Pele hospitalised in Paris but full recovery expected
April 5 – Brazilian football legend and three-time World Cup winner Pele has been admitted to a Paris hospital with an infection, but is expected to make a full and quick recovery.
News
Colombian women return to international play with Peru win
April 5 – Colombia women’s team have returned to the international fray with a 2-1 friendly win over Peru. They hadn’t played a competitive game for nine months.
Brazil’s CBF to downsize state championships by two match days
April 4 – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is considering a plan to downsize the regional state championships by at least two match days next season in order to avoid future conflicts with Brazilian national team fixtures.
Hillsborough police chief could face retrial, Sheffield Wednesday club secretary guilty
April 4 – The jury in the trial of the police chief facing allegations related to the 1989 Hillsborough stadium tragedy has been unable to reach a verdict with the prosecution now calling for a retrial.
Real Madrid unveil €525m Santiago Bernabeu refurb
April 4 – Real Madrid have unveiled plans for a refurbished €525 million Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with club president Florentino Perez vowing the renovation will create the best stadium in the world.
World Cup drives FIFA to top of IF social media performance ranking
By Paul Nicholson
April 4 – A survey of social media activity of international sports governing bodies has ranked FIFA as the best performing international federation (IF) across all platforms. The survey last year ranked FIFA in 10th place.
MyCujoo seals deals with Instagram giant 433, Japan’s Nadeshiko League and OFC
April 4 – Football streaming platform MyCujoo, has teamed up with 433, the largest Instagram account in the world, to share content with 433’s 35 million followers.
Beckham’s Inter Miami faces law suit from Inter Milan over use of name
April 4 – David Beckham’s dream of building an MLS franchise have hit a legal snag over trademark rights with reports from Italy that Inter Milan are planning to sue MLS over the name of Beckham’s proposed club – Inter Miami CF.
Time warp: Grindel steps down from DFB over earnings scandal and a Ukrainian watch
By Andrew Warshaw
April 3 – German Football Association president Reinhard Grindel, one of European football’s most influential figures who continually banged the drum for greater transparency and accountability, has himself been forced to resign after being embroiled in a domestic scandal.
LUNA Bar brand steps in to pay US women’s team bonus to match men ‘s pay
By Samindra Kunti
April 3 – On Equal Pay day in the United States, the national women’s team received a financial boost through a pledge from LUNA Bar to pay each member of the World Cup squad a bonus to equal that of their male counterparts.
Racism: Ceferin tells refs to be ‘brave’, follow protocol and stop games
April 3 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has urged referees to be brave enough to halt matches in order to help stamp out an alarming resurgence of racism from fans. Ceferin opened a UEFA conference on discrimination on Tuesday, organised in conjunction with England’s Football Association, and believes it is time officials took the plunge and abided by UEFA protocol.
Spurs debut tonight in their gleaming new £1bn palace
By Andrew Warshaw
April 3 – It’s been a long and at times infuriatingly frustrating time coming, especially for the fans.
Wood becomes first female president of New Zealand FA
April 3 – Johanna Wood has been elected the first female president of New Zealand Football (NZF) in an overhaul of the ruling body’s governance following a tumultuous 2018.
Jamaica to host Group openers as expanded Gold Cup spreads its wings
April 3 – Concacaf have officially announced Jamaica as one of the host venues for the 2019 Gold Cup this summer with the National Stadium in Kingston to host a double-header on June 17 that will include the Jamaican national team.
New Milan stadium in doubt as mayor says he prefers a revamp of San Siro
April 2 – Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala has spoken of his preference for the cities’ clubs to renovate the San Siro rather than construct a new stadium, leaving future plans over the venue in doubt.