Coronavirus: OM’s former Senegalese president Pape Diouf dies, aged 68
April 2 – France, Senegal and the wider football world are mourning the death of former Olympique de Marseille president Pape Diouf after contracting Covid-19.
World Football
Dutch float plan to end season by August 3 but Ajax sceptical of June restart
April 2 – While the Dutch top flight will remain on lockdown until June 1, the Dutch FA (KNVB) has revealed a tentative plan to finish the season by August 3.
Kenyan calls intensify for FIFA to step in as trust in FKF dissipates
April 2 – One of Kenya’s former football administrators has urged FIFA to end the impasse within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) in order to stop the game being suspended entirely.
Spurs boss Levy cuts wages but warns players must do their bit to keep football healthy
By Andrew Warshaw
April 1 – Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has issued a stark warning about the global impact of Covid-19, saying “people need to wake up to the enormity” of the pandemic as the English Premier League club announced 550 non-playing staff will take a 20% pay cut.
MLS Unites to showcase support, education and ‘heroes’ during Covid-19 crisis
April 1 – Major League Soccer has unveiled MLS Unites, a league-wide platform that highlights all of the efforts that clubs, players, coaches, and the league are doing to provide emergency support during the current coronavirus crisis.
US Soccer changes legal wording as it seeks a solution in equal pay dispute
April 1 – US Soccer has toned down its legal language in new federal court filings in the equal pay dispute with members of the American’s national women’s team.
Mediapro boss Roures says July restart would save season and reduce €700m of losses
April 1 – Spain’s La Liga could return behind closed doors in July, according to Jaume Roures, chief executive of Mediapro one of the country’s major broadcast partners – but would have to be scrapped for good if any players contract Covid-19 thereafter.
English FA extends indefinite season suspension to cover all leagues below top four tiers
April 1 – After attracting fierce criticism for shutting down all non-league football except for its two top leagues, English football authorities have now agreed to their indefinite suspension – but still controversially leaving the door open to finish the season.
Kenyan FA on brink as FIFA and government bang heads
April 1 – Kenyan football is reportedly in danger of being suspended by FIFA with April 6 being touted as the date when the ongoing crisis reaches its denouement. That is when talks are supposed to take place between the Ministry of Sports, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and FIFA.
UEFA calls federations to emergency talks on calendar as fears of losing season grow
By Andrew Warshaw
March 31 – With time running out and no sign of the Covid-19 pandemic easing in Europe, UEFA are set to hold emergency talks by video conference tomorrow with all of Europe’s 55 national football associations amid growing concerns that the season may have to be scrapped despite a collective will to try and restart fixtures by the end of June.
Barca players agree 70% wage cut, Messi says they were always going to
March 31 – Barcelona’s players have agreed to take a 70% pay cut so that the club’s other employees can earn their full salaries during the coronavirus crisis.
Newcastle lay off staff, but reportedly keep players on full salaries
March 31 – Newcastle United have reportedly become the first Premier League club to place their non-playing staff on temporary leave because of the coronavirus pandemic.
60 non-league clubs protest to English FA over ‘inexplicable haste’ at ending season
By Andrew Warshaw
March 31 – More than 60 non-league clubs from across English football have sent a joint letter to the country’s FA in protest at the decision to close the season down, with all results declared null and void, because of Covid-19.
Vodka, saunas and Premier League football are Belarus’ ‘best anti-virus remedy’
By Andrew Warshaw
March 30 – Last league standing? Football may have ground to a halt in almost every corner of the world – but not in Belarus.
Ceferin warns that European club season could be ‘lost’ if it can’t restart by end-June
March 30 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says the current season “will probably be lost” if it cannot be restarted by the end of June.