CFG’s Soriano targets India for next club acquisition
March 5 – India is the latest untapped footballing country targeted by the owners of Manchester City to expand their international portfolio.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Show me the money. Ashley takes Newcastle United sale board down until someone can
March 5 – Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley (pictured) has reportedly taken the club off the market following the failure of potential buyers to meet his terms.
Houllier, LeBlanc and Pires join as ambassadors for social initiative AFDP Global
March 5 – AFDP Global, the international social enterprise set up to use football as a tool for change in deprived communities, has appointed its first three ambassadors.
ESPN swoops for MLS rights in South American and Caribbean
March 5 – ESPN has replaced Fox Sports as the Major League Soccer Spanish-language rights holder in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of a four-year deal until 2022.
Zoom focuses on Man City to drive international expansion
March 5 – US video communications provider Zoom has signed on to become Manchester City’s Official Enterprise Video Communications Partner in what is described as a multi-year deal. No figure has been put on the partnership.
Sunderland target football fanbase in North Korea
March 5 – Overseas branches of football clubs are nothing new but English tier-three Sunderland have gone where few, if any, have so far sought to tread.
Cashed out: FIFA hands former senior VP and OFC boss Chung 6.5 year ban
By Andrew Warshaw
March 4 – Almost a year after resigning as head of the Oceania Football Confederation citing “personal reasons”, David Chung has been banned from the sport for 6.5 years for financial wrongdoing, reportedly over the awarding of contracts for the construction of the OFC headquarters in New Zealand.
IFAB adds clarity to handball rule, and clamps down on subs time wasting
March 4 – Football’s lawmakers have agreed on a new definition of handball in order to end confusion over what constitutes deliberate contact
SIGA unveil first speakers for Sport Integrity Forum V in New York, March 26
March 4 – Former FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan and former Barcelona player and Bulgarian national team legend Hristo Stoichkov will be among the speakers at the SIGA Sport Integrity Forum, March 26, at the New York Athletic Club, New York.
Infantino suggests joint Korean bid for 2023 Women’s World Cup is on the cards
March 4 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has hinted at a potential joint Korean bid for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Australia, Japan, South Africa and New Zealand have already expressed their interest in hosting the tournament.
Man City battle new wave of FFP allegations over owner-inflated sponsorship deals
March 4 – Manchester City are under the spotlight off the field once again amid fresh allegations suggesting they bent the rules over Financial Fair Play following a new wave of leaked emails reported by German publication Der Spiegel.
MLS opens with losses for champions Atlanta and new Cincinnati franchise
March 4 – Defending champions Atlanta United opened the 24th Major League Soccer season and coach Frank de Boer’s reign with a 2-0 loss away at DC United. MLS new boys FC Cincinnati had a difficult first day in the league, while MLS commissioner Don Garber said the league could introduce legalised sports gambling.
Beckham statue unveiled at LA Galaxy on opening day of MLS season
March 4 – A statue of former England captain David Beckham was unveiled outside the stadium of LA Galaxy before their opening game in the new MLS season at the weekend.
Tebas in China to support new LaLiga/CSL strategic deal
March 4 – LaLiga reinforced its commitment to Chinese expansion over the weekend with president Javier Tebas in the country for the opening day of the Chinese Super League (CSL) season.
J.League enters esports with 40 clubs to compete on Konami’s PES platform
March 4 – Japan’s J.League is the latest big league to announce it is entering the competitive esports arena with it clubs lined up to play in tournament on Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) game. Other leagues have generally opted for the EA Sports FIFA 19 platform.