April 20 – The Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) has reported a record revenue of 971 million reais (€191.7 million) as well as a profit of 68.92 million reais (€13.64 million) for 2021, a year in which the governing body battled a major institutional crisis as well as the Covid-19 pandemic.
April 19 – The consortium led by Chicago Cubs owners the Ricketts family has pulled out of the running to buy Chelsea, leaving three bidders remaining.
April 19 – Juventus and other clubs have been acquitted by Italy’s Federal Court following a widespread investigation into the inflation of transfer fees.
April 12 – RB Leipzig have the two hottest talents under the age of 23 in Europe, according to the latest ranking by transfer value from the CIES Football Observatory.
April 12 – Belgian club Anderlecht have vowed to preserve the budget for their title winning women’s team despite cuts across the board.
April 11 – Following UEFA’s introduction of new financial monitoring rules, the English Football League (EFL) is also considering new financial fair play rules, including a salary cap at 70% of club revenue.
April 10 – UEFA is making €240 million over the 2020/24 cycle as club compensation for releasing players for its national team competitions, and increase of €40 million on the previous cycle.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 8 – The two umbrella organisations representing Europe’s clubs and leagues have given their wholehearted support to UEFA’s important new financial monitoring rules designed to beef up the previously flawed system and which, tellingly, no longer include the words “fair play”.
By Paul Nicholson
April 8 – On Wednesday Manchester City announced it would be celebrating the 10th anniversary of its first Premier League title and that history making goal in the 93rd minute of extra time by Sergio Aguero that won it for them.
April 7 – Parisian club Red Star FC have entered exclusive takeover talks with American investment fund 777 Partners to become part of their expanding club portfolio.
By Paul Nicholson
April 7 – UEFA have rubber-stamped wide ranging changes to their financial sustainability regulations for clubs, the first major reforms to rules that were introduced in 2010 but were starting to creak under an evolving football business and the financial effects of the pandemic.
April 7 – American businessman Chris Kirchner has been named as the preferred bidder for English second-tier side Derby County, the club’s administrators have confirmed.
By Paul Nicholson
April 6 – If Chelsea are sold for £3 billion (€3.6bn, $4bn) it would not only be the highest ever sale figure achieved by a football club, but would eclipse the highest number ever paid for a spoirts organisation anywhere in the world.
By David Owen
April 1 – There’s more than one way to skin a cat. FIFA succeeded in meeting its 2021 revenue projections. Indeed, it exceeded them somewhat, securing $766.5 million against a budgeted $742 million. But the route the football body took to arrive at this happy conclusion is far different from that expected – and somewhat mysterious.
April 1 – The European sponsorship market bounced back in 2021 with a 17.8% uplift after a slow 2020, but has not yet returned to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, according to the 2022 ESA Sponsorship Market Overview.