April 4 – Former Italy captain Daniele De Rossi, now the national team’s technical coach, has been admitted to an infectious diseases hospital with pneumonia symptoms after testing positive for coronavirus.
By David Owen
April 5 – FIFA doled out not far off $50 million of interest-free loans to national associations during the first six months when its covid-19 relief plan was in operation.
April 6 – After being empty for more than year because of the coronavirus pandemic, Wembley will welcome 8,000 fans for this month’s League Cup final between holders Manchester City, who are going for a unique quadruple of trophies, and Tottenham Hotspur.
March 30 – Three of the Welsh squad preparing for tonight’s all-important World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic have been sent home for breaching Covid-19 rules.
March 23 – As the coronavirus pandemic deepens in Brazil, the country’s football competitions have been plunged into chaos with pressure mounting for a complete suspension of the national game.
March 23 – Next month’s English League Cup final could become the nation’s first showpiece match in months to be played out in front of a limited number of fans as a test case, according to press reports.
March 22 – Albania has had their request for a limited number of spectators at the World Cup qualifier with England this month turned down by the country’s health ministry due to rising daily cases of coronavirus.
March 18 – The Netherlands will allow 5,000 fans to attend their World Cup qualifier against Latvia as part of a study, the Dutch FA (KNVB) has announced.
March 18 – La Liga president Javier Tebas believes a limited number of fans will be able to return to Spanish stadiums in April but separate reports that the two Copa del Rey finals the same month could open its gates have received short shrift from the government.
March 11 – In Brazil, the ball keeps rolling, even as the country experiences it most dramatic moment of the coronavirus pandemic yet, breaking national daily death toll records day after day.
March 8 – Rangers’ first domestic Scottish title for a decade was marred by a serious breach of Covid rules on Sunday that prompted the intervention of the country’s political leader.
March 5 – Brazilian football is under pressure to suspend play with three states having halted the local state tournaments and calls for common sense to be applied in light of Brazil’s dramatic spike in Covid-19 deaths.
March 4 – Palestinian authorities have been criticised for prioritising the national football team in the country’s roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine.
March 3 – A high-profile Serie A fixture between Lazio and Torino ended in farce on Tuesday when the visitors failed to show up after local health officials requested the squad be quarantined.
February 23 – Up to 10,000 fans could be back in English stadiums by the end of May as part of the British government’s efforts to move out of the third and hopefully final lockdown.
