CAF suspends its flagship club competitions
April 20 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed its two major clubs finals in May because of the coronavirus pandemic.
News
Brighton owner says relegation would be unfair if Premier League season fails to resume
April 20 – Relegation from the Premier League will probably be scrapped if the season ends with no more play because of the coronavirus outbreak, according to Brighton and Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom.
Denmark’s Midtjylland plans for drive-in match days once league returns
April 20 – A Danish club has come up with an ingenious way of letting fans watch games live when the league there eventually resumes: Drive-in football.
Mexico’s Liga MX ends promotion/relegation for 5 years. Ascensio MX to be development league
April 20 – Liga MX’s 18 clubs, meeting via video conference, have suspended promotion and relegation between the top tier and second tier, Ascenso MX, for the next five years.
Premier League in limbo as clubs wait for government guidelines
April 17 – English Premier League clubs say they still remain committed to finishing the current season but have stopped short of imposing a June 30 deadline for a resumption while lockdown restrictions remain in place because of Covid-19.
TTFA’s unloved Home of Football opens as Covid-19 facility, Wallace on CAS deadline
By Paul Nicholson
April 17 – Controversially not considered of high enough standard to house Trinidad’s footballers, the recently opened and rapidly closed Trinidad and Tobago FA’s Home of Football is now to be used as a facility in the islands’ battle against the coronavirus.
French draw line under amateur game, but leave opening to complete Ligue 1, 2 and women
April 17 – French amateur football won’t return this season, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Thursday. The fate of both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 and the women’s top flight continue to remain in doubt.
UEFA to meet next week on Champions League and Europa League finish dates
April 17 – UEFA is holding a pivotal meeting of its executive committee next week which could finally decide how to conclude this season’s Champions League and Europa League with reports suggesting the two finals could take place at the end of August at their scheduled venues, Istanbul and Gdansk.
Former FIFA ethics judge Eckert questions ‘confusion’ of Infantino/Lauber meetings
By Andrew Warshaw
April 17 – Former FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, removed three years ago by the FIFA Council led by Gianni Infantino, has added his voice to speculation over the motives of undocumented meetings between Infantino and Switzerland’s attorney general Michael Lauber.
EFL’s Parry says priority is completing season, most likely behind closed doors on live TV
April 17 – Clubs from England’s Football League (EFL), the three divisions below the Premier League, have been told that all matches will probably be played behind closed doors when fixtures resume – but, crucially, that they should be broadcast live.
Concacaf’s Montagliani says Nations League will finish, but 2022 qualifiers need re-jig
By Paul Nicholson
April 16 – Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has said that the confederation is committed to completing the Final 4 play-offs to decide its first Nations League champions, but that it will likely have to rethink the qualification process for its 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Concacaf sets up Caribbean professional league working group
April 16 – Concacaf have taken steps to explore the potential for a Caribbean professional league with the setting up of pro-league working group. It will begin its work in earnest once the coronavirus crisis eases.
US Soccer disbands academy licensing and league structure
April 16 – U.S. Soccer has announced it is closing down the federation’s development academy structure saying the decision was due to the financial impact of the coronavirus. The shutdown will have immediate effect.
Blatter says FIFAgate allegations of World Cup vote buying should force a rethink
By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter says Qatar should be stripped of the 2022 World Cup as a result of the latest FIFAgate revelations, with the United States best-placed to step in as replacement hosts.
Player contract costs may force Premier League clubs to end season by June 30, or not at all
April 16 – English Premier League clubs are to meet tomorrow (Friday) to discuss, among other things, placing a June 30 deadline on the 2019-20 season because of the thorny issue of player contracts.