FIFA bans Chad after government attempts FA takeover
April 9 – Having banned Pakistan earlier this week for third party interference in the national federation’s affairs, FIFA have also kicked out Chad because of government interference.
World Football
SuperSport signs up for Qatar 2022 coverage. CAF events next?
April 9 – African football may be struggling to secure meaningful broadcast deals with their domestic broadcasters, but their masters at FIFA have secured a key deal for the 2022 World Cup to be held in Qatar.
Autograph-hunting linesman banned despite donating his signed cards to autism charity
April 9 – The Romanian linesman who asked Europe’s most sought-after young player, Erling Haaland, to sign his red and yellow cards has reportedly been banned form officiating in his country’s top tier.
Police fire tear gas and beat delegates at Al Merrikh general meeting in Sudan
By Paul Nicholson
April 8 – Sudanese football has witnessed more administrative chaos in the battle for control with state Emergency Police having been called to break up the general assembly of the leading Almerrikh club.
Ajax offer fans season ticket refunds
April 8 – Ajax Amsterdam will offer season ticket holders a full or partial refund for the matches they have missed out on this season, the Dutch club has announced.
Maracana to keep name unchanged after Rio flirts with Pele tribute
April 8 – Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium won’t be renamed after Pele following a decision by state legislators. The proposal for a name change had been mired in controversy.
AEK owner Melissanidis faces life ban and points deduction for club
By Paul Nicholson
April 7 – Controversial AEK Athens owner Dimitris Melissanidis has again hit the headlines in Greece where he could be facing a life ban from football.
Serie A faces €150m drop in TV income after failure to back beIN over piracy row
April 7 – The financial fall out of Serie A’s failure to back beIN Sport in its battle against piracy and in particular Saudi-focussed BeoutQ has now come home to roost via a drop in overseas broadcast rights that could be as much as €150 million annually.
UEFA hands Kudela ‘token’ one match suspension for racist abuse ahead of full hearing
April 7 – Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela, who was at the centre of a racism storm last month, has been provisionally suspended for one game by UEFA ahead of a full hearing.
EFL clubs protest transfer embargo arguing rules don’t follow UK’s new Covid laws
April 7 – Ten clubs from the English Football League Championship placed under a transfer embargo last month are arguing that the English Football League (EFL) rules have not taken into account new government rules on company filings and that they are being unlawfully restricted.
Hertha Berlin sack coach over homophobic and anti-migrant views
April 7 – Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin have dismissed their goalkeeping coach Zsolt Petry over homophobic and anti-migrant comments that he made in an interview with Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet, citing that Petry’s values were incompatible with those of the club.
PayPal buys into MLS with stadium naming rights at San Jose Earthquakes
April 7 – MLS team San Jose Earthquakes have sealed a ten-year stadium naming rights deal with PayPal in a deal estimated at more than $20 million, according to local sources.
Motsepe rewards Jordaan’s support with key advisory role at CAF
April 6 – South Africa’s leading football official Danny Jordaan (pictured right) has been appointed as a special advisor on sports and marketing to African supremo Patrice Motsepe (pictured left).
Wembley plans series of test events for fan return, with 8,000 set for League Cup final
April 6 – After being empty for more than year because of the coronavirus pandemic, Wembley will welcome 8,000 fans for this month’s League Cup final between holders Manchester City, who are going for a unique quadruple of trophies, and Tottenham Hotspur.
Umbro build African presence with AFCON 2021 qualifiers Ethiopia
April 6 – Umbro and the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) have extended their partnership to sponsor the country’s national teams in a new four-year deal.