Chelsea and the English Football Association
Recently

Chelsea received a £10m fine after admitting 74 disciplinary charges involving unofficial payments during Roman Abramovich’s ownership. The ruling found the club deliberately flouted football’s agent regulations, but imposed no points deduction or other sporting sanction.

The case covered £47m across 44 transactions involving 32 players between 2009 and 2022. Chelsea disclosed the breaches after the current owners completed due diligence, cooperated fully and entered an early guilty plea, substantially reducing the original financial penalty.

Vanessa Gold, Amanda Staveley and West Ham United
Saturday

Vanessa Gold confirmed an agreement to sell her family’s 25% West Ham stake to a consortium led by Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi. The transaction remains incomplete, but Gold said the buyers can help return the club to the Premier League.

Existing shareholder Daniel Kretinsky challenged the agreement and is reviewing whether to exercise contractual pre-emption rights. Those provisions could let current owners purchase the shares first, potentially extending the ownership process for around two months before any sale concludes.

Wydad, FIFA and club president Brahim El Assri
Saturday

FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber has issued another ruling against Wydad, taking the club’s number of final cases to five. The Moroccan side must settle the outstanding files before its transfer ban can be lifted and new signings registered.

Wydad also have more than seven disputes before Morocco’s National Disputes Committee, creating a serious financial and squad-planning problem. President Brahim El Assri is working to clear liabilities inherited from the previous administration before the new season.

UEFA, Gianni Infantino and FIFA
Saturday

UEFA said it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s FIFA leadership after the governing body abandoned its private-investment proposal. European officials welcomed the withdrawal but accused Infantino of failing on transparency, governance and responsible use of FIFA’s reserves.

UEFA called for those behind the plan to be identified and held accountable, while supporting a fundamental leadership and governance review. It will work with other confederations on safeguards and alternative ways to distribute FIFA development funding.

Saudi Arabian Football Federation and five presidential candidates
Saturday

Five candidates remain in the race to become Saudi Arabian Football Federation president after Dawood Al-Muqrin and Muaidh Al-Shahri withdrew. The election follows Yasser Al-Misehal’s resignation after Saudi Arabia’s group-stage exit from the 2026 World Cup.

Former Al-Ahli president Khalid Al-Ghamdi is among the remaining contenders, alongside Hatem Khaimi, Badr Al-Ruzaiza, Yahya Al-Sharif and Ahmed Al-Wadei. Voting is scheduled for 30 August, with the winner receiving a mandate running until 2030.

Javier Milei and Argentina’s national-team players
Friday

Argentine president Javier Milei criticised national-team players for displaying a Falkland Islands banner after their World Cup semi-final victory over England. He argued that sport and politics should remain separate despite the emotions surrounding the match.

Milei said Diego Maradona’s famous goals against England did not restore the islands and insisted sovereignty must be pursued diplomatically. His comments add another political controversy after FIFA opened proceedings over Argentina’s conduct during the tournament.

Eddie Howe and Newcastle United
Friday

Eddie Howe has officially stepped down as Newcastle United head coach after nearly five years. The club accepted his decision and thanked him for an extraordinary contribution that included ending Newcastle’s 70-year wait for a domestic trophy.

Howe said he needed to recharge after giving his life, heart and soul to the role. His departure follows a difficult season and transfer window, with Newcastle now expected to pursue Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle.

FIFA, Gianni Infantino and global football confederations
Friday

FIFA has abandoned its proposal to sell a 21% stake in a new company controlling major competitions. Gianni Infantino said the project would not proceed after UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian confederation united against it.

The plan aimed to raise $4.2bn and distribute expanded funding to FIFA’s 211 associations. Opposition escalated into boycott threats, adviser Carlos Cordeiro’s resignation and internal criticism, leaving Infantino facing serious questions before the 2027 presidential election.

Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea, the FA and WADA
Friday

Mykhailo Mudryk can return to competition immediately after his appeal against a four-year doping ban was resolved. The Chelsea winger accepted the violation and a period of ineligibility equal to the time he had already served.

Revised WADA reporting standards mean the low meldonium concentration found in Mudryk’s sample would not produce a violation if tested today. Chelsea will now support his reintegration after he last played competitively in November 2024.

Roger Schmidt, Red Bull and Jurgen Klopp
Friday

Red Bull have appointed Roger Schmidt as head of global soccer, replacing Jurgen Klopp after his move into the Germany job. The former Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen coach will begin the long-term role on 1 October.

Schmidt returns to the organisation after winning an Austrian league and cup double with Salzburg. He will oversee sporting direction across Red Bull’s international football portfolio, with youth development and a shared playing philosophy among his main responsibilities.