FIFA pushes public health messaging as Infantino says solidarity post-virus needed
March 17 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has urged football authorities worldwide to show responsibility in the wake of Covid-19.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Carioca and Paulista stop play as covid-19 spreads in Brazil
March 17 – The state federations of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have suspended their state championships following the CBF’s decision on Sunday to postpone matches indefinitely.
Coronavirus: England’s National League joins pro game in suspending play
March 17 – The National League, which comprises the fifth and sixth tiers of the English football pyramid immediately below the four professional leagues, has finally seen sense and joined the rest of the country – and beyond – in suspending games because of the spread of Covid-19.
Non-league clubs see attendances leap as England’s pro-leagues forced to take a break
March 17 – The cancellation of England ‘s four professional league last weekend was a gift for the country’s non-league teams who in the eight tier on average saw a 90% increase in attendance figures as fans switched to watching local teams.
Peugeot help drive Scottish elite youth performance teams
March 17 – Car manufacturer Peugeot has supplied the Scottish FA with a fleet of new cars and vans which will used by its elite youth coaching teams.
Coronavirus gives breathing space for Kane, Son, Pobga and Rashford to get fit
March 17 – Football may be in global lockdown and professional leagues suspended but for some clubs, the absence of competitive games is buying crucial time for injured stars to get fit again without missing any more action.
Sportradar and Australia’s NPL partner for OTT streaming platform
March 17 – Sportradar and Australia’s National Premier League have partnered to create and OTT streaming platform for football in Australia.
Leagues and FAs lobby to push Euros back 6+ months ahead of UEFA summit
By Andrew Warshaw
March 16 – On the eve of UEFA’s all-important video conference call with member federations and other key stakeholders to determine the fate of Euro 2020, signs are growing that the tournament will be postponed for either six months or a year.
Coronavirus: Swiss and Serb FA bosses have virus; 5 Valencia players test positive; Atalanta isolate
March 16 – The presidents of the Serb and Swiss federations have tested positive for the coronavirus – another headache for UEFA since both attended the recent 55-nation UEFA Congress in Amsterdam.
TTFA’s muddy kit deal reflects a federation that has spiralled out of financial control
By Paul Nicholson
March 16 – The financial crisis that has engulfed the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) since the election of its new president William Wallace looks unlikely to be eased by the federation’s new kit deal with little known UK appareil company AVEC.
Coronavirus backlog means Man City will have to wait for CAS hearing on suspension
March 16 – Manchester City’s appeal against their two-year ban from European football for allegedly breaking financial fair play rules is suddenly up in the air as a result of the coronavirus.
Sala crash pilot was not licensed to fly passengers
March 16 – The official report into the plane crash that tragically killed Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala has found the pilot was “not licensed” to fly the aircraft at the time of the accident.
Coronavirus: CBF acts after Brazilian clubs complain at being forced to play
March 16 – Following club protests, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has suspended all national football competitions for an indefinite period, but the state federations control the immediate future of state championships that dominate the domestic calendar until the end of April.
Up-for-sale Southampton post £30m loss
By David Owen
March 15 – Up-for-sale Southampton have become the latest Premier League club to serve notice that they tumbled into the red in 2018-19.
Celtic swap New Balance for Adidas in £30m, 5-year deal
March 16 – In March 2015 Scottish giants Celtic traded in Nike for another US firm, New Balance, as the club’s kit supplier in what was a record deal. Five years later New Balance is being replaced by Adidas in another new record deal.