Micciché takes on Serie A presidency in interim role
March 8 – Gaetano Micciché will become the new temporary president of Italy’s Serie A following an announcement by Giovanni Malago, the Italian Olympic Committee president.
AFC launches ‘It’s My Game’ celebrating women’s role in football in Asia
March 8 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has launched a campaign highlighting the women working in football across the Continent to mark this year’s AFC Women’s Football Day. The “It’s My Game” campaign celebrates women’s contribution to Asian football and their varied roles within the game.
9 months in, social media campaign starts for prison release of former Barca boss Rosell
March 8 – Colleagues of Sandro Rosell, once one of the most influential figures in European club football as the former president of Barcelona, have launched a social media campaign to request his release from jail after nine months of detention.
FA and Kick It Out slam lack of action over Brewster racism incident at Spartak
March 8 – UEFA’s decision to take no action into claims of racism towards Liverpool England Under-17 striker Rhian Brewster has caused an immediate backlash in the UK with footballing and anti-discrimination bodies slamming the ruling.
Kia puts its Europa League sponsorship into top gear at Geneva motor show
March 8 – The Europa League is widely regarded as the poorer sister of the Champions League but UEFA is taking every opportunity to promote its partnerships in the competition.
Brazilian police pepper stray fans after crowd rush to avoid police chase
March 8 – At least 30 Brazilian fans were injured at a local derby between Sport and Santa Cruz on Wednesday after supporters were pepper sprayed by police, local media reported.
Agent Mourinho joins RT team for Russia 2018 intelligence mission
March 8 – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will be a pundit for Russia Today (RT) during this summer’s World Cup. The international broadcast network is funded by the Kremlin and often perceived as a controversial mouthpiece of Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Blustering Boris: first he pushes UK out of Europe, now he wants England out of World Cup
March 7 – Boris Johnson, the UK’s colourful foreign secretary with a reputation for outspoken – occasionally outlandish – comments, has caused something of a diplomatic storm by appearing to suggest that England could withdraw from the World Cup in retaliation for Russia’s suspected poisoning of a former double agent on British soil.
Mutko spares Russian and FIFA blushes and steps down from 2018 organising
By Andrew Warshaw
March 7 – The humiliation of Vitaly Mutko, for years one of FIFA’s most influential administrators, is complete after it was confirmed that the once all-powerful Russian football supremo has been forced to relinquish his last remaining role with the World Cup this summer.
Koutsokoumnis, champion of Cypriot football unity, dies aged 61
By Andrew Warshaw
March 7 – Cyprus Football Association president Costakis Koutsokoumnis, who fought to build bridges on the divided island by trying to unify football and sought to eliminate matchfixing, has died aged 61 after a long battle with cancer.
UEFA probe into Brewster racism claim draws a blank
March 7 – UEFA’s investigation into claims of racism towards Liverpool England Under-17 striker Rhian Brewster has failed to find any conclusive evidence.
PSG crash out of Champions League as Real Madrid cash in on Neymar absence
March 7 – Money, it seems, has once again has failed to buy success for Paris St Germain who continue to wait to land Europe’s biggest club prize.
West Ham cut net debt on back of thumping profit
By David Owen
March 7 – The sale of the Boleyn Ground and of Dimitri Payet, the club’s one-time talisman, have helped West Ham to become the latest Premier League outfit to report a thumping profit.
Barclays to go on the road with Manchester City this summer in the US
March 7 – Manchester City have signed former Premier League naming rights partner Barclays as the Club’s Official Banking & Credit Card Tour Partner in a regional deal. The Barclays logo will feature on the back of the team’s shirt during pre-season matches in the US this summer.
Canadian duo take 50% stake in Peterborough United
March 7 – International football investors into the UK aren’t just looking for top tier Premier League deals. Two Canadian investors, Dr. Jason Neale and R. Stewart Thompson, have acquired 50% of League 1 Peterborough United for an undisclosed sum.