Foul business: Mexican and Colombian leagues top ranking of lost game time
March 9 – A ranking of 38 leagues worldwide by stoppage due to fouls has found Latin American leagues lose on average more than 15 minutes a game.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Al-Khelaifi and Valcke back in court to face Swiss prosecutors’ appeal in World Cup case
March 8 – More than a year after launching an appeal to try and win their case against former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke and football broadcasting boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Swiss prosecutors finally saw the trial get under way Monday, based around bribery charges relating to World Cup media rights.
FIFA allow foreign players to leave Russia and its clubs, but not terminate contracts
March 8 – Foreign players based in Russia are being allowed to leave their clubs for the rest of the season without being punished.
Iraq to host UAE in only the second World Cup qualifier on home soil for 11 years
March 8 – Iraq are returning to Iraq for their final home fixture in March in the AFC Asian Qualifiers for Qatar 2022, the first time they have played a match on home soil in the qualifying campaign.
CFG bid €180m for control of Brazilian champions Atletico Mineiro
By Samindra Kunti
March 8 – City Football Group (CFG), owners of Manchester City and a slate of clubs around the world, is bidding to take over Brazilian champions Atletico Mineiro.
Scotland vs Ukraine World Cup qualifier pushed back beyond March
March 8 – Scotland’s World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine has been postponed with FIFA and UEFA now seeking a way of rescheduling the entire Path A playoffs.
Turkish SuperLig TV deal goes to the lower bidder…
March 8 – The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has turned down the highest broadcast bid for the domestic TV rights to the SuperLig, instead preferring to go with an offer that is $50 million below the $150 million beIN/Digiturk had put on the table.
AFC harnesses 39 MAs for 8th edition of International Women’s Day celebrations
March 8 – The AFC, who completed their expanded women’s national team championship in India last month, are celebrating International Women’s Day with 39 of their member associations via a series of activities focussed on grassroots levels.
Madrid court rules against Real Madrid and Barca’s bid to pause LaLiga Impulso funding
March 8 – The challenge by Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Athletic Club to LaLiga Impulso, the joint venture that will see CVC Capital Partners inject about €1 billion into the league, has suffered a new blow in court.
Delta land first women’s deal with NWSL
March 8 – Delta Air Lines and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the US have agreed to a multi-year partnership that sees the global air carrier become the league’s first official airline and travel partner.
Chinese show their colours with ban on Premier League broadcasts over Ukraine protests
March 7 – English Premier League matches were blocked by Chinese broadcasters last weekend because of widespread displays of solidarity for Ukraine.
Mexicans suspend Liga MX after gruesome fan violence in Queretaro
March 7 – The Liga MX match Queretaro vs Atlas was suspended after horrific violence in and around the stadium, with reports of multiple casualties and dozens of injured fans.
Monaco owner Rybolovlev escapes sanctions, for now
March 7 – AS Monaco president and Russian oligarch Dimitri Rybolovlev will not have to relinquish his ownership of the French club after his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
European Leagues body expels Russian members over Ukraine crisis
March 7 – Europe’s leagues have moved to expel the Russian Premier League and the Football National League of Russia from their association.
Puma gets the ball rolling with Serie A, taking Nike deal from next season
March 7 – Sports leisurewear and kit supplier Puma took a deeper step into the business of supplying official match balls with a deal with Serie A to become the league’s technical partner from the start of the 2022/23 season.