Bundesliga pushes restart back a week, but still plans for May kick-off
April 15 – Germany has postponed the decision over the Bundesliga’s imminent return by a week, the German Football League (DFL) announced.
Coronavirus
England’s Lionesses chip in with support for #PlayersTogether fund
April 15 – England’s Lionesses have donated to #PlayersTogether to help the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.
EFL agrees 25% wage deferral with players’ union
April 14 – The English Football League (EFL) has agreed a “compromise proposal” with the union representing the country’s professional players, allowing clubs to defer 25% of their wages for April.
Levy wants to make Spurs fans ‘proud’ as furlough reversed and stadium opens as test centre
April 14 – Following a fierce backlash from fans, English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have reversed their decision to use the British government’s furlough scheme during the coronavirus crisis.
Jailed FIFA-fraudster Napout refused ‘release’ on coronavirus grounds
April 14 – A US federal judge has denied a request by former Conmebol strongman and FIFAgate culprit Juan Angel Napout to be given compassionate release from prison because of the coronavirus pandemic but reserved judgment on his request for to be let out on bail pending his ongoing appeal.
CBF chief says no return to play in sight as clubs move to financial cliff-edge
April 14 – The secretary general of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) Walter Feldman has said that Brazilian football won’t return to action any time soon.
Infantino warns leagues against returning to action too early
April 14 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has warned countries not to start playing football again too early since safety has to come first.
Minister puts stop to Real Sociedad’s planned return to training
April 14 – Real Sociedad have abandoned plans to resume training in times of a global health crisis following an intervention from Spanish authorities.
Beating the bug: Bundesliga prepares for May restart and end-June finish
April 9 – The Bundesliga could be the first of Europe’s big leagues to return to action with chief executive of the DFL Christian Seifert saying they are planning to restart at the beginning of May.
Premier League players unite under #PlayersTogether to donate to NHS charities
April 9 – Amid mounting pressure to accept wage cuts like some of their overseas counterparts, Premier League footballers have launched a fund-raising initiative to raise money for the country’s National Health Service (NHS) charities to help tackle the Covid-19 outbreak.
Coronavirus: Mauritius is first African nation to abandon season
April 9 – Mauritius has become the first African country to cancel its professional league season “with immediate effect” due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Serie A in discussion over centralising fixtures in Rome, say reports
April 9 – Italy’s Serie A is reportedly discussing playing all the remaining fixtures for the 2019/20 season in Rome.
App-based digital health passport launched to help clubs get fans returning safely to stadiums
April 9 – Cyber security tech company VST Enterprises Ltd (VSTE) has launched a sports health passport-style app that will enable fans to return to stadiums as the world recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.
Jose apologises as Spurs once again socially distance themselves from their fans
April 9 – In the latest public relations gaffe to hit English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur during the Covid-19 outbreak, manager Jose Mourinho has been forced to semi-apologise after being pictured flouting government restrictions by leading a training session in park woodland not far from the club’s training ground.
Real Madrid players join Barca and Atletico stars in agreeing pay cut
April 9 – Real Madid have become the latest Spanish club whose players and coaches have agreed to take pay cuts to alleviate the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis.