Salman in pole position as Al-Rumaithi hints at withdrawing from AFC presidential election
By Paul Nicholson
March 21 – The UAE’s Mohamed Khalfan Al-Rumaithi looks set to withdraw from the election for the AFC President’s on April 6.
Conmebol’s Dominguez says South American bid leads race for 2030 World Cup
March 21 – The four-nation South American bid to host the 2030 World Cup should definitely be regarded as the favourite to win the rights, according to the region’s top official, despite what will likely be a strong challenge from Europe.
England’s WSL lands Barclays as title sponsors in £10m deal
By Samindra Kunti
March 21 – In a landmark moment for English women’s football Barclays Bank signed a three-year, deal with the Women’s Super League. The top flight league will be rebranded as the Barclays FA Women’s Super League from next season.
India’s I-League clubs propose unified 20-team top tier to include ISL franchises
By Samindra Kunti
March 21 – India’s I-League clubs have proposed a road map for a unified 20-team league next season featuring both I-League clubs and Indian Super League franchises.
Women’s World Cup winners $4m; Infantino and Samoura $4.07m
By David Owen
March 21 – The winners of this year’s Women’s World Cup in France will get prize money of $4 million, fractionally less than the combined total of Gianni Infantino and Fatma Samoura’s salaries in 2018.
Life ban for Togolese ref Fagla for fixing international matches
March 21 – FIFA has banned Togolese referee Kokou Hougnimon Fagla for life after finding him guilty of corruption.
PSG accues Evra of homophobia over ‘we’re men speaking’ post after UCL exit to Man Utd
March 21 – Ex-Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has denied he is homophobic after Paris Saint-Germain condemned what they say were insulting remarks aimed at the club by the former France captain.
Sheffield United women’s player quits game over FA’s ‘kangaroo court’ discrimination case
March 21 – An English women’s footballer has decided to retire after being banned for five games for racial abuse.
PSG wins CAS appeal to get UEFA’s financial re-investigation shut down
By Andrew Warshaw
March 20 – Paris St Germain have won a significant legal victory that could have widespread repercussions, with Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling against UEFA in its bid to re-open a previously closed investigation into the club’s finances.
Exclusive: FIFA gives itself permission to invest in equities
By David Owen
March 20 – FIFA has given itself permission to invest in equities as part of its asset management operations.
Infantino’s Gulf War. 48-team 2022 could make diplomatic situation worse, says survey
March 20 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plan to expand the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams and sharing hosting rights with Qatar’s neighbours risks worsening tensions in the region, according to a new survey.
Troubled Brussels stadium at last wins support for €150m refurb
March 20 – Brussels’s King Baudouin Stadium could be remodelled to become a 40,000 all-seater ‘Golden Generation Arena’ by 2022 in plans backed by the Belgian FA (KBVB). The Belgian capital had been chosen to stage Euro 2020 matches, but the proposed ‘Eurostadium’ never got beyond the planning stages.
Bangladesh’s Kiron granted bail as global pressure builds for her unconditional release
March 20 – A Bangladesh court has decided to grant bail to FIFA council member Mahfuza Akhter Kiron just days after she was arrested for allegedly defaming the country’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for saying nothing more than that she was neglecting football in the cricket-mad country.
Brace yourselves, it’s Brighton away
March 20 – Brighton and Hove Albion on England’s sunny and clearly not-so-easy going south coast is one of the most likely place in Europe’s top league’s where you are going to get a kicking if you are a professional player, according to new data from the CIES Football Observatory.
France 2019 World Cup completes National Supporter line-up with Orange deal
March 20 – Women’s football is on a commercial roll. With nine nations confirmed as formally expressing interest to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup yesterday, the France 2019 Local and Organising Committee and FIFA have announced the sixth National Supporter sponsor for the World Cup to be played June 7 to July 7.