Bundesliga teams with Lagardère and Supponor for virtual ads on international broadcasts
March 14 – The Bundesliga is to introduce virtual advertising over its international broadcast feeds from the start of next season.
News
Morocco woos West Asian 2026 vote as Nascimento calls for African solidarity
March 13 – With just days to go before the two 2026 World Cup contenders have to hand in their bid books to FIFA, Moroccan officials have met with a key group of Asian nations to try and gain crucial support ahead of the vote in June.
Greek government steps in to suspend Super League indefinitely
March 13 – Greece’s Super League has been suspended “indefinitely” by the Greek government following the pitch intervention in a top of the table clash between PAOK and AEK Athens by Ivan Savvidis, owner of PAOK. Savvidis entered the field carrying a holstered handgun on his hip and allegedly threatened the referee after a 90th minute goal was disallowed.
Germans bring in Burson-Marsteller Sport for ‘top priority’ EURO 2024 bid campaign
March 13 – The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Burson-Marsteller Sport to advise on international strategy and communication for its bid to host the 2024 European Championships.
Nervous tension as spectre of England being pulled out of 2018 World Cup looms
March 13 – When British foreign secretary Boris Johnson first raised the notion of England boycotting this summer’s World Cup in protest at what has been dubbed spy-gate, he was roundly condemned and his office was quick to issue a clarification saying he meant officials and politicians rather than the team itself.
Webb loses appeal against $1m FIFA fine
March 13 – Former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb has lost an appeal against a CHF1 million ($1.05 million) fine imposed on him by FIFA for his part in the corruption scandal that left the governing body of the game in tatters.
1.3m tickets for Russia 2018 allocated as sales restart today
March 13 – FIFA have confirmed that 568,448 tickets have been allocated following the second random selection draw sales window from 5 December to 31 January, on top of the 735,168 tickets allocated during the first sales phase, making a total of 1,303,616 tickets allocated to date.
West Ham mayhem plays out to a packed house
March 13 – West Ham’s London Stadium bubble has well and truly burst after the scenes last weekend where pitch invasions and a toxic atmosphere from an increasingly disaffected supporter base is turning the Premier League’s newest venue into its ugliest. Even so, the stadium was still packed to its 57,000 capacity.
Gun-slinging PAOK owner Savvidis threatens referee at Greek Super League clash
By Paul Nicholson and Andrew Warshaw
March 12 – Greek’s football chaos took an ugly turn for the worse on Sunday after gun-carrying PAOK owner Ivan Savvidis stormed on to the pitch to threaten a referee after a goal was disallowed in the top of the table clash with AEK Athens.
Set for a hammering: West Ham lose control as pitch invasions leave club facing sanctions
March 12 – English Premier League club West Ham United face serious sanctions after a number of fans invaded the pitch during Saturday’s crushing home defeat by Burnley that sent the London club closer towards the relegation zone.
Belgian outreach: Monaco’s Cercle Brugges win promotion, Qatar’s Eupen secure status
March 12 – Cercle Brugge gained promotion to the Belgian top flight following a tense 3-1 play-off win against Beerschot Wilrijk. KAS Eupen prolonged their stay in the Pro League with a thumping 4-0 victory over Mouscron.
Rwanda pull out of bid to host 2019 U17 World Cup
March 12 – Rwanda have withdrawn their bid to host the 2019 U-17 World Cup, the country’s FA president confirmed.
Brazilian politico promotes bill to make VAR compulsory
March 9 – Brazilian federal representative Edson Moreira has designed a bill that would make the use of the video referee compulsory in Brazil’s professional competitions. In February, Brazil’s elite clubs voted against the use of VAR.
UEFA charge PSG and Basel for fan disturbances
March 8 – UEFA have charged Paris St- Germain and Basel following their fans’ behaviour during their respective Champions League last-16 matches this week.
Blatter wants FIFA Ethics to take another look, says United 2026 bid is nailed on
March 9 – Banned former FIFA president Sepp Blatter says he still hasn’t given up trying to clear his name and intends to ask the new-look FIFA ethics committee to reconsider his case and lift his six-year ban.