Sport Recife beats Flamengo to 1987 title after 30-year dispute
April 20 – Talk about extra time! After a bitter 30-year dispute, Brazil’s Supreme Court has finally decided the winner of the 1987 league title: Sport Recife.
Perception and reality. Mutko blames FIFA for its sponsorship failings
By Andrew Warshaw
April 20 – Having suffered the humiliation of being thrown off FFA’s decision-making Council for failing an eligibility test, Russian football supremo Vitaly Mukto seems to be using every possibility to subtlety strike back at football’s world governing body.
Liverpool break new ground with Avon sponsorship of women’s team
April 20 – Liverpool Ladies Football Club have signed Avon as the women’s team shirt sponsor, the first time the shirt sponsorship has been sold separately to the men’s shirt sponsorship which is currently held by Standard Chartered.
Dortmund blame bus delay for a torrid night in Monaco
April 20 – Spare a thought for Borussia Dortmund’s players, staff and supporters after their Champions League elimination in the most unfortunate of circumstances.
Bility under fire again in Liberia as women walk out over broken cash promises
By Paul Nicholson
April 19 – Controversial Liberian FA president Musa Bility, who failed eligibility tests to stand for the FIFA presidency but who nevertheless engineered a position for himself on CAF’s executive committee, is under renewed pressure in Liberia with the women’s football league clubs pulling out en masse from the current season after multiple promises of financial support for the clubs never materialised.
Oceania back ‘pre-award’ of 2026 World Cup to US, Canada and Mexico
April 19 – Oceania have come out in favour of allowing the tripartite US, Canada and Mexico bid for co-hosting the 2026 World Cup to be speeded up.
Southampton’s £210m+ sale to Chinese investors is ‘on’, but to which group?
By Paul Nicholson
April 19 – The news that Lander Sports had pulled out of the £210 million+ acquisition of Premier League Southampton was premature. Even if Lander fail to raise the cash to complete the sale, a second, as yet unnamed, bidder from China is waiting in the wings and has the money ready to proceed.
What crisis? CBF reports record $208m revenues as sponsorship holds strong
By Samindra Kunti
April 19 – The Brazilian FA (CBF) has reported record revenue of $208.1 million for 2016, closing the book year with a surplus of $14.16 million, a drop from the $23.16 million in 2015.
Russia passes new laws to fight threat of fan violence at 2018 World Cup
April 17 – Amid concerns over disruption at next year’s World Cup, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a federal law that will toughen penalties for “gross violations” at sporting events by both Russian and visiting fans.
Bayern fury as multiple referee blunders gift CL semi-final spot to Real Madrid
By Andrew Warshaw
April 17 – It’s hard enough to beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu at the best of times, even harder when you go into a game against them a goal down from the first leg.
Gibraltar FA to buy ‘home’ stadium on the Rock for £16.6m
April 19 – One of UEFA’s newest members, the Gibraltar FA, is to buy a stadium within its borders which will enable it to develop a venue where it will be able to host national team fixtures and European club matches.
Police arrest suspects for shooting of Panama’s Henriquez
April 19 – Panamanian authorities say they’ve arrested seven people in connection with the killing of the country’s international midfielder Amilcar Henriquez.
AC Milan target their own stadium, a market listing and Chinese opportunities
April 18 – New owner, a new stadium and a new stock market listing. AC Milan has completed one of the three with the new owners promising that the other two are on the cards.
Panama international Henriquez shot dead in Colón
April 18 – Panama international Amilcar Henriquez has been shot and killed outside his home in the country’s Colón province, authorities there have confirmed.
China’s Lander forced to pull out of £200m+ Saints buy
By Paul Nicholson
April 18 – China’s march into European club ownership looks to have been halted with the announcement by Lander Sports that it is shelving plans to buy Premier League Southampton.