Coronavirus: Conmebol postpone 2021 Copa America
March 18 – Just like its European equivalent, South America’s flagship tournament, the Copa America, has been postponed from this year to 2021 because of the coronavirus outbreak.
News
CAF postpone CHAN in Cameroon in April, but award May club finals
March 18 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN), an international tournament with domestic-based players only, amid growing concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Covid-19 forces UEFA to postpone Euro 2020 until summer 2021
By Andrew Warshaw
March 17 – UEFA has postponed Euro 2020 for a year until June 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic following an emergency video conference involving their 55 member nations plus the bodies representing Europe’s clubs and leagues.
Coronavirus in Europe: League by league operational status
March 17 – The umbrella body for Europe’s leagues says not a single one of its members are playing competitive football normally as a result of the coronavirus.
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.
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.
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.
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.