Football Notes: La Liga Rayo Vallecano Acquires Stake In U.S. Club

La Liga club Rayo Vallecano reportedly has become a majority shareholder in U.S. club Oklahoma City, a franchise that will soon be incorporated into the NASL. Following a "long period of negotiations that included numerous trips to the U.S.," Rayo becomes the first Spanish club to sign an agreement with a football franchise (AS, 8/19). ... The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has stepped in "to resolve a row that led to Guam threatening to cancel their World Cup qualifier in Iran after complaints from the U.S. territory that Tehran had delayed visa applications." Guam said that it started the visa process "months ago" for the Sept. 3 fixture but was "still waiting on an authorisation code from the Iranian Football Federation." The AFC "expected all to be resolved by Friday after speaking with both parties" (REUTERS, 8/19).