Gibraltar beat Latvia to secure first win as a FIFA nation
March 27 – Gibraltar won their first game as a FIFA nation on Sunday, beating Latvia 1-0 in an international friendly.
World Cup 2026: Morocco fear FIFA politics are pushing them to a pre-vote exclusion
By Andrew Warshaw in Marrakesh
March 26 – On the day FIFA released the bid books of the two contenders to stage the 2026 World Cup, African supporters of Morocco are crying foul over what they perceive as too much power being handed to the all-important panel that will determine whether the underdogs meet the necessary criteria to take on the heavyweight favourites from North America.
Drug running, guns and political favour. Greece’s tragic football plots thicken
By Paul Nicholson
March 26 – The lifting of the suspension of the Greek Superleague is under discussion with the clubs meeting again today. But suspension will remain in place until clubs agree to government conditions stipulated by Greece’s deputy sports minister Giorgos Vasileiadis.
Russia readies Luzhniki for World Cup 2018 opener with visit of Brazil
By Samindra Kunti in Moscow
Moscow – The Luzhniki Stadium, Russia’s flagship venue for this summer’s World Cup, has staged a successful second test-run, a much-anticipated friendly between Russia and Brazil. The stadium will host the opening game and the final of the World Cup.
UEFA allocate €76m in solidarity feed and win bonuses for Nations League
March 26 – UEFA has released detail of the solidarity and bonus fees for its new Nations League competition which will see €76.25 million shared amongst the European confederations 55 countries.
England’s Russian warm-up. Fans disgrace country at Dutch (un)friendly
March 26 – The resurgence of hooliganism by England fans has cast a dark shadow over the current international break as well as the build-up to the World Cup in Russia.
Portugal fuelled by second World Cup sponsor from China, Eastroc Super Drink
March 26 – European Champions Portugal have added a second national team sponsor from China for the 2018 Russia World Cup. Eastroc Super Drink with be the Portuguese team’s Official Energy Drink.
Man City owners CFG hint at getting closer to Chinese club acquisition
March 26 – City Football Group (CFG), owners of Premier League Manchester City and New York City FC in the MLS, has again indicated that further club acquisitions are likely and that China will likely be the next market.
Atletico build on Wanda connection with office openings in China
March 26 – LaLiga club Atletico de Madrid is flexing its Chinese muscle with the opening of two offices in the Chinese cities of Beijing and the other in Chengdu.
Crash and burned: UEFA banned Sampson for post-Euro aggressive rant
March 26 – Former England women’s head coach Mark Sampson was banned for three games by UEFA 24 hours after he was sacked in September by the English FA for “inappropriate behaviour” in an unrelated previous role, it has emerged.
German football stays ‘anchored in society’ as clubs reject changing 50+1 rule
March 23 – Regarded as the root of everything morally correct about the German club structure, the Bundesliga has voted to retain the 50+1 rule which has been held up as a bastion of commercial fair play.
AFC grants aid to Pakistan to renovate HQ and regenerate its football
March 23 – The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) which was readmitted to full FIFA membership March 16, has been given a $300,000 grant by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to renovate its damaged headquarters in Lahore.
Belgian Pro League earmarks cash for women’s club development
By Samindra Kunti
March 23 – Belgian’s Pro League has earmarked €300,000 of its TV rights revenue for women’s football in a bid to boost and strengthen the game in the country. The step is a first sign that the league is taking the women’s game seriously.
England boss Southgate sees no issues for travelling fans in Russia
March 23 – England manager Gareth Southgate says he has “no concerns” about security and safety at the World Cup in Russia despite the escalating diplomatic spat between London and Moscow over the poisoning of a former double agent on british soil.
A $16bn question, but Rothenburg still wary of Morocco 2026 bid
March 23 – Alan Rothenburg, the man widely credited with bringing the 1994 World Cup to the United States and making such a success of it, says it is by no means a foregone conclusion that the tournament will go back to the USA – and its neighbours Mexico and Canada – in 2026.