19.com secures Leicester City deal as it seeks to expand in Europe
August 13 – Premier League Leicester City has signed Asian betting operator 19.com as the club’s new Official Betting Partner.
Battle honours even between Rubiales and Tebas in LaLiga match date war
By Andrew Warshaw
August 12 – The bitter dispute between La Liga and the Spanish FA (RFEF) over which days are eligible for league matches has been resolved with a judge ruling that Fridays are fine but imposing a blanket ban on games being played on Monday nights.
SportPesa pulls out of Kenyan sponsorships after regulators crackdown on betting taxes
August 12 – Betting giant SportPesa has pulled the plug on all its sports sponsorships in Kenya after a prolonged tax dispute with local authorities.
MLS rules out anti-Nazi ‘Iron Front’ flags in stadia
August 12 – A Major League Soccer derby between northwest rivals Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders has burst into controversy ahead of a potentially politically-motivated clash between right-wing and left-wing activists on August 17.
Bolton fight for survival as kids secure surprise first league point
August 12 – The financial soap opera that has become the story of Bolton Wanderers’ battle for survival took another twist at the end of last week. It was then followed by perhaps the most noteworthy result of England’s football weekend as the club managed a 0-0 draw with Coventry sending out a team that had an average age 19.
1xBet takes down UK site after ‘pornhub’ casino and live cockfight allegations
August 12 – Russian bookmaker 1xBet – that has rapidly established a position in the international, often unregulated, betting market – has suspended its UK betting service following reports of it operating a ‘pornhub’ casino and complaints from punters unable to cash out their winnings.
FIFA inspectors visit Nigeria for 2020 U-20 Women’s World Cup bid appraisal
August 12 – Nigeria is in the running to host the 2020 U-20 Women’s World Cup. A FIFA inspection team visited facilities in the proposed host cities of Lagos, Benin City, Asaba and Uyo.
Brighton soar with £100m American Express renewal
August 12 – Premier League Brighton and Hove Albion have renewed their main sponsorship with American Express in a 12-year £100 million deal that includes the continuation of the naming rights to Brighton’s stadium as well as the financial services providers’ name on the front of the club shirt.
Xia axed from Aston Villa board after failure to pay Lerner £30m bonus fee
August 12 – Aston Villa have parted ways with businessman and former owner Tony Xia (pictured). The Chinese was removed as director and member of the board after he failed to pay his predecessor Randy Lerner a £30 million bonus. Instead Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris – who bought control from Xia – have stepped up to increase their share and fulfil the debt.
Winds remove section of AZ Alkmaar roof
August 12 – Dutch top-flight side AZ Alkmaar suffered a partial roof collapse at their stadium on Saturday after strong winds hit the country.
Bility armed for battle against FIFA ‘colonisation’ of CAF; Grafstrom denies threats
By Osasu Obayiuwana
August 9 – Musa Bility, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee member, recently banned for 10 years, by the Adjudicatory Chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee, is accusing a key official of the world governing body of strong-arming him, over his refusal to accept FIFA’s direct intervention in CAF’s affairs.
Premier League clubs’ £1.41bn spending spree just misses transfer record
By David Owen
9 August – The Premier League’s summer transfer window closed on Thursday evening (August 8) with clubs narrowly failing to break the £1.43 billion spending record set in summer 2017.
Iran and FIFA on World Cup collision course over allowing women into stadia
August 9 – Iran’s ban on women entering stadiums is not the business of world soccer governing body FIFA, the country’s prosecutor-general said on August 7.
Hamburg’s Gambian refugee midfielder accused of false age and identity
August 9 – A Gambian-born midfielder is reported to be playing in Germany with a falsified name and age.
Mane battles Messi and Ronaldo for top Champions League striker gong
August 9 – UEFA has unveiled its shortlist of players for its 2018/19 Champions League positional awards, with five Liverpool players dominating the 12 names that are in contention for the best Goalkeeper, Defender, Midfielder and Forward awards.