Argentine footballers "warned that first division clubs are running up more debts and that the new season cannot get under way next month" if the situation "is not brought under control." The comments from the Argentine Players' Association (FAA) "came only four months after the players went on strike over unpaid wages." The newly-created Argentine Superliga, featuring 28 teams, is due to kick off on Aug. 20 (REUTERS, 7/20).
Scottish Premiership side Rangers "are on the verge of a return to the top table" amid the annual shakeup of the Scottish football powerbrokers. Rangers Managing Dir Stewart Robertson is up for election to the Scottish Professional Football League board at Monday's AGM, "where he will be up against current member Ann Budge" as well as Dundee Managing Dir John Nelms and Hamilton's Les Gray. There are "three places up for grabs with Celtic’s Peter Lawwell and Partick Thistle’s Ian Maxwell deciding against standing for re-election" (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 7/19).
German Football League (DFL) board member Ansgar Schwenken said that the DFL has invested €1.8M ($2M) in the use of VAR for next season. He said, "Players, coaches and referees are happy that football will be a little more fair." The Bundesliga will debut VAR during Bayern Munich's season opener against Bayer Leverkusen on Aug. 18 (DPA, 7/20).
Fans traveling to 2018 World Cup games in Russia next year "will be able to book free train tickets" starting in December. All fans with tickets for matches "will be able to book free rail travel between the 11 host cities," an official responsible for transport at the tournament said earlier this week. Fans who have tickets for games and also so-called Fan-IDs will be able to book the tickets (RT, 7/20).
FIFPro said that unions in Africa have started to achieve "clear improvements" in the welfare of thousands of players. The 13 unions associated with FIFPro throughout Africa "have in some countries helped to introduce standard contracts," collective agreements and tribunals to resolve pay disputes with clubs. Last year's Global Employment Report conducted by FIFPro found that 55% of players in Africa "are paid late or not at all" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 7/20).
The Djibouti Football Federation (FDF) dissolved its national football team in a bid to "stop poor results." The FDF announced in a statement that the squad and coaching staff "have been disbanded as the focus shifts to promising youngsters" (BBC, 7/20).
Two Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen fans "have been treated for injuries" after supporters were attacked in Bosnia ahead of the club's Europa League game against Siroki Brijeg. About 50 supporters "were subjected to an unprovoked attack" outside the Black Dog Pub in Mostar on Wednesday. A group of "about a dozen masked men set off flares and attacked the Aberdeen fans with baseball bats and metal bars" (BBC, 7/20).
