Euro leagues chief Olsson dismisses FIFA medical boss as having ‘no idea’
April 30 – The head of the European Leagues umbrella body has hit back at FIFA’s medical chief for suggesting the season should be cancelled because of Covid-19.
News
Sex change: Locked down football fans swap live TV matches for bedroom action
April 30 – Football fans may be frustrated at not being able to watch their teams live but they are making up for it with more action in the bedroom, according to data from a new study.
Police chief sees consolidating games at stadia as an option but warns fans to stay away
April 30 – One of Britain’s most senior police officers has warned that football will be cancelled if fans attempt to congregate outside stadiums and contravene social distancing guidelines, if and when matches resume, and also suggests some games could be played at neutral venues.
Man Utd get ready Old Trafford trial for when it is safe to stand
April 30 – They might have to be 2m apart but the re-introduction of standing areas to Premier League grounds in England has taken a step closer with Manchester United confirming they have received approval from Trafford Council for a barrier seating trial to take place at Old Trafford.
French abandon any hope of restart after PM steps in to ban all football until September
By Andrew Warshaw
April 29 – France has become the first of the so-called Big Five leagues in Europe to scrap the rest of their season because of Covid-19, joining the Netherlands and Belgium in ending all domestic competition and throwing UEFA’s hopes of a co-ordinated resumption of play into disarray.
FIFA fury over collapse of Germany 2006 World Cup bribery case
By Andrew Warshaw
April 28 – In a rare intervention indicative of its frustration verging on anger, FIFA has slammed the collapse of the 2006 World Cup fraud trial in Switzerland that allowed three prominent former German football supremos to escape a verdict.
UEFA sets May 25 deadline for leagues to decide on season finishes
April 28 – Amidst growing frustration over the confused state of affairs throughout its membership, UEFA has imposed a May 25 deadline for European leagues to say whether or not they intend to complete or cancel their domestic seasons.
US investors Pacific Media Group add to club holdings with completion of KV Oostende buy
April 29 – After prolongated negotiations, American investment group Pacific Media Group (PMG) has become the new owner of struggling KV Oostende.
FIFA medical chief d’Hooghe says leagues should forget this season and plan for next
April 29 – FIFA’s chief medical expert has warned countries against resuming their seasons too early because of Covid-19 and believes it makes far more sense to prepare fully for next season instead.
EU players will need to pass ‘points’ test to play in the UK’s pro leagues
April 29 – Players from the European Union will have to go through a points-based system similar to that which currently applies to non-EU footballers before being allowed to play in the English Premier League under new proposals caused by Brexit.
Lauber under renewed pressure as 2006 World Cup fraud case runs out of time
By Andrew Warshaw
April 28 – Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber is facing calls for his resignation amidst accusations that the entire Swiss criminal justice system has been undermined over the botched 2006 World Cup tax fraud investigation. The case briefly came to trial following a five-year investigation but has now controversially collapsed.
Panama Papers, off-shore TV rights deals and Lauber meeting cover-ups return to bite Infantino
By Andrew Warshaw
April 28 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino is once again facing allegations of wrongdoing in his dealings with Switzerland’s under-fire attorney general Michael Lauber over a tv rights contract he handled when he worked as UEFA’s legal affairs director.
‘Project Restart’ gathers pace as Spurs open up, and season looks just a spit away
April 28 – As a fourth English top-flight team, Tottenham Hotspur, opened part of their training ground for light exercises on an individual basis, plans to resume the Premier League season are being stepped up in what has been labelled ‘Project Restart’.
Spanish law change gives LaLiga more flexibility in TV deal making
April 28 – LaLiga will have more flexibility in negotiating its broadcast deals following the Spanish government’s scrapping of a three-year licensing restriction on TV rights contracts.
FIFA proposes five sub option to spread player workloads
April 28 – Teams will be able to use up to five substitutes instead of the usual three under a new “temporary dispensation” proposal from FIFA to help with congested schedules and player overload.