Man City and Club América line up for Copa de Lone Star at Houston’s NRG Stadium
April 26 – Manchester City have announced they will play two pre-season friendlies in the US in July, prior to the start of their 2022/23 campaign.
World Football
Jack Warner still in the game as he tops list of TTFA creditors with $3m claim
By Paul Nicholson
April 25 – The world’s most wanted football criminal, Jack Warner, has emerged at the top of a list of unsecured creditors compiled by the Trinidad and Tobago FA’s (TTFA) trustee Maria Daniel. The document, filed with the Trinidad and Tobago court, lists Warner’s claim at TT$22.6 million ($3.38 million).
UK government steps in to regulate big money football
April 25 – After months of heated debate about how to reform the national sport, an independent regulator is being set up with the aim of having oversight of the English game’s finances and club ownership.
Bayern Munich open doors to Ukrainian refugees as they make it 10 out of 10 titles
April 25 – FC Bayern Munich have launched an aid programme for Ukraine that will include housing for disabled Ukrainian refugees, the German club has announced.
Gabon FA president accused of long term cover-up of paedophile ring
April 25 – The president of the Gabonese Football Federation, Pierre Alain Mounguengui, re-elected for a third four-year term less than a week ago, is reported to be in police custody accused of covering up a long-time paedophilia scandal.
Diallo wins Ivory Coast presidency as Drogba fails to convince electorate
April 25 – Didier Drogba has failed in his bid to become the new president of Ivory Coast’s FA (FIF). Yacine Idriss Diallo (pictured) has been elected to the position after beating Sory Diabaté by two votes in a second round of voting. The former Chelsea star exited the race in the first round with just 21 votes.
Court-martialled: Normalisation committee gives Namibia’s Franco Cosmos his marching orders
April 25 – A normalisation committee running the affairs of the Namibia Football Association (NFA) has fired NFA Secretary General Franco Cosmos with immediate effect after he was found guilty on five counts out of the nine brought against him followed months of division and in-fighting.
Barca Women break own attendance world record with UCL win over Wolfsburg
April 23 – Barcelona Femení have once again set a women’s world record attendance at Camp Nou with 91,648 supporters attending the club’s Champions League semi-final against Wolfsburg.
NAC Breda shareholder shuns CFG sale for local Dutch ownership group
April 22 – Dutch club NAC Breda will not become a part of the portfolio of City Football Group (CFG) clubs after a backlash from fans saw the ‘golden share’ vote of the NOAD Foundation veto the sale.
VAR to make semi-final debut in Conference League
April 22 – UEFA will introduce the video assistant referees (VAR) for the last four of the Conference League, the European governing body has announced.
Salman says he has no link to AC Milan acquisition, or any other club
April 22 – The head of Asian football has denied reports in Italy that he is involved in talks to buy AC Milan.
Spanish tapes: Angry Rubiales says Pique commission was paid by Saudis, not by RFEF
April 21 – The storm around leaked phone tapes of Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales is still raging. Rubiales has hit back at what he calls “mischievous and dishonest” accusations from Spanish media of alleged wrongdoing over the deal to relocate the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.
Madrid court removes protection of Super League rebel clubs Barca, Real Madrid and Juve
April 21 – Madrid’s commercial court, with a new sitting judge, has lifted the interim injunctions imposed on UEFA at the request of the Super League.
UEFA gives support to FSE’s ‘Win it on the Pitch’ campaign to change EU law
April 21 – UEFA has given its support to the Football Supporters Europe (FSE) ‘Win It On The Pitch’ campaign that is seeking a million signatures to trigger the EU to consider plans for a law against so-called super leagues.
Spanish tapes: Pique called on Rubiales to secure him a place on Tokyo Olympic team
April 21 – Barcelona lynchpin and former Spanish international defender Gerard Piqué asked for help from the president of the Spanish FA to play at the Tokyo Olympics despite retiring from international football, leaked audio recordings allege.