Beckham statue unveiled at LA Galaxy on opening day of MLS season
March 4 – A statue of former England captain David Beckham was unveiled outside the stadium of LA Galaxy before their opening game in the new MLS season at the weekend.
Gold Cup 2025
Pochettino happy with USA’s new-found ‘fight’ but wary of the Guatemala challenge
July 2 – Having looked like a team that were struggling to find any cohesion or common purpose after four straight losses, including a miserable performance in March at the Concacaf Nations League final, suddenly the USA look as though, if not the real deal, they are certainly worth a reappraisal.
Tebas in China to support new LaLiga/CSL strategic deal
March 4 – LaLiga reinforced its commitment to Chinese expansion over the weekend with president Javier Tebas in the country for the opening day of the Chinese Super League (CSL) season.
J.League enters esports with 40 clubs to compete on Konami’s PES platform
March 4 – Japan’s J.League is the latest big league to announce it is entering the competitive esports arena with it clubs lined up to play in tournament on Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) game. Other leagues have generally opted for the EA Sports FIFA 19 platform.
Conmebol boss Dominguez dismisses USSF offer of a 2020 tournament on US soil
By Paul Nicholson and Samindra Kunti
March 1 – South American governing body Conmebol looks to be following the FIFA line and keeping the international calendar open for the world governing body’s proposed global competition revamp by rejecting U.S. Soccer’s offer to discuss participation in a cash-rich continental tournament in 2020 in the US.
AFC confirms candidates running for election at April Congress
By Samindra Kunti and Paul Nicholson
March 1 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed the final list of candidates who will stand for election at the 29th AFC Congress in Kuala Lumpur in April.
Turkish FA chief Demirören steps down over potential betting business conflict
March 1 – The president of Turkey’s FA, Yıldırım Demirören (pictured), has resigned amid questions over his business empire’s anticipated acquisition of the country’s only legal sports betting company, according to local reports.
Ramos played his cards wrong. UEFA flush him out with 2-game ban
March 1 – Cheats never prosper – as Sergio Ramos has found to his cost after being handed a two-game ban by UEFA “for clearly receiving a yellow card on purpose” during Real Madrid’s Champions League tie at Ajax.
Chelsea escape UEFA sanction over fan racism that ‘shamed the club’
March 1 – Chelsea will be breathing a huge sigh of relief at escaping the possibility of having to play behind closed doors after UEFA decided no action would be taken against the club for alleged anti-Semitic chanting by their fans in a Europa League game in Hungary in December.
Fulham part company with Ranieri after just 17 games in charge
March 1 – Claudio Ranieri, the manager who captured the imagination of the world by guiding Leicester City to one the most miraculous league titles in the history of English football just three years ago, has discovered to his cost that lightning rarely strikes twice after being sacked by relegation-threatened Fulham.
Dominican Republic’s FEDOFUTBOL in groundbreaking OTT tie-up with OZ Sports
By David Owen
March 1 – The Football Federation of the Dominican Republic (FEDOFUTBOL), to which a FIFA normalisation committee was appointed last November, has agreed a deal with the production company OZ Sports covering the country’s professional football league.
SIGA to hold Washington Special Session on female leadership in sport March 7
March 1 – SIGA will hold a Special Session on the importance of Female Leadership in Sport on Thursday, March 7, at the George Washington University, Marvin Center Amphitheater, in Washington.
FIFA’s broom still sweeping in Africa with Mozambique’s Mugadza banned
March 1 – FIFA’s flurry of sanctions against African footballing figures has continued, this time with a Mozambique federation official thrown out for 15 years for accepting bribes.
Infantino hints at delaying FIFA Council decisions on 48-team 2022 and £25bn sell-off
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Is Gianni Infantino beginning to feel the pinch over expanding the Qatar World Cup to 48 teams and pressing ahead with his $25 billion pet project to change the face of global competitions?
Puma and Man City owner CFG sign £320m+ multi-club kit deal
By Paul Nicholson
February 28 – City Football Group (CFG) owners of Manchester City, have signed a kit sponsorship with Puma which will see the sportswear company supply five of CFG’s clubs in what Puma says is its biggest deal ever.
Defiant Rosell granted bail as he battles to clear his name in on-going Madrid trial
February 28 – Former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has been released from prison on bail after 643 days in custody on charges of money laundering. He had been denied bail several times, but a defiant Rosell maintains his innocence.