Argentina’s new top brass head for Zurich in bid to get Messi ban halved
April 18 – Lionel Messi could have his four-match international suspension halved at an appeal hearing next month, according to Argentina reports.
World Football
Bastia fans twice invade pitch forcing Lyons match to be abandoned
April 17 – A French Ligue 1 match between Bastia and Lyon was abandoned at the weekend after the Corsican home fans twice invaded the pitch to try and attack opposition players.
Six World Cup stadia become part of corruption probe into Brazilian construction scandal
By Samindra Kunti
April 14 – Six out of Brazil’s 12 World Cup stadiums were constructed amid financial irregularities, according to documents from construction giant Odebrecht as Brazil’s large corruption scandal Lava Jato (operation car wash) deepens further.
Violent clashes delay start of Lyon vs Besiktas Europa League quarter-final
April 14 – Clashes between French and Turkish fans delayed a Europa League quarter-final kick off by 45 minutes on Thursday before Lyon came from behind to beat Besiktas 2-1, throwing into question next week’s return leg in Istanbul.
Chiyangwa calls for AFCON rights to be stripped from Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Guinea
By Andrew Warshaw
April 13 – Ambitious Zimbabwean FA leader Philip Chiyangwa, who heads the 14-strong Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA), has written to the new head of African football to officially protest over the manner in which hosting rights for the African Cup of Nations were handled by the previous regime.
Mexican opinion rebels against 2026 bid pact as ‘crumbs’ and a lack of ‘respect’
April 13 – Mexican players and commentators have reacted with irritation verging on anger at the decision to hand the country only 10 of the 80 matches at the 2026 World Cup if the tournament, as expected, goes to CONCACAF.
Dortmund complain UEFA gave players no choice over rescheduled Monaco game
By Andrew Warshaw
April 13 – Handed a rare home defeat in their re-arranged Champions League quarterfinal first leg, Borussia Dortmund have thrown the book at UEFA claiming European football’s governing body “totally ignored” the players’ state of mind following the previous day’s explosions near the team bus that led to the fixture being postponed for a mere 24 hours.
EFL clubs confirm introduction of goalline technology for next season
April 13 – Goalline technology will be used in this season’s English Championship play-offs before being introduced in all second-tier matches in 2017-18.
Drogba joins Bravo at USL’s Phoenix Rising with sights set on MLS
April 13 – Former Ivory Coast, Chelsea and most recently Montreal Impact forward Didier Drogba has become the biggest name to join US challenger league the USL, the second tier of professional football in the US.
Relaxed but eerie atmosphere in Dortmund as fans and clubs return to CL business
By Samindra Kunti in Dortmund
April 12 – It should have been a 90-minute football fest of supremely gifted talents, coached by Thomas Tuchel and Leonardo Jardim, two of the best in the business.
Fans, players and officials show solidarity in aftermath of Dortmund bus bomb
By Andrew Warshaw
April 12 – The football world has reacted with shock and dismay after Tuesday’s Champions League tie between Borussia Dortmund and Monaco had to be postponed because of three explosions close to the Dortmund team bus.
African music for European club ears. Ahmad considers shifting AFCON’s Jan dates
April 12 – The new president of African football, Ahmad Ahmad, has hinted that he is open to the idea of changing the dates of the African Cup of Nations, the confederation’s flagship event.
US, Canada and Mexico outline 2026 bid plans with Trump on board and 60 games in US
By Andrew Warshaw
April 11 – An expanded tournament to 48 teams, Gianni Infantino’s encouragement for a return to co-hosting and the re-establishment of rotation. It has all played very nicely into the hands of CONCACAF whose three biggest members have, as expected, now officially announced their intention to bid for the 2026 World Cup.
Ahmad set to put Lagardère deal back in play, but is he gambling CAF’s security?
By Paul Nicholson
April 10 – Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Ahmad has said he believes the 12-year deal signed with Lagardère Sports for $1 billion was for too long a term, might have been too cheap and that he is going to revisit this agreement.
CONCACAF rejigs Council and trumpets a year of ‘transition’
April 10 – CONCACAF, whose corrupt US officials and marketing representatives wrought one half of the storm that has decimated FIFA, held their 32nd Congress on the relative calm of the Caribbean island of Aruba at the weekend. Top of their agenda was the election of representatives to their own Council as well as to the FIFA Council.