USA 2 Costa Rica 2 (USA win 4-3 on pens)
June 29 – You’d hate to use the word ‘sterile’ to describe a Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final, but following the drama and passion of Guatemala versus Canada, it all felt a little flat as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Costa Rica kicked off for the right to face Guatemala in St. Louis. After 90 minutes and the drama of penalty kicks,
April 17 – UEFA has condemned the online abuse aimed at referee Michael Oliver and his wife after the English referee awarded a highly contentious stoppage-time penalty to Real Madrid that knocked Juventus out of the Champions League last week.
April 17 – Those opposed to the formal introduction of video assistant referees have strengthened their case after arguably the most bizarre incident since testing began.
April 17 – Premier League Tottenham Hotspur who will be competing in the US in the International Champions Cup this summer as part of their pre-season preparations, have expanded their coaching outreach in the US with a partnership with the Florida Elite Soccer Academy.
April 17 – Animal welfare groups have condemned footage of a Russian performing bear delivering the ball to a referee before a third division match between Mashuk-KMV and Angusht in Pyatigorsk.
By Paul Nicholson
April 16 – The election for the new president of the Liberian FA (LFA) at its 34th Annual Congress was dramatically suspended at the weekend after the first round of voting when a court order was issued questioning the eligibility of Musa Shannon, already a serving LFA vice president.
April 16 – It was only a matter of time but few, even among their own players and fans, expected Manchester City to be crowned English Premier League champions without even playing on Sunday.
April 16 – A betting firm which offered odds on an English non-league player eating a pie on camera during a high-profile cup match has been fined £84,000.
April 16 – Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon remains unrepentant following his tirade about English referee Michael Oliver whose decision to award Real Madrid a stoppage-time penalty last week wrecked Juventus’ dreams of Champions League success.
April 16 – Arsene Wenger, the longest-serving manager in the English Premier League, says the decision not to implement video assistant referees next season is a serious retrograde step that flies in the face of progress.
April 16 – Premier League Huddersfield Town, who took a vital three points towards top division safety this weekend, will next year be switching the kit supply deal back to Umbro, ending their current deal with Puma.
April 15 – Tottenham Hotspur has extended its deal with online gaming brand FUN88 which stays as the club’s Official Betting Partner in Asia and Latin America.
By Paul Nicholson
April 14 – South American confederation CONMEBOL has pledged the votes of its 10 member associations to the United 2026 bid (Canada, Mexico and the US). Their announcement gives the North Americans a timely boost with FIFA’s 2026 bid evaluation committee having just completed their four-city tour of North America, and now heading to bid rival Morocco.
April 13 – Despite football’s lawmakers giving it the thumbs up and the system being used at the World Cup, English Premier League clubs have voted not to use video assistant referees next season.
April 13 – He is remaining tight-lipped about details of the $25 billion buyout offer for the Club World Cup and a global Nations League, but FIFA president Gianni Infantino was keen to expand on his plans for the Club World Cup.
April 13 – Thailand’s women became the second Asian Football Confederation (AFC) nation to qualify for the France 2019 Women’s World Cup with a 3-1 win over the Philippines that also put them into the semi-finals of the Asian Women’s Cup currently being played in Jordan.