April 9 – France’s Ligue 1 and broadcast distribution partner beIN SPORTS have signed a major TV deal in China that will see the league broadcast across terrestrial and digital channels with state broadcaster CCTV.
April 9 – Fans, especially those from England, should “think twice” before travelling to Russia for the World Cup because consular services will be less effective as a result of the recent diplomatic expulsions following the nerve agent poisoning affair, the White House has warned.
April 9 – Russian Railways has become an official sponsor of the 2018 Russia World Cup, taking a third-tier regional association alongside Alfa-Bank and Rostelcom.
April 9 – Having seemingly made peace with UEFA after being handed a voice on its executive committee, the body comprising Europe’s major leagues is back on the offensive by criticising UEFA’s distribution model for the 2018-21 cycle, saying it only increases the gap between the haves and have-nots.
April 9 – Concacaf is to play its 2018 Women’s Championship in the US in three cities: Cary, N.C., Edinburg, Texas, and Frisco, Texas. The tournament will be played October 4-17.
By Andrew Warshaw and Paul Nicholson
April 6 – David Chung, president of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and one of FIFA’s highest ranking officials, has resigned after seven years in the job. A short statement from the OFC said Chung, FIFA’s senior vice-president and an important ally in Gianni Infantino’s 2016 presidential election victory, took the decision “after much deliberation, citing personal reasons.”
April 6 – Bullets have been sent in the post to three key figures at the Italian Referees’ Association, according to its president, amid fan protests over use of the video assistant referee system.
April 6 – The attraction of e-sports has snared another football big name. Former Real Madrid, Liverpool and West Ham star Álvaro Arbeloa is partnering with League of Legends team Origen.
April 5 – The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) is championing its Women’s Challenge Series 2018 as a “recommitment to female players” in the region. The competition marks a return to locally organised game play in a forgotten region of world football that has been left emaciated, underfunded and excluded by political power plays at CONCACAF and FIFA level.
April 6 – Liverpool have been charged by UEFA over the disturbances at their Champions League clash with Manchester City on Wednesday.
April 5 – Manchester City and Tinder have turned their courtship into a multi-year partnership in a deal that will also see the dating platform connect with sister club New York City FC in the MLS.
April 5 – Liverpool have apologised to Manchester City after bottles were thrown at their team coach when they arrived for the all-English Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.
April 4 – Manchester United fans in China will be able to apply for a club branded credit card as part of a new sponsorship agreement with Chinese banking group, PingAn Bank.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 4 – Morocco’s claim of unfair treatment by FIFA in the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup has been strongly rejected by football’s world governing body which has moved swiftly into face-saving overdrive in an effort to maintain credibility.
April 4 – Dominica has become the second CONCACAF nation after St Lucia to come out and confirm it is backing Morocco for the 2026 World Cup despite being part of the same confederation as the rival United 2026 bid.