name – Cymru – in the title.
Africa talking. 10m take to Facebook to engage with AFCON 2019
July 25 – Facebook has released a set of stats following CAF’s AFCON 2019 championship in Egypt that show more than 10 million people got involved on the social media platform. The official tournament Facebook page had more than 3.6 million likes.
FIFA follows through on threat and bans Bility after his refusal to toe line on CAF takeover
By Paul Nicholson
July 24 – Two days after announcing he would be taking the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), in order to stop FIFA’s direct intervention in CAF’s day-to-day affairs, Liberian Musa Hassan Bility has been banned for 10 years by FIFA’s Ethics Committee and fined CHF500,000.
Conmebol strips Tapia of FIFA Council seat after he criticises Copa America refs
July 24 – Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia (pictured) has been stripped by Conmebol of his place on the FIFA Council following criticism of this year’s Copa America in Brazil.
Kick it Out report finds discrimination and racism on rise in English football
July 24 – Incidents of discrimination in English football, both at grassroots and professional level, rose significantly last season, according to a report by the anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out.
Dilly Dilly. Bud pours itself into LaLiga and Premier League deals
July 24 – Budweiser has increased its football sponsorship portfolio in Europe becoming the official beer of LaLiga and the Premier League in what are described as multi-year deals (usually three year-terms for both leagues).
Musonye steps down from Cecafa role
July 24 – Kenya’s Nicholas Musonye is standing down secretary-general of the 12-member Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) after two decades at the helm.
Brazil hunt for new women’s coach as Vadao moves on
July 24 – Brazil have parted ways with their women’s coach Vadao just weeks after the World Cup. In France, the hosts eliminated Vadao’s team in the round of 16.
Conmebol give Messi one-game ban but sidestep action over ‘corrupt’ claim
July 24 – Lionel Messi has been banned from Argentina’s first qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup and fined $1,500 by Conmebol after being sent off against Chile in the Copa America third-place playoff.
I-League clubs appeal to Indian PM and FIFA boss Infantino for protection
By Samindra Kunti
July 23 – Six I-League clubs have written to FIFA president Gianni Infantino with a request for help to safeguard the league which they believe is under threat from the Indian Super League.
Man City’s cultural revolution crashes with Chinese state media taking aim
July 23 – English champions Manchester City have been branded “disrespectful” and “arrogant” by China’s state media following their pre-season visit to the country for the Premier League Asia Trophy.
Match-fixing Botswana ref Kgotlele banned for life
July 23 – Former Botswana Football Association (BFA) general secretary Mooketsi Kgotlele has been banned for life by FIFA for accepting bribes in the latest serious misdemeanour to rock the image of African football.