Koeman lined up for Netherlands return after Qatar 2022
April 6 – Ronald Koeman is to return as Netherlands coach when Louis van Gaal leaves the role after the World Cup in Qatar, the Dutch FA has confirmed.
UEFA builds on sustainability remit with UNECE partnership
April 5 – UEFA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) aimed to show how football can be a platform for change and in particular how football and hosting UEFA events can support cities to become more sustainable.
Chinese top tier clubs warned to settle unpaid wages by year end or face expulsion
April 5 – The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has warned that clubs who fail to settle all unpaid salaries by December 31 will be relegated or expelled.
Champions League needs to bring a bigger show, says Al-Khelaifi
April 5 – Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi has called on UEFA to jazz up the Champions League final to make it more like the Super Bowl.
beIN rebuilds its AFC relationship adding Champiosn League and AFC Cup rights
April 5 – beIN Media Group is rebuilding its broadcast relationship with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) piece-by-piece with an agreement to extend it rights to cover the 2022 AFC Champions League and AFC Cup.
The FA closes gender pay gap while ethnicity pay gap also narrows
April 5 – The English Football Association has reported its gender pay gap has been reduced to 2.2%, which it says is below the national average of 15.5%.
Concacaf draws teams for Nations League groups that will decide Gold Cup qualifiers
April 6 – Concacaf completed the draw for the second edition of the Concacaf Nations League (CNL) which will serve as a qualifier for the 2023 Gold Cup.
Van Dijk promises support for van Gaal and a World Cup to remember
April 5 – Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk says he wants to give coach Louis van Gaal “a World Cup to never forget” in Qatar later this year in the light of van Gaal’s health situation.
Crystal Dunn and Alphonso Davies scoop Concacaf Player of the Year awards
April 5 – US national team and Portland Thorns star Crystal Dunn has been named 2021 Concacaf Women’s player of the year, while Canada and Bayern Munich standout Alphonso Davies has taken the men’s award.
Conmebol and UEFA open joint London office, Finalissima sold out in a week
April 4 – The shared London office between Conmebol and UEFA was opened today (Monday) with the announcement that the first major project between the two confederations, the Finalissima match at Wembley between Argentina and Italy, is already sold out.
Qatar security chief warns fans against rainbow flags that ‘insult the whole society’
April 4 – Fans at the World Cup in Qatar may have rainbow flags confiscated by security in order to “protect” them against perceptions they are “insulting” local society, a senior official has claimed.
Van Gaal sick with prostate cancer but will still lead Dutch in Qatar
April 4 – Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal has revealed he is suffering from prostate cancer – but still plans to lead the side at the World Cup.
Concacaf to draw Nations League groups that will decide 2023 Gold Cup qualification
April 4 – Concacaf is sticking with the 12-team Gold Cup Prelims as the route to deciding the final places at the 16-team 2023 Gold Cup, with its Nations League.
FIFA’s 2021 not-so-transparent financials
By David Owen
April 1 – There’s more than one way to skin a cat. FIFA succeeded in meeting its 2021 revenue projections. Indeed, it exceeded them somewhat, securing $766.5 million against a budgeted $742 million. But the route the football body took to arrive at this happy conclusion is far different from that expected – and somewhat mysterious.
AFC Futsal Asian Cup Kuwait 2022 qualifiers get underway
April 4 – Qualifiers for the Futsal Asian Cup finals to be held in Kuwait in September are set to kick off in the AFC’s west zone and the combined central and southern zone.