England push for GB women’s team at 2020 Tokyo Olympics
March 29 – English football officials say they are “confident” there will be a women’s football team representing Team GB at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Europe
Mexican standoff? Greek Superleague to return after government lifts suspension
March 29 -The Greek Superleague will resume play this weekend after government on lifted its suspension following the pitch incursion by a gun-carrying PAOK club president Ivan Savvidis.
Brazil salve 7-1 memory with win in Germany, who have Euro 2024 on their minds
By Samindra Kunti in Berlin
March 28 – Brazil defeated Germany 1-0 at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on Tuesday in a morale-boosting and symbolic win in the first meeting between the two sides after the 7-1 World Cup semi-final in 2014. The German FA also used the high-profile friendly to promote its bid for Euro 2024.
UEFA opens door for winter transfers to play in Champions League, Agnelli wants ‘rest’ stops
March 28 – Champions League players who move in the January transfer window will be allowed to compete for their new club in the competition during the same season under new rules announced by UEFA .
Olympiakos and Nottingham Forest owner Marinakis cleared by Greek Supreme Court
By Paul Nicholson
March 27 – Olympiakos and Nottingham Forest owner Evanglos Marinakis has had all charges against him dismissed by the Greek Supreme Court, the highest court in the country.
Croatian Bruno Boban dies after being struck by ball in league match
March 27 – Third tier Croatian footballer Bruno Boban collapsed and died after being hit in the chest by the ball during a match.
Gibraltar beat Latvia to secure first win as a FIFA nation
March 27 – Gibraltar won their first game as a FIFA nation on Sunday, beating Latvia 1-0 in an international friendly.
Drug running, guns and political favour. Greece’s tragic football plots thicken
By Paul Nicholson
March 26 – The lifting of the suspension of the Greek Superleague is under discussion with the clubs meeting again today. But suspension will remain in place until clubs agree to government conditions stipulated by Greece’s deputy sports minister Giorgos Vasileiadis.
UEFA allocate €76m in solidarity feed and win bonuses for Nations League
March 26 – UEFA has released detail of the solidarity and bonus fees for its new Nations League competition which will see €76.25 million shared amongst the European confederations 55 countries.
England’s Russian warm-up. Fans disgrace country at Dutch (un)friendly
March 26 – The resurgence of hooliganism by England fans has cast a dark shadow over the current international break as well as the build-up to the World Cup in Russia.
Crash and burned: UEFA banned Sampson for post-Euro aggressive rant
March 26 – Former England women’s head coach Mark Sampson was banned for three games by UEFA 24 hours after he was sacked in September by the English FA for “inappropriate behaviour” in an unrelated previous role, it has emerged.
German football stays ‘anchored in society’ as clubs reject changing 50+1 rule
March 23 – Regarded as the root of everything morally correct about the German club structure, the Bundesliga has voted to retain the 50+1 rule which has been held up as a bastion of commercial fair play.
Belgian Pro League earmarks cash for women’s club development
By Samindra Kunti
March 23 – Belgian’s Pro League has earmarked €300,000 of its TV rights revenue for women’s football in a bid to boost and strengthen the game in the country. The step is a first sign that the league is taking the women’s game seriously.
Savvidis links leave a fiery trail of intimidation, political influence and burnt cars
March 23 – Following the gun-toting antics of PAOK owner Ivan Savvidis that led to the suspension of the Greek Super League, further information is emerging purportedly linking Savvidis, his associates and his companies to more criminal violence and intimidation in Greek football dating back to 2015.
Fulham win planning approval for Craven Cottage as they push for Premier League return
March 23 – English Championship club Fulham have been granted planning permission to extend their Craven Cottage stadium to 29,600. The building work will start in the Summer of 2019.