March 9 – The 2021 edition of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations has been cancelled at the last minute by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), leaving hosts Morocco embarrassed on the eve of the governing body’s 43rd general assembly.
March 9 – UEFA have suspended Romanian fourth official Sebastian Coltescu until the end of the season for his role in a racism case last December.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 8 – The behind-the-scenes deal-making that for weeks has characterised the election for the top job in African football has resulted in three of the four candidates – Jacques Anouma of the Ivory Coast, Senegal’s Augustin Senghor and Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania – pulling out at the 11th hour in favour of giving South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe, the preferred choice of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a clear run for the CAF presidency.
March 8 – Disgraced Confederation of African Football president Ahmad Ahmad has lost his appeal against his FIFA ban for corruption but has won a reduction in the length of that ban from five years to two.
March 8 – Joan Laporta was elected Barcelona president by a landslide on Sunday, taking charge of the club for a second spell but this time inheriting a financial crisis and the possible departure of Lionel Messi at the end of the season.
March 8 – Rangers’ first domestic Scottish title for a decade was marred by a serious breach of Covid rules on Sunday that prompted the intervention of the country’s political leader.
March 8 – South America’s World Cup qualifiers in March have been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions, leaving continental governing body Conmebol with a headache to reschedule the fixtures in a heavily congested calendar.
March 8 – Saudi prince Abdullah bin Mosaad (pictured) is closing in on the acquisition of French Ligue 2 club Châteauroux, despite the club’s imminent relegation to the third division.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 5 – With exactly one week to go before African football chooses its next leader, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended his recent tour of the Continent to meet with the candidates, denying he has in any way been meddling in the election process.
March 5 – Brazilian football is under pressure to suspend play with three states having halted the local state tournaments and calls for common sense to be applied in light of Brazil’s dramatic spike in Covid-19 deaths.
March 5 – Barcelona, Real Madrid and two other Spanish clubs have been dealt a significant financial blow after being forced to pay back millions of euros in illegal state aid following a ruling by the EU’s highest court.
March 5 – Portugal have moved their home World Cup qualifying game against Azerbaijan to Turin in a bid to use their leading English-based stars.
March 4 – UEFA has sought to shoot down an agency report that it is considering ditching three of the 12 cities being used for this summer’s delayed Euro 2020.
March 4 – Belgian champions Club Brugge having released plans for a public flotation on the Euronext market in Brussels.
March 4 – English Premier League clubs are reported to have held crisis talks over releasing players for this month’s international break amid concerns that some may be forced to quarantine for 10 days on their return.