US Soccer changes legal wording as it seeks a solution in equal pay dispute
April 1 – US Soccer has toned down its legal language in new federal court filings in the equal pay dispute with members of the American’s national women’s team.
Mediapro boss Roures says July restart would save season and reduce €700m of losses
April 1 – Spain’s La Liga could return behind closed doors in July, according to Jaume Roures, chief executive of Mediapro one of the country’s major broadcast partners – but would have to be scrapped for good if any players contract Covid-19 thereafter.
English FA extends indefinite season suspension to cover all leagues below top four tiers
April 1 – After attracting fierce criticism for shutting down all non-league football except for its two top leagues, English football authorities have now agreed to their indefinite suspension – but still controversially leaving the door open to finish the season.
Burnley profit burnishes reputation as a well-run club
By David Owen
April 1 – Burnley, the small Premier League outfit from Lancashire with a reputation as one of the best-run clubs in the business, managed to remain narrowly in profit last year in a season featuring its first European campaign for more than half a century.
Scots cut wages and furlough staff to ride out impact of Covid-19 lockdown
April 1 – Scotland manager Steve Clarke has taken a 10% pay reduction to stave off the financial effect of coronavirus while leading staff at the Scottish FA and SPFL have also agreed to take between 10 and 20% less.
Kenyan FA on brink as FIFA and government bang heads
April 1 – Kenyan football is reportedly in danger of being suspended by FIFA with April 6 being touted as the date when the ongoing crisis reaches its denouement. That is when talks are supposed to take place between the Ministry of Sports, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and FIFA.
Ukraine ‘ghost’ games fool bookies and punters as criminals pull off perfect crime
By Paul Nicholson
March 31 – The coronavirus lockdown has not stopped football-related betting fraud with the re-emergence last weekend of so-called ‘ghost’ games in Ukraine.
Low wage bill spurs Tottenham’s stand-out £87m profit
By David Owen
March 31 – Tottenham Hotspur look to have posted a pre-tax profit more than twice as big as any Premier League rival for the 2018-19 season which saw the North London club reach the Champions League final.
SIGA Strives 6: SIGA and Insideworldfootball partner on Sport Integrity Bulletin
March 31 – The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) is partnering with Inside World Football on two exciting new initiatives “4 Questions for 4 Leaders” and a monthly “Sport Integrity Bulletin”, in order to promote Sport Integrity during the coronavirus crisis.
UEFA calls federations to emergency talks on calendar as fears of losing season grow
By Andrew Warshaw
March 31 – With time running out and no sign of the Covid-19 pandemic easing in Europe, UEFA are set to hold emergency talks by video conference tomorrow with all of Europe’s 55 national football associations amid growing concerns that the season may have to be scrapped despite a collective will to try and restart fixtures by the end of June.
Barca players agree 70% wage cut, Messi says they were always going to
March 31 – Barcelona’s players have agreed to take a 70% pay cut so that the club’s other employees can earn their full salaries during the coronavirus crisis.
FIFAgate: Marin given early release to return to Brazil over health fears
March 31 – Jose Maria Marin, 87, is on his way home. Amid health concerns in times of the global coronavirus pandemic, the former Brazilian football supremo has won his release from an American prison, where he was serving a four-year sentence for his role in the FIFAgate scandal.
French league short of cash as broadcasters say they will withhold rights fees
March 31 – French football is staring down the financial barrel as domestic broadcaster Canal Plus, a long-time rights holder of Ligue 1, is holding up the release of a scheduled €110 million payment.
Newcastle lay off staff, but reportedly keep players on full salaries
March 31 – Newcastle United have reportedly become the first Premier League club to place their non-playing staff on temporary leave because of the coronavirus pandemic.
60 non-league clubs protest to English FA over ‘inexplicable haste’ at ending season
By Andrew Warshaw
March 31 – More than 60 non-league clubs from across English football have sent a joint letter to the country’s FA in protest at the decision to close the season down, with all results declared null and void, because of Covid-19.