Dutch clubs go cold on setting up cross-border league with Belgians
April 6 – Dutch clubs have put talks about a cross-border league with Belgium on hold, almost certainly bringing an end to the idea.
Europe
Russia drop CAS appeal against World Cup ban, but battle to keep spot at Women’s Euro
April 6 – Russia has withdrawn its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIFA’s World Cup ban and against the Polish, Swedish and Czech federations who refused to play against them because of the invasion of Ukraine.
Swiss propose revamped Super League with additional teams and new structure
April 5 – The Swiss Super League will be expanded from 10 to 12 teams from the 2023/24 season, the league body has said.
Women’s Champions League smashes multiple records as Turin final tickets go on-sale
April 6 – Tickets for the UEFA Women’s Champions League final at the Juventus Stadium in Turin on May 21, have gone on sale with Category One tickets priced at €20 and Category Two at €10.
UEFA builds on sustainability remit with UNECE partnership
April 5 – UEFA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) aimed to show how football can be a platform for change and in particular how football and hosting UEFA events can support cities to become more sustainable.
Champions League needs to bring a bigger show, says Al-Khelaifi
April 5 – Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi has called on UEFA to jazz up the Champions League final to make it more like the Super Bowl.
The FA closes gender pay gap while ethnicity pay gap also narrows
April 5 – The English Football Association has reported its gender pay gap has been reduced to 2.2%, which it says is below the national average of 15.5%.
Van Dijk promises support for van Gaal and a World Cup to remember
April 5 – Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk says he wants to give coach Louis van Gaal “a World Cup to never forget” in Qatar later this year in the light of van Gaal’s health situation.
Conmebol and UEFA open joint London office, Finalissima sold out in a week
April 4 – The shared London office between Conmebol and UEFA was opened today (Monday) with the announcement that the first major project between the two confederations, the Finalissima match at Wembley between Argentina and Italy, is already sold out.
Van Gaal sick with prostate cancer but will still lead Dutch in Qatar
April 4 – Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal has revealed he is suffering from prostate cancer – but still plans to lead the side at the World Cup.
NFL International Series adds Bayern’s Allianz Arena to Wembley, Tottenham and Azteca venues
March 31 – With round ball football from Europe trying to get the permissions to take regular league games to the US, the oval-ball NFL is already building its presence and bran in football’s major stadia.
Barca vs Real Madrid sets new record attendance for women’s game
March 31 – The record for the highest attendance ever at a women’s football match was set last night in the Camp Nou in the second leg of the Champions League final between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Pacific Media Group adds Kaiserslautern taking portfolio to seven European clubs
March 30 – Pacific Media Group (PMG) have acquired a stake of just under 10% in FC Kaiserslautern, the German club have announced.
LaLiga hails new FFP proposals as a historic moment for European football’s sustainability
March 30 – LaLiga has described the proposed UEFA financial fair play rules that will go before UEFA’s executive committee on April 7 as a “major step forward for European football”.
ECA leader says Russian football must not be allowed to return before Ukraine’s
By Andrew Warshaw
March 29 – A senior executive at the European Club Association (ECA), the body that represents more than 200 clubs across the Continent, says there is no way Russia can be allowed to resume playing competitive matches before Ukraine does.