English clubs top transfer spend ranking at €6.9bn… with a trade deficit of €4.3bn
March 14 – English clubs have racked up a combined negative international transfer trade balance of -€4.35 billion since 2017.
Ballon d’Or given makeover with performances to be judged on the European calendar
March 14 – The Ballon d’Or award given to the world’s best male and female footballer will now be judged on performances over the main European season rather than an entire calendar year.
Migrant worker issues in focus as FIFA meet Amnesty to discuss Qatar 2022 progress
March 14 – FIFA are back in discussion with Amnesty International over the conditions for migrant workers in Qatar in connection with the World Cup. This time the discussion is not focussed on construction workers by on those in the service and hospitality sector.
Wolves and Porto put finances in order to exit UEFA’s FFP control regime
March 14 – England’s Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portugal’s FC Porto have broken free of the shackles of UEFA’s financial fair play scrutiny and have exited the settlement regimes they were under.
Neuendorf takes over at German FA promising ‘cultural change’
March 14 – Former politician Bernd Neuendorf was sworn in on Friday as the new president of the embattled German Football Association in what the entire hierarchy will hope is a new beginning after years of off-the-field scandal.
Belgium’s Standard Liege added to 777 Partners club portfolio
March 13 – Private equity firm 777 Partners have acquired storied Belgian club Standard Liege, further expanding its portfolio following the takeover of Rio giants Vasco da Gama earlier this month.
Hyundai drop Chelsea, Premier League disqualify Abramovich
March 13 – Chelsea sleeve sponsor Hyundai have joined Three in suspending their sponsorship of the club with immediate effect.
Everton pledge £500k to Ukraine relief but Moshiri fails to condemn Russian invasion
March 13 – Everton, majority owned by British Iranian Farhad Moshiri, a close associate of sanctioned Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, has pledged £250,000 to the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
PSG’s Al-Khelaifi loses the plot after Real Madrid loss and goes on the rampage
March 11 – UEFA have been placed in the awkward position of investigating one of their own inner circle after opening disciplinary proceedings against Paris St-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
Chelsea fans told to show respect and stop chanting name of Abramovich, Putin’s football sidekick
March 11 – Chelsea supporters have been urged to stop chanting the name of the club’s Russian oligarch owner Roman Abramovich who has been sanctioned by the UK government as part of its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Lyon say that any Pathe and IDG share sale won’t halt development strategy
March 11 – Olympique Lyonnais have responded to news that Pathé and IDG are looking to sell their near 20% stakes in the club, saying that the club is “actively working to strengthen its financial structure” and that it will continue its development work both on and off the field with the build of the new arena.
Nashville signs GEODIS as naming rights partner ahead of May debut in new stadium
March 11 – Nashville SC who have just started their third season in the MLS, have signed a naming rights deal for their 30-000-seat new stadium which will open May 1 with the visit of Philadelphia Union.
Ceferin opens door for South Americans to join Europe’s Nations League
March 11 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has suggested that South American teams could feature in the Nations League in the near future.
Disconnected: Three suspends Chelsea shirt sponsorship with immediate effect
March 11 – Following sweeping sanctions against Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, mobile company Three have suspended their £40 million-a-year shirt sponsorship of the London club with immediate effect.
Jewson builds new partnership with EFL’s 72 clubs
March 11 – The English Football League (EFL) has unveiled a new sponsor partnership with UK builders’ merchant, Jewson. The agreement will cover all 72 clubs in the EFL’s three leagues – Championship, League One and League Two.