NRG Stadium sold out for Gold Cup final
July 6 – Concacaf has announced that today’s 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium, Houston, between the United States and Mexico, is sold out.
Women's Euro 2025
Norway dispatch Finland to take control of Group A
Norway 2 Finland 1
July 6 – Norway battled to a hard-fought victory 2-1 victory over Finland in Sion to all but guarantee their place at the top of Group A with one match left to play.
Other Stories
Infantino greenlights video refs for World Cup after he rules tests are a success
April 27 – In a move that seems sure to receive widespread support even though it is not technically a unilateral decision, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that video replays will be used at the 2018 World Cup.
SportPesa bets on La Liga to grow brand and stimulate talent in Africa
April 27 – Kenyan-based online gaming firm SportPesa has expanded its football sponsorships in Europe becoming the official African betting partner of Spain’s La Liga in a three-year deal.
Thinking big. Warner counter sues CONCACAF’s $20m with $40m claim, names Gulati
By Paul Nicholson
April 26 – Five days after CONCACAF filed a lawsuit in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, claiming $20 million in damages against former executives Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer, Warner has responded by saying he will file a suit against CONCACAF for $40 million claiming “persistent defamation” of character. He also says he is suing US Soccer Federation president and FIFA Council member Sunil Gulati personally.
British and French police swoop to arrest tax fraudsters in player transfer scandals
April 26 – Professional football in England and France has been plunged into a tax fraud scandal with a number of arrests following raids linked to alleged transfer activity going back several years.
FIFA and Russians say press are free to report Confed Cup without ‘any restrictions’
By Andrew Warshaw
April 26 – FIFA has rejected German accusations that it is restricting press freedom during this summer’s Confederations Cup in Russia, the traditional World Cup warm-up tournament.
France’s LFP chiefs unveil battle plan to break into Europe’s Big 4
By Paul Nicholson
April 26 – French league president Nathalie Boy de la Tour and general secretary Didier Quillot have unveiled a new strategic plan for the French Football League (LFP) that will take them through to 2022 and close the gap on the English, Spanish, German and Italian leagues.
CONMEBOL find $150m hole in accounts, auditors blame Paraguayan Leoz
By Samindra Kunti
April 26 – CONMEBOL’s internal audit has revealed an unaccounted gap of $150 million as the organisation seeks to establish the full-scale damage of corruption.
Tension in Hong Kong as Guangzhou fans unveil ‘Annihilate British Dogs’ banner
By Andrew Warshaw
April 26 – One of China’s leading teams, big-spending Guangzhou Evergrande, face an investigation after the club’s fans unfurled a provocative banner in an Asian Champions League match describing Hong Kong’s independence movement as ‘poison’ and carrying the words: ‘Annihilate British Dogs’.
Ajax to rename Amersterdam ArenaA to celebrate club legend Johan Cruyff
April 26 – Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam will rename their stadium in honor of their greatest player Johan Cruyff, who died in 2016. Cruyff passed away on March 24 last year following a battle with lung cancer, he would have turned 70 yesterday.
News analysis: Of Qataris, Uncle Toms and Asian do-gooders
By James Dostoyevsky
When Saoud Al-Mohannadi, the Qatari official who was disqualified from standing as an Asian member of FIFA’s ruling Council won a landmark appeal – well timed so that he couldn’t run for office next month – the (football) world was mighty surprised. His was a rare, a very rare, case for the FIFA Appeals Committee to overturn the “independent” FIFA Ethics machine, not merely by reducing a sanction but by vacating it entirely.
Will Toon Army mobilise on social media or will Man Utd continue to paint it Red?
April 25 – Newcastle United’s re-ascent to the Premier League will immediately catapult the club into ninth place in the Premier League social media rankings, but is it a position that perhaps reflects the under achievement of what is undoubtedly one of England’s most passionately supported clubs?
Hull still seeking Chinese fortune while Everton ponder loan cash
By Paul Nicholson
April 25 – A leading executive of one of Hull City’s suitors for club ownership has been arrested in Hong Kong raising questions over the progress of the sale that has been on-going since the start of the season.
Multi-club ownership finds new frontiers and strategies for investors
By Paul Nicholson
April 25 – Multi-club ownership has gained an increased profile with City Football Group’s (CFG) recent addition of Atlético Torque (Uruguay) to their portfolio, while Atlético de Madrid have invested in Atlético San Luis (Mexico) and AS Monaco have agreed to acquire Cercle Brugge KSV (Belgium). But is it the pathway to financial profit?
Olympiacos title confirmed as they and AEK appeal closed-door sanctions
April 25 – Olympiacos have had their Greek league title win, the club’s 44th, confirmed after a hearing into reported fan trouble after a Greek Cup semi-final first leg match against AEK Athens resulted in a four game sanction for both clubs to play behind closed doors.
Bayern call for Merkel to intervene over ‘brutal actions’ of Spanish police
April 25 – In an unusual move, Bayern Munich have approached the office of German chancellor Angela Merkel to officially request an official explanation from the Spanish authorities for the behaviour of their police during last week’s Champions League quarter-final in Madrid.