Hull City’s Sone Aluko (centre) trying to find a way through during the Europa League qualifying play-off match against Lokeren.Hull City’s Sone Aluko (centre) trying to find a way through during the Europa League qualifying play-off match against Lokeren.

Nobody can deny that the Premier League in England has become the most attractive football competition in the world not only for the quality play produced but also as witnessed by the overall attendances and cash that continues to flow in.

Last season’s bottom side in the final classification, Cardiff City, left the top flight £62m richer following prize-money and TV income.

That was more than Manchester United had collected the previous season as league champions according to official statistics.

The Premier League clubs’ total spending of £835m in this summer’s transfer window is more than La Liga (£425m), Serie A (£260m) and Ligue 1 (£100m) put together.

A total of £250m was spent in the Bundesliga transfer deals.

Other items of interest for August:

• The Premier League introduces new rules on how to deal with head injuries. Now, a player suffering a head injury will have to leave the pitch. The club doctor, and not the manager, decides if the injured player is in a position to continue the match.

• In the Champions League, third qualifying round second legs, Celtic lose at home to Legia 0-2. The Hoops exit 1-6 on aggregate.

• Referee Howard Webb retires after 25 years of involvement in the game to become official director of the English FA.

• In the UEFA Europa League, third qualifying round, second leg, St Johnstone draw 1-1 away to Spartak Trnava but go out 2-3 on aggregate.

Other results: Hull-Dukla Trencin 0-0 (agg: 2-1); Aberdeen-Real Sociedad 2-3 (agg: 2-5).

• Celtic are reinstated into the Champions League after Legia Warsaw are kicked out for fielding an ineligible player.

• At Wembley Stadium, Arsenal topple Manchester City 3-0 to lift the Charity Shield.

• Mark Robins leaves his job at Championship side Huddersfield Town just one day into the new season.

• Glenn Hoddle joins Queens Park Rangers as first-team coach.

• The biting ban imposed on Luis Suarez is upheld by the CAS. However, the former Liverpool man is now allowed to train with new club Barcelona.

• Manager Tony Pulis leaves Crystal Palace two days before start of new Premier League.

• In Champions League play-off first leg, ten-man Arsenal hold Besiktas away 0-0. Celtic share the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Maribor.

• In Europe League play-off first leg, Hull go down at Lokeren 0-1 and Tottenham beat Limassol 2-1.

• Coventry City return to the Ricoh Arena as their home after an ill-fated stay at Sixfields.

• Celtic lose at home 0-1 to Maribor but Arsenal advance to the group phase of the Champions League following a 1-0 victory over Besiktas at the Emirates.

• Veteran midfielder Frank Lampard announces his England retirement after winning 106 international caps.

League Cup second round shock results:

Burnley-Sheffield Wed. 0-1, Leicester-Shrewsbury 0-1, West Ham-Sheffield Utd 4-5 pens, MK Dons-Man. United 4-0, Aston Villa-Leyton Orient 0-1, Burton Albion-QPR 1-0.

• Crystal Palace appoint former boss Neil Warnock.

• Wayne Rooney is named new England captain.

• Manager David Hockaday leaves Leeds United.

• In the second legs of the Europa League play-offs, Tottenham advance to the group stage after a 3-0 win at home to Limassol. Hull City, however, bow out on the away goals rule despite their 2-1 home win over Lokeren.

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