Said amp; Done: Mourinho’s pledge, two bags of granola and 140 goats
Man of the summer
José Mourinho – pledging an upbeat third season. “I find myself with the market closed in a situation I did not think I was going to be in. But this is the last time I speak about transfers. It’s finished. Closed. No more talk about it.”
•Also keeping positive: @manutd – engaging frustrated United fans by announcing signings including a “new global coffee partner”, a “global betting partner”, and Chivas whisky as United’s new “global spirits partner”. United told fans the Chivas deal involved “two global names joining forces to celebrate their belief that blended is better – in life, football and in Scotch”. Also engaging fans
Spurs’ media team – welcoming the club’s new “official timing partner”, two
days after announcing new indefinite delays to their ground. Spurs say watch firm IWC Schaffhausen is a neat fit thanks to its “precision engineering” and “meticulous attention to detail … qualities we value at the club”.
Relaunch of the summer
Fifa’s ethics code – rewritten for 2018-19 to reduce cases of corruption by a) removing the word “corruption”, and b) introducing a defamation clause for critics. Fifa says the revised code, which threatens fines and bans for “persons who make any public statements of a defamatory nature towards Fifa”, will “guarantee greater opportunities for transparency”.
•Also keeping busy this summer: a) Fifa Council member Ramón Jesurún, denying wrongdoing in Colombia over an alleged ticket resale scam; b) Fifa Council member Kwesi Nyantakyi, resigning after being filmed putting $65,000 cash into a bag in a Ghana hotel room– footage he says was doctored: “It’s just shoddy work with cut and paste.” And c) Zambian executive Kalusha Bwalya, pledging to fight his two-year bribery ban “tooth and nail … I thank all my fans for their support.” Meanwhile: most content
Gianni Infantino, rejecting talk last month that the World Cup has become a tool for regimes to launder reputations – but happy with how it all turned out. “This World Cup certainly did change the perception of the world towards Russia. It changed a lot of preconceived opinions.”
•Holding that line, five days after the final in July– Torpedo Moscow, cancelling a deal to sign black player Erving Botaka-Yoboma after fans staged a “whites only” protest– but denying that racism played any part. “It was purely a financial decision.”
Most misunderstood
Neymar– answering critics who accused him of lacking class in Russia by issuing an apology in the form of a 90-second Gillette advert. “I took time to look at myself in the mirror and become a new man. But now I’m here, with my heart wide open. Yes I fell, but only those who fall can get up.”
Plus: best advice
Diego Maradona – revealing in July how Argentinian football needs more credibility and fewer “bad characters”. Maradona – Fifa’s £10,000-amatch World Cup white wine ambassador – told the press: “A house must be built on solid foundations. Today the house of Argentinian football is a disaster.”
Elsewhere: best attitude
Maurizio Sarri, denying in July that he’s a uneasy fit with Chelsea’s zero tolerance policy. Sarri said incidents including calling Roberto Mancini a “faggot” in 2016 were “mistakes … But my professional and ethical attitude is important. I hope you will get to know me while I am here.”
Most focused
La Liga head Javier Tebas – moving on from his attack last year on PSG’s financial doping “ruining football” for ordinary fans – confirming his plan to host La Liga games in the US. “Sport is big business in the US. Why wouldn’t we want to be a part of it?”
Best gesture
West Ham – offering a concession after winning a £6m legal battle last week to have taxpayers cover the costs of their matchday hospitality staff, new London Stadium beer taps, Sky TV on all televisions and a replacement pitchside carpet. Reports say the club are willing to pay for the new £380,000 carpet after all – but “only if they can choose the colour”.
Manager news: making moves
•Brazil, 24 July: Palmeiras director Alexandre Mattos rules out knee-jerk action against coach Roger Machado. “We’re calm, we’re shielding him from these critics. The board has complete confidence in his work.” 25 July: The board sacks him.
•Romania, 13 June: CFR Cluj president Iuliu Muresan reveals he hired coach Edi Iordanescu to secure stability and “bring us the full arsenal of modern coaching techniques. He’s a good coach, a serious man, a rigorous man, a modern coach and I like him.” 27 July: Sacks him.
Most concerned
Romania: Poli Iasi manager Flavius Stoican, weighing up the club’s transfer policy. ”The owners just sign players and I find out in the press or on Facebook or a player comes up and tells me, ‘Mister, another new boy is here’. God help me, I’m Flavius Stoican, I can’t have some guy tell me I’ve got that one, this one and that one. Who are you dude, who do you think you are, do you think you’re God? Do you think you’re tough? What even is this? Where are we? Go home dude, just go home. I’m not some heap of trash.”
Most uneasy
Mexico: Chivas coach José Cardozo – conducting his post-defeat press conference from behind a range of official club sponsors’ products, including two bags of granola and two yogurts. Club vice-president Amaury Vergara told local media the ridicule Cardozo faced online afterwards was “a matter of regret. Our marketing team called it wrong. We must be aesthetically cleaner.”
And best future planning
Turkey: Gulspor president Kenan Buyuklebleb, selling 18 youth team players and buying 10 goats with the cash. “It makes sense. We will get 4,000-5,000 lira profit from milk, and they breed so at the end of six years, we’ll have 140 goats.” His message to fans: “These goats are in the best interests of this club.”