Global diary
Stories from the four corners of the football world
Saturday July 18
SPAIN: Tercera play-off clash between Canary Islands sides Marino and Tamaraceite sees fans return to stadiums in Spain for the first time since March.
ITALY: Zlatan Ibrahimovic hints at a longer stay in Milan: “It’s a great honour to play 100 games for Milan. I hope to play lots more,” said the 38-year-old.
ENGLAND: Arsenal beat Manchester City 2-0 in the FA Cup semi-final, with a brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
USA: Diego Rossi scores four goals as Los Angeles FC thrash LA Galaxy 6-2 in El Trafico.
Sunday July 19
IRAQ: Iraq Football Association announces that the league will return on September 20, having previously abandoned the 2019-20 season.
GREECE: Thousands of Olympiakos supporters gather outside the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium to celebrate the club’s 45th league title.
TURKEY: Istanbul Basaksehir beat Kayserispor 1-0 to win the Turkish Super Lig title for the first time with a game to spare.
ENGLAND: Manchester United lose 3-1 to Chelsea in the second FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, with poor errors by goalkeeper David De Gea costing his team.
SPAIN: La Liga season concludes. Barcelona beat Alaves 5-0, with Leo Messi securing his seventh Pichichi Trophy – and fourth in a row – while Villarreal win 4-0 in Santi Cazorla’s final game for the club. Relegated Leganes twice come from behind to draw 2-2 with champions Real Madrid.
Monday July 20
AFRICA: The Confederation of African Football confirms that the 2023 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be played in June and July in the Ivory Coast.
FRANCE: Magazine L’Equipe announces that the Ballon d’Or will not be awarded in 2020 due to the coronavirus fallout.
ITALY: Cristiano Ronaldo scores his 50th Serie A goal, becoming the first player to reach a half century in England, Spain and Italy, and the quickest player to reach the milestone in Italian football.
Tuesday July 21
SPAIN: Lucas Ocampos is voted La Liga’s best signing by Marca, ahead of Ferland Mendy, Diego Carlos, Jules Kounde and Frenkie de Jong. Meanwhile, Joao Felix, Antoine Griezmann, Junior Firpo and Luka Jovic feature in the worst signings of the season.
Wednesday July 22
ENGLAND: The Championship season concludes with West
Champions…Sydney FC
Bromwich Albion securing automatic promotion. Fulham, Brentford, Cardiff City and Swansea City make up the play-offs teams, while Hull City, Charlton Athletic and Wigan Athletic (following a points deduction) are relegated. Meanwhile, Liverpool lift the Premier League trophy after a 5-3 victory over Chelsea.
USA: David Villa denies allegations of sexual harassment during his time at New York City FC in MLS: “These accusations are entirely false. I deny them. I will fully co-operate with the club.”
ITALY: Brescia’s relegation from Serie A is confirmed with a 3-1 defeat to Lecce, joining SPAL in demotion to Serie B.
Thursday July 23
ENGLAND: Birmingham City announce that they are retiring the No.22 shirt following the departure of Jude Bellingham.
CZECH REPUBLIC: It’s announced that no team will be relegated from the Czech Republic’s top flight. The competition was left unfinished after players tested positive for coronavirus, with Slavia Prague already crowned champions.
Friday July 24
ENGLAND: Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson is named Football Writers’ Player of the Year.
FRANCE: Paris Saint-Germain lift their fifth Coupe de France in six seasons with a 1-0 win over Saint-Etienne, having lost to Rennes on penalties in 2019.
Saturday July 25
AUSTRALIA: Sydney FC secure their fourth A-League title after second-placed Wellington Phoenix draw 1-1 with Adelaide United, giving Sydney an unassailable lead with four games of the regular season to play.
QATAR: Former Barcelona star and current Al Sadd coach Xavi tests positive for coronavirus.
IRAN: Persepolis seal their 13th league title, and become the first Iranian team ever to win the competition four times in a row.
Sunday July 26
ENGLAND: The Premier League season concludes with Chelsea and Manchester United securing Champions League football by finishing in the top four. Watford and Bournemouth join Norwich City in being relegated to the Championship. Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy secures the Golden Boot, the first of his career.
ITALY: Juventus wrap up the Serie A title, their ninth in a row, by beating Sampdoria 2-0.
SAUDI ARABIA: French striker Bafetimbi Gomis extends his contract at 2019 AFC Champions League winners Al Hilal for a further two years.
Monday July 27
SCOTLAND: Hearts’ relegation from the Scottish Premiership is confirmed after an arbitration panel upheld the Scottish Football Professional League decision to settle the curtailed season on a points-per-game basis.
SPAIN: Juventus-bound midfielder Arthur refuses to join Barcelona’s squad for the Champions