By Paul Nicholson
April 14 – South American confederation CONMEBOL has pledged the votes of its 10 member associations to the United 2026 bid (Canada, Mexico and the US). Their announcement gives the North Americans a timely boost with FIFA’s 2026 bid evaluation committee having just completed their four-city tour of North America, and now heading to bid rival Morocco.
April 13 – Despite football’s lawmakers giving it the thumbs up and the system being used at the World Cup, English Premier League clubs have voted not to use video assistant referees next season.
April 13 – He is remaining tight-lipped about details of the $25 billion buyout offer for the Club World Cup and a global Nations League, but FIFA president Gianni Infantino was keen to expand on his plans for the Club World Cup.
April 13 – Thailand’s women became the second Asian Football Confederation (AFC) nation to qualify for the France 2019 Women’s World Cup with a 3-1 win over the Philippines that also put them into the semi-finals of the Asian Women’s Cup currently being played in Jordan.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 13 – Ever since Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup, the Gulf state has consistently played down the possibility that matches might be shared with its neighbours.
April 13 – Real Madrid have been drawn against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the Champions League as they continue their quest of trying to become the first team for over 40 years to win the title three times in a row and the first in the tournament’s current guise.
By Samindra Kunti
April 13 – Ledman Sports, a subsidiary of Ledman Electronics, from China has gained control over Brazilian club Nacional from Manaus for the next 20 years. The Chinese will take over the running of the club with a $1 million fee for the partnership being paid.
April 13 – The South Asian Football Federation approved Pakistan as the host of the SAFF Championship in 2020 on Thursday following a meeting in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. The award of the hosting is a big boost for Pakistani football that has only just returned to international competition following a FIFA suspension.
April 13 – Peru captain Paolo Guerrero’s dreams of leading his country into the World Cup in June could be shattered if the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) appeal to increase his ban for a positive doping test is successful.
April 13 – Four Maltese under-21 players banned over match-fixing offences in December have had their appeals rejected by UEFA’s appeals body.
April 13 – Premier League Crystal Palace are edging towards a £100 million redevelopment of the main stand of the Selhurst Park stadium with local planning officers recommending the build should be allowed.
By David Owen
April 13 – In a move that will be greeted with much relief in the anti-doping sector, Berlinger has decided to continue producing sample bottles for at least the next 12 months.
April 13 – Scottish League 1 side Ayr United have landed a global first with their new shirt sponsor paying in bitcoin.
By Paul Nicholson
April 12 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino was reluctant to divulge detail of the $25 billion buyout bid for the Club World Cup and a Nations League competition to his own stakeholders at FIFA Council and to European clubs, but it appears the guys with the money have fewer qualms over releasing more of the detail of their proposal.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 12 – Paris St-Germain are facing fresh accusations of failing to meet financial fair play (FFP) regulations with officials set to meet with UEFA in an effort to stave off being sanctioned again, according to reports.