Faulkner takes comms lead at ECA
May 4 – The European Club Association (ECA) has appointed former UEFA official Rob Faulkner as its new director of communications and marketing.
World Football
Brazil’s breakaway league ‘Libra’ signs key Rio and Sao Paulo clubs, talks ongoing with 14 others
By Samindra Kunti
May 4 – Brazilian football is moving rapidly towards the launch of the breakaway league ‘Libra’ with six of the country’s biggest clubs now signed up.
UEFA ends Russian women’s Euro 22 hopes as participation doors slammed shut across the sport
By Andrew Warshaw
May 3 – Any hopes Russia may have had of returning to the global footballing fold have been dashed by a swathe of strict new sanctions imposed by UEFA in the wake of the continued invasion of Ukraine.
Real Madrid’s LaLiga title makes it a Big 5-out-of-5 league wins for Ancelotti
May 3 – Carlo Ancelotti has become the first manager to capture the league title in each of Europe’s top five leagues – England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France.
Draw for Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July pairs Nigeria and Africa in same group
May 3 – Paired in the same group, Nigeria and South Africa will headline the first round of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July.
Out of contract. Super agent Mino Raiola dies, aged 54
May 3 – One of the game’s most colourful and controversial figures, football agent Mino Raiola died at the age of 54, his family confirmed on Saturday.
Senegal fined after World Cup 2022 qualifying win over Egypt
May 3 – FIFA has ordered Senegal to play one competitive match behind closed doors and has fined Senegal’s FA CHF175,000 for fan disorder at a World Cup playoff game, including shining laser pointers at Liverpool’s Egyptian star striker Mohamed Salah.
European Leagues says UEFA’s new UCL format will damage domestic competitions
By Andrew Warshaw
April 29 – Europe’s major leagues have rekindled the fierce debate over the future format of the Champions League by urging UEFA to change tack in order to protect domestic football.
Barca greenlighted for €1.5bn Nou Camp renovation
April 29 – FC Barcelona have been given the green light by local authorities to begin work on redeveloping the Nou Camp, with the renovation expected to finish in the 2025-26 season.
Fiji to host OFC Women’s Nations Cup, winners earn 2023 World Cup play-off
April 29 – Fiji will host the OFC Women’s Nations Cup 2022 in July with the winner earning a spot for the inter-continental playoffs on the road to the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
UEFA warms to centralised ‘final four’ for Champions League
April 28 – European governing body UEFA is contemplating a ‘final four’ for the Champions League to replace the current, classic two-legged semi-finals and flagship final model.
Premier League vs LaLiga: Man City and Liverpool take UCL semi-final leads to Spain
April 28 – A second straight all-English Champions League final is on the cards after Liverpool swept aside Villarreal 2-0 in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday.
Pumas face Seattle test after late Sounders penalty keeps Concacaf CL final boiling
April 28 – Seattle Sounders kept themselves in the fight for the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League title after two late goals earned them a draw against Pumas in Mexico City last night.
LaLiga rethinks academy structures in bid to boost player pipelines
April 28 – LaLiga is planning an overhaul of its clubs’ academy structures via a new initiative titled the ‘National Plan forthe Optimisation and Improvement of Youth Academies’.
Swedish lottery gives support to FA’s street football initiative
April 28 – Swedish lottery operator Svenska Spel has expanded its football activity with the allocation funds to support a number of street football projects across the country being developed by the Swedish Football Association (SvFF).