Covid financing: Lyon outline player share deal in lieu of monthly pay cheque
April 13 – French Ligue 1 Olympique Lyonnais have outlined plans for their players to take up to 25% of their salaries in OL Groupe shares rather than as cash.
Europe
Tebas takes seat on UEFA’s exco alongside sparring partner Rubiales
April 13 – Javier Tebas, the outspoken and controversial head of Spain’s La Liga, is set to join UEFA’s executive committee – sitting alongside his nemesis, Spanish FA boss Luis Rubiales.
Perez keeps grip on Real Madrid presidency until 2025
April 13 – Florentino Perez (pictured) has been re-elected as Real Madrid president for a fifth consecutive term in office, the Spanish club announced on Tuesday.
National League hammers its clubs for failing to complete fixtures during the pandemic
By Andrew Warshaw
April 12 – In what amounts to one of the most draconian and insensitive rulings in non-league football, 17 English clubs have been punished for failing to meet fixture obligations – in the middle of a pandemic.
Italian legend De Rossi hospitalised
April 4 – Former Italy captain Daniele De Rossi, now the national team’s technical coach, has been admitted to an infectious diseases hospital with pneumonia symptoms after testing positive for coronavirus.
McAllister emphasises her football credentials in bid for UEFA seat at FIFA Council
April 9 – Laura McAllister, the Football Association of Wales nominee for Europe’s female place on the FIFA Council, has launched her manifesto ahead of the election on April 20, highlighting her experience in football and how that, along with her professional skills, make her the ideal candidate to represent UEFA’s 55 member nations at the top table of world football.
Azeri guarantee UEFA that Baku stadium can be at least 50% full for Euros
April 9 – With UEFA due to decide a list of venues for the delayed Euro 2020 tournament at their executive committee on April 19, Azerbaijan has guaranteed 50% of total fan attendance at Baku’s Olympic Stadium for this summer’s finals.
PFA threatens EFL with legal action if it moves to limit squad sizes
April 9 – England’s Professional Footballers’ Association is considering legal action if the English Football League, which covers the three divisions below the Premier League, does not scrap its proposed limits on squad sizes.
Danish bank pulls sponsorship of national team but not over Qatar 2022 human rights concerns
April 9 – Arbejdernes Landsbank, a major partner of the Danish FA (DBU), have pulled their sponsorship of the national team over the quick-loans law with concerns over the Qatar World Cup lingering in the background.
Autograph-hunting linesman banned despite donating his signed cards to autism charity
April 9 – The Romanian linesman who asked Europe’s most sought-after young player, Erling Haaland, to sign his red and yellow cards has reportedly been banned form officiating in his country’s top tier.
Ajax offer fans season ticket refunds
April 8 – Ajax Amsterdam will offer season ticket holders a full or partial refund for the matches they have missed out on this season, the Dutch club has announced.
AEK owner Melissanidis faces life ban and points deduction for club
By Paul Nicholson
April 7 – Controversial AEK Athens owner Dimitris Melissanidis has again hit the headlines in Greece where he could be facing a life ban from football.
Serie A faces €150m drop in TV income after failure to back beIN over piracy row
April 7 – The financial fall out of Serie A’s failure to back beIN Sport in its battle against piracy and in particular Saudi-focussed BeoutQ has now come home to roost via a drop in overseas broadcast rights that could be as much as €150 million annually.
UEFA hands Kudela ‘token’ one match suspension for racist abuse ahead of full hearing
April 7 – Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela, who was at the centre of a racism storm last month, has been provisionally suspended for one game by UEFA ahead of a full hearing.
EFL clubs protest transfer embargo arguing rules don’t follow UK’s new Covid laws
April 7 – Ten clubs from the English Football League Championship placed under a transfer embargo last month are arguing that the English Football League (EFL) rules have not taken into account new government rules on company filings and that they are being unlawfully restricted.