Aberdeen face UEFA sanction after team and fans lose the plot
August 8 – UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Aberdeen and Apollon Limassol following crowd trouble at their recent Europa Cup tie.
Integrity
FA report clears England women’s manager of bullying charge
August 8 – The manager of the England women’s team, Mark Sampson (pictured), has been cleared of any wrongdoing after one his star players Eniola Aluko made a complaint to the Football Association about “bullying and harassment”.
FIFA keeps Johansen in place as SLFA takes slow route to new elections
By Andrew Warshaw
August 7 – The bitter divisions within Sierra Leone football have taken an intriguing twist with FIFA giving Isha Johansen the green light to remain as interim federation president even though her mandate has expired.
Iran ‘condemns’ two club players for facing Maccabi Tel Aviv in Europa League play off
August 7 – In another depressing illustration of how political ideology infiltrates football, Iran’s FA has denounced two Iranians contracted to a Greek side for competing against an Israeli team.
Sarcozy business dealings dragged into French corruption investigation
By Andrew Warshaw
August 7 – Time after time when quizzed on the subject, former UEFA president and later FIFA presidential candidate Michel Platini repeatedly denied suggestions he had voted for Qatar to stage the 2022 World Cup under pressure from the French government.
Olympiacos renews support of UNICEF child mortality campaign
August 7 – Leading Greek club Olympiacos FC has renewed its support of UNICEF and particularly its contribution to UNICEF’s immunisation programme for children to help prevent child mortality from preventable diseases.
Neymar transfer furore sparks FIFPro call for EC to stop rich owners distorting the market
August 4 – Amidst the wave of reaction emanating from Neymar’s blockbuster transfer from Barcelona to Paris, the international players’ union FIFPro has called on the European Commission to do something to stop the game rapidly being destabilised by the deep pockets of a select few clubs.
Albania FA supports drone man’s fight against extradition to Serbia
By Mark Baber
Albania’s Football Federation (FAA) has issued a statement of support for Ismail Morinaj, the man who famously flew a drone with a nationalist banner into a Belgrade stadium during a Euro 2016 qualifier, sparking riots around the Balkans, igniting nationalist fervour and, thanks to the reaction of some Serbian fans, greatly assisting in Albania’s qualification for their first major international tournament.
Slow burner? Del Nero, Marin, Teixeira and Hawilla targeted by Brazil’s Supreme court
By Samindra Kunti
August 3 – Brazil’s highest court the Federal Supreme Court, the STF, is to probe the corruption inquiry targeting CBF president Marco Polo Del Nero and his predecessors José Maria Marin and Ricardo Teixeira. José Hawilla, owner and founder of sports marketing agency Traffic, is also a defendant in the case.
Sadomba wins CAS case over $450,000 Libyan cash that never was
August 3 – In a rare success for a player from Africa, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled Libyan football club Al Ahli failed to honour a contract termination agreement with a former international player.
Cool cat Jack’s nine lives: Trinidad judge postpones Warner extradition ruling
By Paul Nicholson
August 2 – The expected ruling on whether former CONCACAF president and FIFA Vice President Jack Warner has been successful in blocking his extradition to the US has been postponed. This time to a date in September.
Women’s rights? FIFPro survey finds equality is still a thing for the future
By Andrew Warshaw
August 2 – With the women’s European Championship reaching its climax, the international players union FIFPro has issued a sobering reminder of how hard it is for female footballers to make a living compared with some of their highly-paid male counterparts.
They call them the Gunners, and Arsenal’s US owner really likes hunting
August 2 – The majority shareholder of English Premier League club Arsenal, Stan Kroenke, often targeted by fans for the way he runs the club, is now under fire over a TV channel he owns which shows graphic footage of wildlife hunting.
Spain’s Villar released after court relents to grant bail
By Andrew Warshaw
August 1 – Angel Maria Villar, FIFA’s second most senior official until he quit last week after being arrested for suspected corruption, has been granted bail by a Spanish judge despite having previously been considered a flight risk.
Ronaldo tells court he has nothing to hide as tax authorities chase €14.7m
August 1 – As expected, Cristiano Ronaldo protested his innocence when he made his highly anticipated court appearance outside Madrid to face accusations of evading €14.7 million in taxes.