By Andrew Warshaw
May 22 – Despite fierce opposition from rival clubs, human rights organisations as well as the fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the English Premier League is reported to have approved the proposed £300 million takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, PIF, fronted by controversial Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (pictured).
May 22 – A second damning report in a space of a few weeks has been published by Britain’s Guardian newspaper into alleged appalling cases of sexual abuse by Haitian FA boss Yves Jean-Bart (pictured).
May 22 – Next season, France’s Ligue 2 will be expanded from 20 to 22 club following a vote by the French Football League (LFP). The decision still requires approval from the French FA (FFF).
May 22 – The issues of safeguarding have been given a significantly upgraded status within the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) which, said the confederation’s Jasmine Ching, is taking big steps to tackle what is a “general lack of systemic awareness and education (at all levels) on child/youth safeguarding” across all Asian sport.
May 22 – Once Coronavirus lockdown ends and international borders re-open for sports teams, football will be faced with a whole new issue. Just because borders are open, doesn’t mean that you will be able to get past them.
May 22 – Brazilian champions Flamengo have broken quarantine restrictions in Rio de Janeiro by resuming training without authorisation. City officials criticized the move.
May 22 – How to definitively end the season in the three divisions of the English professional game below the top flight remains in the balance after the English Football League (EFL) ruled promotion and relegation must take place in the Championship, League One and League Two, regardless of whether clubs vote, or have already voted, to curtail the campaign.
May 22 – English Premier League club Sheffield United say there has been no change to their Saudi ownership despite reports that Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (pictured) had given up control.
May 22 – UEFA will have some national team competitive action this weekend when 16 teams compete in the eEURO 2020 final tournament.
By Paul Nicholson
May 21 – Manchester United’s third quarter financial release has revealed that the loss of broadcast revenue due to a broadcaster rebate following failure to complete fixtures is about £15 million, putting the overall Premier League rebate at about £300 million.
By Andrew Warshaw
May 21 – The head of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organising committee says the Saudi-led regional blockade of his country has been a “blessing in disguise” and has also vowed to ensure the tournament remains affordable to visitors despite the impact of Covid-19.
May 21 – Concacaf President and FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani has said that the biggest challenge facing federations is not the financial costs being faced right now but the costs of ensuring compliance with health measures in the future. He also felt that it was unlikely to see a return of fans to international matches before the major tournaments in 2021.
By Andrew Warshaw
May 21 – The fate of Michael Lauber, (pictured) Switzerland’s leading prosecutor, hangs perilously in the balance after lawmakers voted to launch impeachment proceedings against him amidst much-publicised concerns over his relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
March 20 – The head of world football’s players’ union has urged clubs not to force scared players to return to training saying it would be “inhumane and unacceptable” if they were punished for taking such a stance.
May 21 – Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has demanded a meeting with Premier League boss Richard Masters to discuss the proposed £300 million takeover of Newcastle United by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, PIF, a finance vehicle closely associated to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.