Domestic football tournaments suspended; Two EURO champions under investigation

Vietnam Football Federation temporarily suspends organizing football tournaments from July 20

On July 20, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) announced the suspension of tournaments in the National Championship system from July 20, 2024 until further notice.

The announcement reads: According to information from the Central Council for the Protection of the Health of Officials, Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, after a period of illness, despite the devoted treatment of the Party, the State, the collective of professors and doctors, and the wholehearted care of his family, due to old age and serious illness, he passed away at 13:38, July 19, 2024 at the 108 Central Military Hospital.

Thus, the two quarter-final matches of the 2024 National U17 Tournament - Thai Son Nam between Ha Tinh vs Tay Ninh and LPB HAGL vs The Cong Viettel in Ba Ria taking place on the afternoon of July 20 have been postponed. In addition, the qualifying matches of the 2024 National U21 Tournament taking place this afternoon have also been postponed until further notice.

V-League 2024/25 increases the number of overseas Vietnamese players

The recent Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Executive Committee meeting approved a number of important regulations for the 2024/2025 national professional season.

Accordingly, V-League clubs are allowed to register and use a maximum of 3 foreign players and 2 foreign players of Vietnamese origin (instead of 1 slot as last season). This is an important change to contribute to improving the professional quality of Vietnam's top tournament. Increasing the number of overseas Vietnamese players will bring many benefits to football teams, while opening up great opportunities for players of Vietnamese origin living and playing abroad to return home to contribute.

Previously, Mac Hong Quan, Dang Van Lam, Nguyen Filip, Patrick Le Giang... contributed to increasing the attractiveness of V-League, as well as improving the quality of Vietnam's national teams. Also according to VFF, clubs participating in AFF/AFC club tournaments are allowed to register a maximum of 5 (instead of 4 as before) foreign players and use a maximum of 3 in a match in the professional tournament.

This adjustment is to help Vietnamese clubs compete in international tournaments, after the AFC applied the regulation of not limiting the number of foreign players playing in tournaments under the Asian club system from the 2024/25 season, while the AFF applied the 6+1 regulation (6 foreign players and 1 Asian player).

Yokohama FC thrives, Cong Phuong continues to fall out of favor

Yokohama FC is performing very well in J-League 2, however Cong Phuong's future is becoming increasingly uncertain.

J League 2 has 13 more rounds to go. Yokohama FC is in top form with a streak of 10 consecutive unbeaten matches. Since the 15th round, Cong Phuong's team has had 8 wins and 2 draws.

In the most recent round, Yokohama FC held Mito HollyHock (Cong Phuong's old team) to a 2-2 draw.

Yokohama FC currently has 50 points and is ranked 3rd on the J-League 2 table, only 2 points behind the top team Shimizu S-Pulse, thereby having a great chance to return to the J-League 1.

On the contrary, Cong Phuong is in a state of despair. The striker from Nghe An has no chance to play in the J-League 2 arena despite actively practicing and having the best physical condition.

The last time this striker played was in Yokohama FC's 1-3 loss to Nagoya Grampus in the Emperor's Cup, but he only played for 16 minutes.

Cong Phuong currently has a contract with Yokohama FC until the end of the 2024 season and has not yet decided on his future amid interest from many big teams in the V-League.

Italy's "phenomenon" is about to join Arsenal

The Athletic confirms Arsenal are likely to close the deal at €50m. Bologna will add some additional clauses, and will also receive a percentage of the proceeds from future sales of Calafiori by the Gunners.

This decision is understandable because if the Italian midfielder leaves, Bologna can only collect 60% of the money, while the remaining 40% belongs to FC Basel.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano added: "Arsenal are considered to have reached a complete agreement with Bologna for Calafiori. Personal terms have been finalised, the contract runs until June 2029."

Coach Mikel Arteta needs a left-footed player who can play both left-sided centre-back and left-back when needed. Calafiori meets all the requirements. Therefore, the London team urgently completed the transfer negotiations.

Calafiori emerged as a phenomenon when he played well at Euro 2024. In the 1-1 draw with Croatia, the Bologna centre-back made a brave breakthrough from midfield, surprising the opposing defence, before assisting Zaccagni to score the decisive goal, thereby reviving the blue army from the abyss.

Calafiori is an important factor in coach Thiago Motta's squad, contributing greatly to the achievement of helping the club qualify for the 2024/2025 Champions League. This player possesses comprehensive defensive skills and the ability to read situations intelligently.

Two EURO champions investigated by UEFA

The European Football Federation (UEFA) has just opened an investigation into political behavior from Spain striker Morata and midfielder Rodri during the EURO 2024 championship celebration.

Accordingly, while celebrating with the Spanish team at Cibeles Square in Madrid, Morata and Rodri were so excited that they got into trouble with their mouths.

Specifically, when introduced on stage by captain Morata, Rodri shouted a political message: "Gibraltar belongs to Spain".

Morata is said to have responded to Rodri's statement, causing both of them to be investigated by UEFA.

Gibraltar is currently an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. In 1704, a joint Anglo-Dutch force captured Gibraltar from Spain. The territory was permanently ceded to the United Kingdom under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.

For many years, the sovereignty of Gibraltar has been a controversial and sensitive issue, as Spain asserts its claim to the territory.

"The UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Board is assessing the possibility of disciplinary violations by two players, Rodri and Alvaro Morata, during the EURO 2024 celebrations in Madrid on July 15," UEFA informed.