UEFA issues licensing tender for official club comp headphones
April 10 – UEFA has issued a licensing rights tender for the creation of UEFA club competition branded headphones and speakers.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Exclusive: CAF accused of cover-up to protect Ahmad from facing corruption questions
By Andrew Warshaw
April 9 – Moves to hold African football chief Ahmad Ahmad to account following a string of damaging corruption allegations appear to have been blocked by his own inner circle.
Conmebol still to confirm 2020 Copa America hosting as doubts over Argentina increase
By Paul Nicholson and Samindra Kunti
April 9 – Conmebol will finally decide where it intends to play its 2020 Copa America this week – the competition is also being played this summer in Brazil and is switching its staging to even numbered years in 2020.
€3.5bn Champions League fat cats all set for another mega-money feed
April 9 – The eight UEFA Champions League quarter finalists generated a total of generated total revenue of €3.5 billion in 2017/18. The FC Barcelona versus Manchester United will be the richest tie in the history of UEFA competition – the clubs generated a combined €1.4 billion.
Sacramento’s MLS bid boosted by city’s financial buy-in
April 9 – It is almost make or break for Sacramento and its longstanding Major League Soccer aspirations this month, but the California club has received a timely boost from the city, with local government proposing a financial package to support the team.
Al-Khater says Qatar 2020 still at 32-teams, though feasibility study for 48 is in play
April 9 – Qatar has indicated it will not be pressured into having the 2022 World Cup expanded to 48 teams against its will.
Crystal Palace’s Eagles stoop to £35m loss as player trading turns red
By David Owen
April 9 – Crystal Palace, the Premier League’s penalty kings, have reported a substantial 2017-18 loss, as the cost of last season’s successful survival push under former England boss Roy Hodgson took its toll on financial performance.
68% of Premier League goals scored by foreign players. Wolves buy in 97.4% of their goals
April 9 – More than 68% of goals in the Premier league are scored by foreign players. In a ranking of European leagues the Premier League came third out of 27, behind Cyprus (86.7%) and Turkey (80.7%).
Pele given clean bill of health and released from Parisian hospital
April 9 – Pele, arguably the game’s most revered living legend, has been released from hospital in Paris after falling ill whilst attending a sponsor event in the French capital.
UEFA delivers FedEx Express to national team sponsorship programme
April 9 – UEFA has signed a new four-year deal with FedEx Express who will sponsor a series of European national team football tournaments including being designated as the Official Logistics partner of Euro2020.
Manchester City parent CFG reports another £44.8m loss
By David Owen
April 8 – City Football Group Limited (CFG), the Abu Dhabi- and Chinese-owned entity that holds investments in various football clubs including Premier League giants Manchester City, has posted a £44.8 million loss from continuing operations for the year to 30 June 2018.
European Leagues body wary of revamp to UEFA club competition format
By Andrew Warshaw
April 8 – Having seemingly patched up their differences, Europe’s top leagues are back on a potential collision course with UEFA over plans to revamp the Champions League.
Colombian government gives support to 2020 Copa America co-hosting
April 8 – The Colombian government has given its support to the co-hosting of the 2020 Copa America ahead of Tuesday’s Conmebol Executive Committee meeting in Rio de Janeiro.
Owner folds former I-League champions Minerva Punjab claiming AIFF ‘sabotage’
By Samindra Kunti
April 8 – In a shock announcement, Minerva Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj has announced that the former I-League champions will shut operations after what he considers obstruction from the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Infantino uses AFC platform to keep up pressure for 48-team Qatar 2022
April 8 – Gianni Infantino has upped the ante once again in his bid to gain global support for his controversial plan to change the landscape of club world football as well as expand the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams.