Clubs unite to protest FA and Premier League’s closed-door deal to scrap FA Cup replays
May 2 – Eleven English Football League clubs and 16 from the non-league pyramid have joined forces to call for the reinstatement of FA Cup replays.
Europe
Bayern Munich still seeking Tuchel replacement after Rangnick opts to remain with Austria
May 2 – Ralf Rangnick has turned down Bayern Munich to remain as Austria’s head coach and lead the country at Euro 2024.
Hull City owner Acun Illicali to add Slovenia’s NK Maribor to club portfolio
May 2 – Turkish media tycoon Acun Ilicali, owner of Hull City in the English Championship, has said he plans Slovenia’s NK Maribor, following a series of meetings in Slovenia last week.
Vincent del Bosque to head government-formed Spanish commission overseeing crisis-hit RFEF
May 1 – Spanish football administration has taken yet another twist with former national team coach Vicente del Bosque appointed by the government to head a commission to oversee the country’s scandal-hit federation (RFEF) after a corruption and money laundering probe targeted both the current and former RFEF presidents.
Levski Sofia fury over disrespect shown by CSKA Sofia’s Karanga and Ormandzhiev
April 30 – Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia have called on the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) to sanction CSKA Sofia’s striker Fernando Karanga and the CEO of the club Stoyan Ormandzhiev after ugly scenes marred the match at Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia.
Rocha takes RFEF leadership as FIFA warns Spanish politicians against interference
April 4 – The Spanish football federation (RFEF) has appointed Pedro Rocha as its new president following the resignation of disgraced former chief Luis Rubiales who stepped down last September.
Villas-Boas swaps touchline for boardroom as he dethrones Pinto da Costa after 42-year reign
April 29 – André Villas-Boas has been elected the new chairman of FC Porto with a landslide victory, bringing to an end the 42-year reign of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa.
Masters slams FIFA’s lack of calendar consultation as European Leagues welcome UEFA’s new revenue model
By Andrew Warshaw
April 26 – Premier League boss Richard Masters hit out at FIFA’s lack of consultation with European football today by saying there was a “chasm” of difference between how they and UEFA operate.
Spanish Sports Council takes charge of ‘crisis’-hit RFEF ahead of new elections
April 26 – The Spanish government has formed a special committee to oversee the country’s football federation (RFEF) until the governing body holds fresh elections following the scandal surrounding its former president, Luis Rubiales.
Swedish clubs reject introduction of VAR into top-tier league
April 26 – Sweden is set to reject the introduction and implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) after elite clubs voiced their opposition to the technology.
ECA launches sustainability strategy as a ‘priority’ for all stakeholders
April 25 – The European Club Association has launched its first Sustainability Strategy which the organisation hopes will tackle several pressing social and environment issues facing the game.
Union of European Clubs appoints Belgium’s Union Saint-Gillloise boss, Alex Muzio, as first chair
April 25 – Chairman of Belgian club Union Saint-Gillloise Alex Muzio has been elected the president of the Union of European Clubs (UEC) with co-founders Dennis Gudasic and Gareth Farrelly elected to other key roles.
English FA drafts in Sue Day from rugby union as new director of football
April 25 – The English Football Association has announced the appointment of Sue Day as its new director of women’s football.
English FA’s grassroots support programme for disabled people wins UEFA recognition
April 25 – The English Football Association has introduced a new wide-ranging support package to help grassroots clubs facilitate participation for disabled people, with the project winning the 2023/24 UEFA Grassroots Award for best disability initiative.
ECA membership pushes past 600-club mark
April 25 – The European Club Association (ECA) is winning the membership battle in the football clubs stakeholder space against the newly formed Union of European Clubs (UEC).