Italy to kick off with Coppa Italia with Serie A back in action June 29
May 29 – Italy’s Serie A will return on June 29 in the country hit hardest in Europe in the early weeks of the Covid-19 outbreak.
French revolution gathers pace over decision to end season
May 29 – With Europe’s major leagues all stepping up plans to restart their seasons in the coming weeks, the exception is France which has not been lost on the country’s influential daily sports paper l’Equipe.
Real Madrid still top Man Utd and Barca as world’s most valuable club, Liverpool rise
By Paul Nicholson
May 28 – Real Madrid are still the most valuable club in the world, ahead of Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, according to latest figures in the KPMG Football Benchmark 2020 club evaluation report that looks at the 50 elite clubs in European leagues.
Premier League clubs to start contact training as next steps taken on Project Restart
May 28 – In the next step towards the season getting back on track, Premier League clubs have unanimously voted to start contact training, including tackling, despite four more positive Covid-19 results at three different clubs, albeit from over 1,000 tests.
RFEF agrees LaLiga can increase match days to finish season
May 28 – The Spanish football federation (RFEF) has given the green light for matches to be played on Mondays and Fridays when La Liga returns in order to allow the season to finish.
Aussie A-League plans return but Fox Sports TV deal will be the decider
May 28 – Football Federation Australia (FFA), A-League clubs and the players’ union have unveiled plans to resume the country’s premier league from mid-July, but proposals could be derailed depending on domestic broadcaster Fox Sports’ position on TV rights.
Feb 2021 dates set for China vs South Korea Tokyo 2020 women’s qualifier
May 28 – The final AFC spot at the Tokyo 2020 women’s Olympic tournament will now be decided in February 2021 over a two-legged play-off between China and South Korea.
French federation turns down LFP proposal to expand Ligue 2
May 28 – French football bosses have rejected the LFP’s proposal to expand Ligue 2 from 20 to 22 clubs for the 2020/21 season. As a result, Pau and Dunkerque will remain in the National, France’s third tier.
US women take lead with NWSL to return in June with broadcast and sponsor support
May 28 – While the women’s professional game will not return in England this season, in the US is again taking the lead in the women’s game with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announcing that the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup will kick off in Utah, June 27.
‘Crazy’ transfer fees won’t come back soon, says rule-following Mourinho
March 28 – Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho, who has spent big for much of his managerial career, says there will be fewer “crazy” transfers after top-flight football returns from its Covid-19 shutdown.
Watford’s Deeney, ‘trolled’ over refusal to return to work, agrees to restart
May 28 – Troy Deeney, captain of English Premier League side Watford and one of the few players courageous enough to express his views about concerns over returning to training because of his baby son, says he has suffered online abuse over his stance, aimed at both himself and his family.
Rebel Belgian clubs file complaints against KBVB’s ‘culture of dark affairs’
By Samindra Kunti
May 27 – Relegated Waasland-Beveren, Virton, Antwerp and former Charlton owner Roland Duchâtelet have all filed complaints with Belgium’s competition authorities (BMA) claiming abuse of power and a conflict of interest at the Belgian FA (KBVB) and the Pro League.
Saudi takeover of Newcastle teetering after WTO report finds state broke international law
By Andrew Warshaw
May 27 – The proposed £300 million takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) fronted by controversial Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, has been thrown into doubt after reports that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has found the Saudis breached international law by backing the pirating of Premier League matches.
If in doubt, kick him out. Data tracks trigger-happy clubs and the short lifespans of coaches
May 27 – The average lifespan of a head coach at a top tier club anywhere in the world is just 40.6 games, according to new data from the CIES Football Observatory.
Remote Cheerer app to deliver ‘live’ crowd noise to J. League matches
May 27 – With all football played behind closed doors when it returns, Japan is turning to technology to generate atmosphere by developing a smartphone app that will allow fans to cheer remotely.