Sala plane crash report to be released
March 4 – The full report into circumstances of the crash that killed Argentine forward Emiliano Sala and his pilot will be released on March 13 according to British and French media.
Author: Paul Nicholson
NISA starts Spring season with New Jersey Teamsters to join league in 2021
March 4 – The US third tier National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) league, which has just started its Spring season having completed an inaugural Fall season last year, will have a new team in 2021 with the New Jersey Teamsters Football Club (NJTFC).
Ceferin puts ‘purpose over profit’ in hard-hitting UEFA address
By Andrew Warshaw
March 3 – Using language such as “sickened” and “death sentence”, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin pulled no punches today as he renewed his attack on racism and threats to the international calendar and UEFA’s competitions – issues that continue to be of grave concern to the administration of European football’s governing body.
Ahmad loses more senior staff as Hajji quits as CAF general secretary
By Paul Nicholson
March 3 – Crisis-hit Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken another blow with the resignation of Secretary General Mouad Hajji (pictured). Haji, a close confidant and supporter of CAF president Ahmad, had only been in the post since April 2019.
UEFA adamant that Covid-19 will not derail Euro 2020, yet
By Andrew Warshaw
March 3 – UEFA’s top brass were forced on the defensive today as they closed ranks over contingency plans for Euro 2020 – or lack of them – as a result of the spread of the coronavirus.
2023 Women’s World Cup bidders lobby for European backing
By Samindra Kunti in Amsterdam
March 3 – The bidding race for the 2023 Women’s World Cup is shifting gear. On the eve of the UEFA Congress in the Dutch capital, the four bids pitched their tournament plans to the European governing body’s Executive Committee.
Messi tops European ranking of ‘big’ chances created, ahead of Müller and de Bruyne
March 3 – Goals win matches, but you have to create the chances. Lionel Messi tops a ranking of players who create ‘big’ chances, making a significant goal opportunity every 90 minutes, according to data from the CIES Football Observatory looking at Europe’s Big 5 leagues.
Coronavirus precautions prompt Swiss to suspend top two divisions
March 3 – Swiss football authorities have suspended all matches in the country’s top two divisions because of the coronavirus, one of the strongest sporting reactions to date to try and combat the spread of the illness.
UEFA rewards Budapest with 2022 Europa League final and brings Russia in from the cold in 2023
By Samindra Kunti in Amsterdam
March 3 – Budapest will host the 2022 Europa League final, UEFA’s Executive Committee decided on Tuesday. The body also awarded various other European finals to Helsinki, Kazan, Turin and Eindhoven respectively.
Trabzonspor release Sturridge over four month ban for breaking betting rules
March 3 – Former England striker Daniel Sturridge has been banned from football for four months and fined £150,000 for breaching betting rules.
Cardiff owner Tan sells LAFC stake valuing MLS club at $700m
March 3 – Malaysian Vincent Tan, owner of Cardiff, has reportedly sold half his stake in Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Los Angeles FC (LAFC), valuing the club at a league high $700 million.
Calendar crisis: Inter boss Marotta fears Serie A season will be wiped out by Covid-19
March 2 – Italy’s Serie A season runs the risk of not being completed if more matches are postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak, according to Inter Milan’s chief executive Giuseppe Marotta.
Calendar issues mount as European leagues make contingencies for spread of Covid-19
By Andrew Warshaw
March 2 – Leagues across Europe are now under threat because of the coronavirus with scores of fixtures potentially being affected over the coming weeks and months according to the head of the leagues’ umbrella body.
IFAB tiptoes round VAR rules but handball laws and ‘concussion’ subs to get revisions
By Andrew Warshaw
March 2 – Football’s lawmakers have agreed to undertake a major review the offside law in order to “foster the spirit of attacking play” but no changes will happen for a year and little has otherwise been done to appease the growing clamour for tweaks to the VAR system.
Bayern fans’ anti-Hopp banner offends players who refuse to play on
March 2 – Bayern Munich, flying high both domestically and in Europe, have had to issue an apology after their fans shamed the club by displaying an insulting banner at Hoffenheim that led to a protest by players on both sides taking matters into their own hands by refusing to play on and simply swapped passes with each other for the last 13 minutes.