Pep’s pushy protestations put him on penalty path, Liverpool already there
April 12 – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been charged with improper conduct following during Tuesday’s Champions League defeat by Liverpool.
World Football
Caboclo keeps Brazilian clubs on the outside as he lays groundwork for CBF post-Del Nero
By Samindra Kunti
April 11 – The future president of the CBF, Rogerio Caboclo, has summoned presidents of Brazil’s state federations to fill four of the confederation’s vice-president roles in an early move to cement his political permanence.
Concacaf Champions League: Toronto face Chivas in revamped 2-leg final
April 11 – FIFA’s 2026 evaluation committee had only just left Mexico City and its Azteca stadium when the iconic venue returned to the real business of play in the Conacaf Champions League. Toronto FC endured a far tougher examination in the Azteca than the FIFA bid bods were likely to have given it.
Spanish delay voting on replacement for disgraced Villar until May
April 10 – The Spanish football federation (RFEF) has rescheduled the date for holding an election to finally replace disgrace former FIFA and UEFA veteran powerbroker Angel Villar.
OFC calls in lawyers as depth of Chung’s suspected corruption becomes public
By Andrew Warshaw
April 9 – Oceania football chief David Chung, who abruptly resigned last week, did so after an audit of his confederation found “potential irregularities” on a $20 million building project and funding was cut to the region by FIFA, it has been revealed.
Samoura steps in at Liberian FA demanding report on allegations of election abuses
By Paul Nicholson
April 9 – FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura has stepped into to the Liberian FA (LFA) election dispute asking general secretary Emmanuel Deah for a report on the allegations of rule breaking. Samoura has asked for the report to be delivered by April 9.
Renamed European Leagues says UEFA clubs payouts are increasing the big vs little gap
April 9 – Having seemingly made peace with UEFA after being handed a voice on its executive committee, the body comprising Europe’s major leagues is back on the offensive by criticising UEFA’s distribution model for the 2018-21 cycle, saying it only increases the gap between the haves and have-nots.
Concacaf picks Texas venue for finals of 2018 Women’s Championship
April 9 – Concacaf is to play its 2018 Women’s Championship in the US in three cities: Cary, N.C., Edinburg, Texas, and Frisco, Texas. The tournament will be played October 4-17.
Chung quits OFC presidency amid rumours of political and financial corruption
By Andrew Warshaw and Paul Nicholson
April 6 – David Chung, president of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and one of FIFA’s highest ranking officials, has resigned after seven years in the job. A short statement from the OFC said Chung, FIFA’s senior vice-president and an important ally in Gianni Infantino’s 2016 presidential election victory, took the decision “after much deliberation, citing personal reasons.”
Shot across the bows. Italian refs receive bullets in post after VAR protests
April 6 – Bullets have been sent in the post to three key figures at the Italian Referees’ Association, according to its president, amid fan protests over use of the video assistant referee system.
CFU Women’s Challenge Series 2018 is a ‘recommitment’ to female players in Caribbean
April 5 – The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) is championing its Women’s Challenge Series 2018 as a “recommitment to female players” in the region. The competition marks a return to locally organised game play in a forgotten region of world football that has been left emaciated, underfunded and excluded by political power plays at CONCACAF and FIFA level.
Liverpool charged by UEFA over fan assaults on Man City bus
April 6 – Liverpool have been charged by UEFA over the disturbances at their Champions League clash with Manchester City on Wednesday.
Bus battered: Liverpool apologise for fans attack on Man City team
April 5 – Liverpool have apologised to Manchester City after bottles were thrown at their team coach when they arrived for the all-English Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.
Scottish FA secure future at Hampden Park with agreement to buy
April 4 – Scotland looks set to secure their future at Hampden Park after League One club Queen’s Park agreed in principle to sell the ground to the Scottish FA.
Platini talks of plots, clowns, worthless judges and the all-conquering power of TV
April 3 – Michel Platini, not so long ago one of the most powerful men in world football who had aspirations to take over from Sepp Blatter as FIFA president until both were banned for ethics violations, has branded those who threw him out as “clowns” and “worthless judges” and told a French magazine that he will eventually be cleared of any wrongdoing.