Two Iranian footballers have been "praised and condemned in their home country after turning out" for Greek club side Panionios' Europa League qualifier against Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv. The appearance on the pitch of Iranians Masoud Shojaei and Ehsan Hajsafi in the Greek capital has "not gone unnoticed back home." The Islamic Republic does not recognize the state of Israel, and "forbids Iranian athletes from competing against Israeli athletes" at int'l sports events. The pair "now face a possible ban from playing for Iran's national team" (BBC, 8/4).
A Confederation of African Football-appointed inspection team will visit Cameroon for eight days from Aug. 20 to "assess the country's progress" as it prepares to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon government spokesperson Issa Tchiroma Bakary said that organizers "should not worry" (BBC, 8/5).
UEFA hit Polish side Legia Warsaw with a disciplinary charge on Friday after its fans "displayed a vast banner commemorating Poles killed by the Nazis." Legia fans displayed the banner, which was the width of an entire stand, during Wednesday's Champions League qualifier against Kazakh side Astana (AP, 8/5).
German football's "first competitive use of video assistance failed due to a technical fault on Saturday when a debatable goal was awarded in the Super Cup between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund." Robert Lewandowski scored for Bayern but the goal may have been offside following Sebastian Rudy's ball over the Dortmund defense (London DAILY MAIL, 8/6).
IN SIERRA LEONE: The divisions in Sierra Leonean football "deepened" following FIFA's decision to continue to recognize the existing Sierra Leone FA administration "despite its mandate having ended" on Thursday. FIFA said that the current SLFA exec committee -- led by Isha Johansen -- should "remain in power until checks are carried out on current and potential SLFA members in order to allow elections" for a new exec committee to be held (BBC, 8/5). Sierra Leone national team head coach John Keister was "suspended indefinitely" by the SLFA "following the leak of an audio conversation" where he is accused of bringing the SFLA "into disrepute." Keister allegedly called Johansen "corrupt" (BBC, 8/4).
