April 1 – The European sponsorship market bounced back in 2021 with a 17.8% uplift after a slow 2020, but has not yet returned to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, according to the 2022 ESA Sponsorship Market Overview.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 31 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino, clearly anxious to steer a diplomatic line, deliberately sidestepped criticising Russia by name when addressing the war in Ukraine in front of the organisation’s global membership today.
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
March 31 – The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) president Lise Klaveness slammed FIFA for staging the World Cup in Qatar and the host country for its record on migrant workers and the LGBT Community.
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
March 31 – All India Football Federation president (AIFF) Praful Patel haș dismissed the idea that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are the frontrunners in the bidding race for the 2027 Asian Cup. Patel also rebutted strong criticism at home of overstaying as president of India’s governing body.
March 31 – FIFA has approved new loan regulations that will come into force in July in a bid to foster development in the game and prevent “hoarding” of players.
March 31 – Lightening almost struck twice. The US were knocked out of World Cup qualifying for Russia 2018 after losing to a better organised and prepared Trinidad and Tobago. Last night they hung on to their automatic 2022 qualification place on goal difference.
March 31 – While FIFA president Gianni Infantino was banging the drum for world peace, respect, and the power of football to help unify in times of conflict, news from Iran broke of women being pepper sprayed by Iranian authorities as they turned up for Iran’s final World Cup qualifier.
March 31 – The record for the highest attendance ever at a women’s football match was set last night in the Camp Nou in the second leg of the Champions League final between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
March 31 – FIFA has said that 804,186 tickets have been sold during first sales phase for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
March 31 – You know the tournament is getting closer when it is time to launch the official ball. FIFA sponsor Adidas has unveiled the new ball for Qatar 2022, named Al Rihla.
March 31 – After a three-year hiatus Manchester United are taking their fan engagement event back on the road with Miami, Florida, as the first stop on April 16.
By David Owen
March 30 – Everton, the Merseyside club in danger of losing its English top-flight status for the first time since the 1950s, has posted its third consecutive loss in excess of £100 million.
March 30 – Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco and Tunisia all booked their places at the World Cup finals Tuesday on a frantic night of final African play-off action.
March 30 – Iraqi dreams of progressing to the Qatar 2022 play-offs were shattered in the final round of Asian World Cup qualifying as they could only manage a 1-1 draw with Syria.
March 30 – Portugal and Poland booked their places at the World Cup finals on Tuesday night as the dreams of highly fancied Sweden and rank outsiders North Macedonia ended on what should have been the final European playoff games.