Eqypt end Queiroz contract after Senegal’s World Cup knockout blows
April 11 – Egypt and Carlos Queiroz have parted ways after the Portuguese coach failed to lead the Pharaohs to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
World Football
ECA and European Leagues welcome reform of UEFA’s financial ‘fair play’
By Andrew Warshaw
April 8 – The two umbrella organisations representing Europe’s clubs and leagues have given their wholehearted support to UEFA’s important new financial monitoring rules designed to beef up the previously flawed system and which, tellingly, no longer include the words “fair play”.
UEFA forges ahead with financial reforms that will cap squad wages and transfer spending
By Paul Nicholson
April 7 – UEFA have rubber-stamped wide ranging changes to their financial sustainability regulations for clubs, the first major reforms to rules that were introduced in 2010 but were starting to creak under an evolving football business and the financial effects of the pandemic.
Ceferin welcomes end to biennial World Cup ‘nonsense’ but keeps counsel on Russia
By Andrew Warshaw
April 7 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin today welcomed the apparent abandonment of the idea to stage the World Cup every two years by describing the whole concept as non-sensical.
Out the World Cup and with no significant TV deal; Turkish FA president Ozdemir quits his post
April 7 – With Turkey having failed to qualify for the World Cup and the domestic broadcast deal for the SuperLig nowhere near club expectations, Turkish Football Federation (TFF) president, Nihat Ozdemir. has resigned.
Platini files criminal complaint in France against Infantino for ‘influence-peddling’
By Andrew Warshaw
April 6 – After largely remaining out of the public eye since the expiry of his FIFA ban, Michael Platini is back in the spotlight with another legal offensive aimed at his nemesis Gianni Infantino.
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.
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April 6 – Russia has withdrawn its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIFA’s World Cup ban and against the Polish, Swedish and Czech federations who refused to play against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%.
Concacaf draws teams for Nations League groups that will decide Gold Cup qualifiers
April 6 – Concacaf completed the draw for the second edition of the Concacaf Nations League (CNL) which will serve as a qualifier for the 2023 Gold Cup.
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.