Motsepe positioned to take CAF into a new era
By Andrew Warshaw
March 11 – In the end, all the campaigning and lobbying proved fruitless – for three of the candidates at least.
World Football
Brazil plays on despite mounting Covid death toll
March 11 – In Brazil, the ball keeps rolling, even as the country experiences it most dramatic moment of the coronavirus pandemic yet, breaking national daily death toll records day after day.
Kosovo agree to play 2022 qualifier in Spain after war of words calms
March 11 – Kosovo have backtracked and agreed to play Spain in their World Cup qualifier after saying the Spanish had expressed regret for referring to the Balkan country as a “territory”.
Kosovans say they will refuse to play 2022 qualifier Spanish ban national flag and anthem
March 10 – A huge political row is brewing after Kosovo threatened to boycott their World Cup qualifier against Spain later this month if they are not allowed to display their flag or play their national anthem before kick-off.
Welsh in disarray as Ford forced out at FA
By Andrew Warshaw
March 10 – With what can only be described as bizarre timing verging on the foolhardy, Welsh football has been plunged into disarray with the news that Jonathan Ford is to leave his post as chief executive after 12 years.
Expanding NWSL to open with Challenge Cup in April
March 10 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) will kick off its 2021 season with the NWSL Challenge Cup April 9.
Loew to quit German national team after Euro 2020
March 10 – One of the longest reigns in international football management is coming to an end with the announcement that Joachim Loew is to step down as Germany’s head coach after the European Championship finals in June and July, bringing forward his previous plan to quit after the next World Cup.
Juventus fall at last-16 again as Porto prove too strong
March 10 – Once again Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus won’t win the Champions League. For the third time since the arrival of the Portuguese superstar, the Turin-based club have been eliminated in the round of 16 – at the hands of Porto this time, a setback for Juventus and its chairman and ECA boss Andrea Agnelli.
Bility scorns FIFA’s backroom deals and questions morality of Infantino’s CAF conquest
By Paul Nicholson
March 9 – Former CAF executive committee member and Liberian FA president Musa Bility has issued a warning to his African football colleagues over what he calls the “FIFA-fronted capitulation of CAF presidential candidates”.
CAF elections: Politics back in play as exco and FIFA Council seats come into focus
March 9 – While the race for the CAF presidency pretty much over with three of the candidates challenging for the position having agreed deals to pull out in favour of South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe, the jostling for position on CAF’s executive committee and the FIFA Council is taking centre stage.
European clubs expects revamped 36-team Champions League format to be agreed this month
March 9 – The new format of the Champions League after 2024 could be agreed upon within a matter of weeks according to the boss of European Club Association, Andrea Agnelli.
Covid spike forces CAF to call off U17 finals at last minute as travel restricted
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.
Romanian official suspended for ‘inappropriate comment’ in PSG-Basaksehir case
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.
FIFA clears the way for Motsepe at CAF as rivals withdraw in favour of ‘African unity’
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.
Ahmad has ban and fine reduced at CAF but is remains out of presidential race
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.